If you use dentures and want to make the switch to dental implants, you can benefit from a hybrid solution. Implant supported dentures can improve your experience with dentures immensely. There are many different options to choose from depending on your needs.

How Implant Supported Dentures Work

In general, implant supported dentures allow you to have your dentures attached to implants. The implants work as anchors, which in turn solves many of the issues people have with dentures.

  • Dentures slipping or falling out
  • Denture discomfort or irritability
  • Inability to eat normally with dentures
  • Difficulty speaking normally with dentures

Besides helping to solve these issues, you also get the benefits that come with just having implants. For example, implants can help maintain your facial structure since they stimulate the jawbone just like your natural teeth. Dentures alone cannot do that.

You Will Still Have to Take Care of Your Dentures

Hybrid denture solutions offer the best of both worlds. The main caveat is there are various choices for them. For example, you can have permanent or semi-permanent dentures.

In cases where your dentures are permanent, you will have to see your dentist for changes or adjustments. Semi-permanent solutions can allow you to remove the dentures yourself as you're likely used to doing. All the same rules are in place for cleaning and maintaining your dentures.

The Most Common Options for Hybrid Implants Are as Follows

There are many different denture and implant configurations. Speak to your dentist about which may work best for you. There are some general options, as well as many options for specific or special cases.

All on 4 – This option comes up most when speaking of hybrid dentures. As the name implies, four implants anchor the denture. It doesn't always have to be four implants; you can have even more depending on your particular situation. These types of hybrid solutions usually result in permanent dentures, so you cannot remove them yourself.

Implant supported bridges – Four to eight implants anchor a dental bridge. If an implant should fail for any reason, the bridge will still hold. This option can give you what amounts to a full new set of teeth. This is another permanent solution.

Overdentures – This denture over implant approach requires four or more implants. However, the denture is affixed to the implants in such a way that you can remove it yourself. So you can reap much of the benefit from that stronger connection, but still have the ability to remove and clean the denture at the end of the day.

Since overdentures require attachments, it's possible you will have to replace parts every few years. There are also overdenture options that only require two implants. These types do offer more support than just dentures themselves, but are not as stable as other options.

There are many more options besides. Even if one option looks appealing to you, various factors dictate which options you're eligible for. Your dentist must look at all the following:

  • Your bone density
  • If you need different options for your upper and lower jaw
  • If you're eligible for implants at all
  • Your sensitivity to the implant and/or denture materials
  • Whether or not you need bone grafts
  • if your gums can handle the process

There are many factors. It's possible your dentist will recommend an option that doesn't line up with what you want. In such cases, you should still consider your dentist's recommendation. Even if the hybrid solution isn't the one you hoped for, it can still help you deal with many of the day-to-day issues that come with wearing unassisted dentures.

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