Those with missing teeth often go for traditional dentures but find them unsatisfactory or uncomfortable. Due to this, retaining or supporting dentures with implants is gaining immense popularity. False teeth, when supported by dentures, offer many benefits, including better aesthetics, preservation of jawbone and prevention of further deterioration, improvement in comfort, ease in eating food or speaking, and general betterment in overall health.

Despite implant-supported false teeth’ numerous benefits, people still avoid getting this procedure done due to the fear of treatment being too risky. In this article, we will talk about some of the associated problems with implant-retained dentures, which would be helpful in determining if such false teeth are the right choice for you.

What Are Implant Retained Dentures?

Implant-retained dentures, also known as clip-on dentures, help secure loose false teeth.

• These implants can be placed if you have a sufficient amount of jawbone to support implants.
• Clip-on false teeth work a lot like traditional ones, i.e., they are removable, so you can clean them easily and then snap them back in your mouth.
• You can eat most things with these implants as your gum is able to absorb more of the bite force but biting into hard foods such as apples or nuts are not recommended.
• It is a cost-effective treatment as you need fewer implants, and often, your dentist can use mini implants for this procedure.
• Implant-retained dentures restore your ability to eat and talk comfortably, but they are not able to fully replicate your natural bite.

Benefits Of Implant Retained Dentures

False teeth that are supported by implants have many advantages over traditional dentures, as outlined below:

• Better stability – Since your false teeth are anchored to the implants, which are surgically bonded with your jawbone, they provide a more stable and secure fit.
• Looks natural – They look more like natural teeth and are more aesthetically pleasing than traditional false teeth.
• Prevent bone loss- The implants mimic natural teeth roots and stimulate jawbone nerves which reduces further bone loss.
• Long lasting – If you take good care of them, the implant-retained dentures can last up to twenty years.

Problems With Implant Retained Dentures

Some of the common issues related to implant-supported false teeth are:

• Monitor the pressure you apply – You can not apply hard pressure on them as it can dislodge the dentures. Therefore, dentists recommend using the back teeth to chew rather than the front ones.
• Movement – Even though these dentures are very secure, they might move a bit while you chew.
• Sore spots – Patients can get sore spots while using clip-on false teeth.
• Relining – These dentures would need occasional relining as we lose tissues and bone over time, and your dentist would need to adjust the fixture to get a precise fit.
• Infection – As the dentist needs to make incisions in your gum line to insert the implants, you could experience residual bleeding and swelling post-procedure. Your mouth is also at risk of oral infection up to a week after the procedure is finished.
• Damage to nerves – It is a minimal and uncommon risk when nerves can get damaged during the procedure. When there is nerve damage, you might experience slight pain, numbing, or tingling sensation in your natural teeth, lips, gum, etc.
• Sinus complications – Sinus cavities are close to the mouth area, and in rare cases, the implants might protrude into these cavities. If the sinus is impacted during the surgery, you will experience increased pain in the nasal passageway.
• Mouth injury – It is normal for your mouth to bleed and swell for a week after you get implant-retained dentures. But if there has been an accidental injury to your gums, teeth, or bone within the jaw, you might experience severe pain. In some cases, the blood vessels could get damaged too. You must talk to your dentist if any of this happens so that s/he can provide additional treatment.
• Health – Those who have TMJ issues or sleep apnea benefit from having their teeth inside the mouth during sleep. In such cases, clip-on false teeth would not be beneficial as one needs to remove them at night.
• Lifestyle – Some people prefer having their teeth in place when they wake up and do not like the idea of having removable teeth.

Summing Up

Implant-retained dentures provide more natural-looking and stable false teeth compared to traditional ones. But they come with their own set of problems, as discussed in this article. If you experience any complications after getting these implants, you must discuss them with your doctor to take corrective measures.