Losing teeth is mainly avoidable, but there’s no shame in having to replace a few as you get older. Most Americans have lost at least one tooth by the time they reach age 50. The average 50-year-old has 12 missing teeth. Whether you have all but one or none of your natural teeth, there are options for permanently restoring your smile.

Implant-supported oral dentures are an excellent option for getting the flexibility of dentures with the stability of dental implants.

What are Implant-Supported Dentures?

You’re likely familiar with dentures since they’ve long been the primary option for replacing missing teeth. Both partial and complete dentures feature a pink molded section designed to fit your upper palate or gum tissue, then finely crafted artificial teeth built to match any existing teeth they need to blend in with. Implant-supported dentures don’t just cling to your gums with the help of adhesives. They attach to several titanium posts surgically inserted in the jaw by your cosmetic dentist in Jacksonville. These posts mimic natural tooth roots and offer a strong attachment so you can chew, smile, and talk confidently.

Benefits of Implant-Supported Dentures

If you want to avoid paying for a complete set of dental implants in Jacksonville, FL, you’ll be glad to learn that supported dentures tend to cost less and require less surgery. Compared to old-fashioned dentures, implant-supported designs move less and are more secure. Unlike dental implants, they’re still easy to remove for cleaning and a break from wearing the devices. There’s no need for an implant post for every tooth you need to replace. Implant-supported dentures come in partial and complete designs, allowing you to replace just one tooth or an entire row at a time.

Who’s a Good Fit for Dental Implants?

As long as you’re healthy and have good gum and jaw bone tissue where your teeth are missing, you’re likely a good candidate for implant-supported dentures. There’s no hard age limit or requirement for immediate placement after tooth loss. If your gums have receded or you lost bone tissue over time, the dentist has several grafting procedures to improve the site before the implants go in. There’s an option for getting implants for almost every dental patient. Only conditions like severe heart disease, oral cancer, and uncontrolled diabetes will interfere with successful post-placement.

Signs It’s Time to Consider Dentures

There’s no need to wait until all your teeth are removed to consider dentures. Partial dentures are a great way to fill in a gap left by a single tooth or a group of missing teeth. Many people start wearing partial dentures while they are still children or teenagers, so they’re easy to adapt to during any stage of life. For more extensive damage or loss due to gum disease, you may want to remove the remaining few natural teeth to make space for complete dentures. Implant-supported dentures can restore your smile if you have natural teeth, but they’re causing issues. It’s always nerve-wracking to consider removing teeth still in place, but badly cracked, chipped, and discolored teeth often hold you back. It’s better to start with a clean slate when there’s enough accumulated damage that you’d need extensive veneers or crowns to restore your smile.

Choosing a Dentist for Implants

Implant-supported dentures are complex and require attention to detail to work well. Choose the top dentist Jacksonville, FL, has to offer to ensure good results. This is especially true if you need gum and bone grafts to prepare for the implant placement. Older patients and those who need extraction before the dentures go in should look for a dentist with plenty of experience with this procedure in particular.

Let Dr. Tiffany Shields of Jacksonville, Florida, give you the implant-supported dentures you need to chew and smile confidently.

Our team has the expertise to handle any challenges that might arise throughout treatment. Schedule a visit with us today to see what’s possible.