Dentures in Huntsville, AL
For the 36 million Americans who are missing all their teeth—a condition known as edentulism—the solution for decades, even centuries, has been to get dentures. But these days, there are more denture options than ever, meaning those who need to replace a full arch of teeth don’t have to settle. In addition to traditional options, Smile Center of Huntsville offers implant-retained dentures and premium roundhouse dental bridges.
Dr. Tracie Battle has extensive experience with all types of dentures. During your consultation, she’ll walk you through the options and help you choose the one that best fits your budget, preferences, and lifestyle.
Different Types of Dentures
Today’s dentures come in many forms, and modern options often use dental implants for extra stability. Many patients prefer implant dentures because they offer greater comfort and security than conventional ones.
The right denture for you will depend on factors like desired stability, appearance, and budget. Dr. Battle will take your preferences into account and help you select the option that suits you best.
Traditional Dentures
Traditional dentures, also known as complete or full dentures, are designed to replace all your teeth. These false teeth rest on top of your gums and depend on suction to stay in place. Upper dentures also cover the soft palate to help prevent slipping and sliding while eating or speaking.
Although a tried-and-true method for replacing an entire arch of teeth, traditional dentures are not as stable as modern approaches, and their fit tends to loosen over time. And while their removability allows for convenience and cleaning, it comes with the risk of loss or damage.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain in the arch. They connect to your existing teeth through metal or plastic clasps and can also be removed at night for cleaning and comfort.
Implant-Retained Overdentures
Sometimes referred to as “snap-in dentures,” implant-retained overdentures are much more stable than traditional denture options. To ensure the denture doesn’t shift in your mouth, we place 4-8 mini dental implants or 2-4 traditional dental implants in your jawbone. This creates a stable base for your new teeth.
Just like traditional dentures, you can remove a snap-in denture whenever you’d like. But once you snap it back onto the implants, you can trust your teeth will stay firmly in place.
Although snap-in dentures are made of acrylic (the same material used in traditional dentures), patients find them far more comfortable. Because the implants hold your denture in place, it doesn’t need as much material for support. That means we can slim down the design, reducing much of the extra bulk. For an upper denture, we can also remove the piece that covers your upper palate. Without the extra plastic, you can fully experience your favorite foods again.
Semi-Removable Roundhouse Bridges
Have you ever heard of the All-on-4® or Fix-on-Six® systems? They are both examples of a semi-removable denture. One secures a restoration with conventional dental implants, while the other uses smaller mini dental implants. For the more modern Fix-on-Six® system, we place 6 and 10 mini dental implants in the jawbone, providing a sturdier and more secure foundation for a roundhouse bridge.
The roundhouse bridge is a full-arch restoration that’s popular because of its durability and natural appearance. Made with premium materials like zirconia, it not only looks like real teeth but also greatly improves your bite force.
This implant denture alternative is considered “semi-removable” because you won’t ever remove it yourself. Only an experienced implant dentist like Dr. Battle can remove the restoration for professional cleaning and maintenance.
Non-Removable Roundhouse Bridges
Sometimes referred to as “permanent dentures,” this option offers an unmatched level of stability, security, and comfort. We first place 10-12 mini dental implants throughout your jaw and then permanently cement the roundhouse bridge to this foundation. With such exceptional stability, you can eat, speak, smile, and laugh with total confidence.
While this option carries a higher cost, patients love not having to constantly think about their smile. It feels natural, secure, and dependable every day. It doesn’t get any more stable or secure than this!
Issues With Traditional Dentures
While traditional dentures have been a reliable choice, implant options offer solutions to several issues associated with them.
- Unwanted movement: Because they simply rest on the gums, traditional dentures can slide around or even pop out of your mouth at inopportune moments.
- Adjusted diet: Traditional dentures not only slip out of place easily, but they also lack the strength of natural teeth. That means you might need to give up some of your favorite foods.
- Loss or damage: The daily removal of traditional dentures increases their risk of damage or loss.
- Constant adjustments or adhesives: Traditional dentures have to be adjusted, or “relined,” to maintain proper fit. Between these adjustments, denture wearers often turn to messy adhesives to help reduce movement.
- Jawbone deterioration: Because traditional dentures only replace teeth, not tooth roots, they do not prevent jawbone loss. Your roots, which are embedded in the jaw, stimulate the bone when you bite and chew. But when they’re missing, your jawbone loses this stimulation and starts to deteriorate. Unfortunately, this can result in a sunken-looking face and functional issues.
While traditional dentures solve some issues stemming from tooth loss, they introduce new problems. Fortunately, implant dentures address each of these concerns, allowing you to enjoy a secure, comfortable, and confident smile every day.
Learn What’s Possible at Smile Center of Huntsville
Are you tired of missing teeth holding you back from enjoying all that life has to offer? If you’re ready to change your life with the transformative power of implant dentures, we’re here to help. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Battle today and start your journey toward a more stable smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is possible to turn traditional dentures into implant-retained overdentures, but it requires a specific set of circumstances. In order for a denture to connect to implants, the prosthetic must be large enough and in good condition. The majority of existing dentures, even fairly new ones, are not made with implants in mind.
At your consultation, Dr. Battle will assess whether your current denture can be converted.
The length of the process depends on whether or not we’ll be creating a new denture for you or if we can stabilize your existing denture with dental implants.
Generally, the process of taking impressions, sending them to a dental laboratory, and waiting for the technicians to fabricate your custom dentures can take about 6-9 weeks.
For mini implant dentures, once we have the prosthetic in our hands, we’ll place the implants and snap the dentures into place. All of this can often be completed in one visit!
Several factors affect the price, including the style of denture, the type and number of implants, and any additional prep work, such as tooth extractions.
We understand that costs are a concern with any dental procedure, but we believe affordable dental care should be accessible to everyone. At your consultation, we can help you understand what your dental insurance might cover.
If you’re interested in financing options, we partner with multiple lending companies to offer flexible monthly payment plans. These plans allow you to pay for your treatment in manageable monthly installments.
How long your denture lasts depends largely on how well you take care of it. That said, the typical lifespan of a traditional denture is 5-10 years. Partial dentures may last a bit longer, depending on the materials used. Implant dentures are more secure, and because their fit doesn’t change over time, they tend to last longer. Some implant options can even last 20 years or more with proper care.