English 
Spanish Losing all your teeth can be stressful, but it’s a much more common problem than you might realize. Nearly 1 in 5 adults over age 65 face this reality. For many edentulous or toothless people, dentures have long been the only solution to replace all those missing teeth. But what if you don’t want to use the same contraption you once saw sitting on your grandma or grandpa’s nightstand? If so, we have good news! With advancements in dentistry, there are modern solutions that make traditional full dentures an obsolete choice.
What Are Full Dentures?
When most or all of your natural teeth on the top, bottom, or both arches are gone, full dentures can replace them. You can remove these sets of artificial teeth as needed because they sit on top of your gums. They give you a reworked smile and help with activities we often take for granted, like chewing food or speaking clearly. However, in their current form, people have used traditional full dentures since before the time of George Washington—those “wooden teeth” you’ve heard so much about were actually dentures made of various materials that had, over time, suffered enough wear and tear to resemble the color of wood. There has to be a better alternative, right? That’s where the innovation of dental implants comes in.
Dental Implants: A Secure Alternative to Full Dentures
Dental implants are metal posts that attach directly to the jawbone and act as artificial tooth roots. Dentures attached to these posts are called implant dentures and provide a much more secure and stable solution than full dentures, which only sit on the gums. Traditional implants measure 5 mm in diameter, which is about as big as an unused pencil eraser. For some patients, that’s simply too big. For that reason and more, our practice prefers to use mini dental implants.
As their name suggests, mini dental implants are a much smaller version of their traditional counterpart. Measuring less than 3 mm wide, these posts, no thicker than a toothpick, can be used in tight spaces and in those with less jawbone density. Other advantages of mini implants include:
- Easier installation process: A streamlined design enables us to place and crown mini implants in a single visit, compared to months of waiting for traditional implants that might also need a bone graft to take hold.
- Faster recovery: Most patients return to their normal routines within 24-48 hours. You can walk in that morning for your appointment and walk out with a brand-new smile that looks and feels completely natural.
- Durability and sterility: A single-piece titanium design makes mini implants just as strong and less prone to harboring bacteria than older implants, which require multiple pieces for placement.
- Lower cost: Even with all those added benefits, mini implants are much more affordable, often costing half the price of traditional implants.
Types of Implant Dentures
Now that we’re familiar with mini implants, the prosthetic that attaches to them—the implant denture itself—comes in several varieties depending on what you’re looking for. In order of increasing stability, they are:
- Implant-retained overdentures: Sometimes referred to as “snap-on” dentures, overdentures look similar to full dentures, but we attach them to the jaw with 4-8 mini implants. However, the patient can still remove them for cleaning or comfort. In very specific cases, depending on the quality and size, we can turn your existing dentures into implant-retained overdentures.
- Semi-removable roundhouse bridge: Formerly known as the All-on-4® method when it used traditional implants, we refer to the mini implant version as Fix-on-Six®. It uses 6-10 mini implants to attach a zirconia roundhouse bridge to your jaw. Only an implant dentist like Dr. Fine can remove it for professional cleaning.
- Non-removable roundhouse bridge: The most secure option, we cement this full-arch zirconia replacement to 10-12 mini implants. It provides the utmost stability and a natural look and feel.
Making Implant Dentures Affordable
It’s understandable to feel anxious about the financial aspect of dental procedures. At Fine Dental Care, we understand these concerns and want to help. If navigating dental insurance feels like solving a puzzle, consider us your personal puzzle solvers. Dr. Fine and his team will guide you through your options and cut through the red tape. We’ll help you understand each choice and find the one that best suits your dental coverage.
We’ve also partnered with multiple financing companies to offer flexible payment strategies. We want full dentures to be accessible to everyone who needs them and to all types of budgets.
Beyond Full Dentures
While full dentures have long been a workable solution, there are now more innovative and cost-effective options. With his vast experience in implant dentistry, Dr. Bruce Fine uses mini implants to offer the best modern dental techniques.
Your journey to a radiant smile and boosted confidence starts with one simple step: a free consultation. Dr. Fine’s expertise in full dentures and implant solutions is unparalleled, and he personalizes treatments to fit your needs.
So, if you want to eat your favorite foods again, speak without worry or difficulty, and have a smile that lights up the room, it’s time to explore these life-changing procedures. Reach out to Fine Dental Care to schedule your free consultation. Let’s discuss how implant dentures can be your path to rediscovering the joys of a complete, functional smile.
