Implant Partials or Implant Supported Dentures: What Are They?

If you are missing all of your teeth due to dental decay, injury, or periodontal disease, you may want to consider replacing them. Dentures are a form of teeth replacement that are conventional devices with the drawback of slipping out of place easily. To overcome this challenge, implant partials or implant-supported dentures are fabricated. 

With state-of-the-art implant partials in Dacula, GA, your dentist can replace your lost teeth to restore your oral form, function, and aesthetics. 

Exploring implant partials

Implant partials, also popularly known as snap-in dentures, are innovative dental devices that help replace your lost teeth. Unlike conventional dentures, these are more stable and versatile. 

Dental implants are screws that are fixed within your jawbone to hold the snap-in dentures in place. Typically 4 to 5 implants are inserted into the jawbone depending on your need and your budget.  Once the dental implants are in your jaw, an implant-retained or implant-supported denture (also referred to as overdenture) can be set in place. 

The overdenture can either be fixed permanently, or it might be removable for cleaning purposes.

Benefits of implant partials

There are several benefits associated with implant partials when compared to conventional dentures:

  • Implant partials are more stable, yet they can be removed daily. 
  • These help improve chewing ability, thus you will be able to eat harder and stickier foods.
  • Implant partials fit better and are more comfortable. 
  • There is minimal risk of friction on the gums.
  • Implant partials are more natural looking than conventional dentures.
  • They help preserve the jawbone, and further bone loss is prevented. 

Dental implant placement for snap-in dentures

The first step in implant placement involves an examination of your missing teeth, gums, and jawbone. Dental X-rays help determine the amount of jawbone and if it is healthy enough to support the dental implant. 

Dental implant placement is an outpatient procedure (doesn’t require hospitalization) and may be done under local or general anesthesia (a numbing agent). 

The procedure is as follows:

  • Your oral surgeon will make small incisions (cuts) on the gums to expose the underlying jawbone. 
  • Holes will be drilled deep into the bone where the implant post (this mimics the tooth root) will be inserted.
  • Your surgeon allows 2 to 4 months time for the implants to fuse with the jawbone forming a strong enough anchor for the snap-in dentures. 
  • Once the jawbone heals and osseointegration has occurred, the final implant partials will be created and attached to the dental implants. 

Dental implants help replace missing teeth lost due to caries, injury, or periodontal disease. Implant partials are an innovative method of teeth replacement that utilizes anchorage through dental implants inserted into your jawbone. These provide more stability, in addition to enhancing your oral function and aesthetics.