Thanks to dental implants, a palateless denture can improve your experience with dentures and your quality of life.
What Is a Palateless Denture?
A palateless denture is arch shaped. It is designed for use when all of your upper teeth are missing. Unlike traditional dentures, it does not cover the roof of your mouth. The base of it is made with metal rings that snap onto dental implants.
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What’s the Process?
- Impressions – Impressions of your upper and lower arch will be taken to ensure the denture fits correctly and that your bite is well aligned.
- Dental implant placement – After dental implants are placed in your jawbone, time is allowed for them to heal.
- Healing period – In three to four months, the implants will fuse to your jawbone to provide a solid anchor for your palateless denture. Meanwhile, you can wear a temporary denture.
- Additional impressions – After the healing period, more impressions may be taken to ensure no changes are needed to provide an accurate fit.
- Permanent dentures – Your permanent denture will be made. When they are ready, they will be snapped onto the dental implants and checked for appearance, bite, and fit.
Why Consider a Palateless Denture?
A palateless denture that is stabilized with dental implants has several advantages worth considering:
- It is secure and feels more like your natural teeth.
- It’s more comfortable than traditional dentures.
- The open palate enhances your taste and enjoyment food.
- The implants stimulate your jawbone and help prevent shrinkage that normally occurs when all of your teeth are missing.
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How Many Dental Implants Are Required?
Although as few as two dental implants can be used, more implants will increase the stability of your prosthesis.
What Can You Expect?
- You will be sedated for the procedure.
- The surgery will be pain-free, but afterward you will experience minor discomfort that improves with over-the-counter pain reliever.
- Implant placement takes about an hour per dental implant.
- You’ll be given post-care instructions.
- You will be able to resume normal activities the next day.
Interested in Stabilizing Your Denture with Implants?
Much of the success of dental implants depends on the dentist and his or her standards for planning, placement, and follow-up care. If you’re interested in palateless dentures secured with dental implants, find one or two experienced dentists with advanced training in implantology. You can schedule consultations with them to discuss your options for implant-supported dentures.
This post is sponsored by La Crescenta implant dentist Dr. Robert Thein. Dr. Thein is a diplomate of both the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.