Implant-Supported Dentures in Bethlehem, PA

Implant-supported dentures are dentures that attach to a small number of implants instead of resting on the gums. At Always About Smiles, our Bethlehem, PA dental office, our experienced oral surgery team places the implants and I design and deliver the denture that snaps onto them, so it stays where it belongs.

Since implant supported teeth are securely attached to the implants, there is no need for messy denture adhesives. Allows you to relax and not have to worry about your dentures moving around, popping out, or gagging you. You'll never worry about your dentures flying out when you laugh, sneeze, cough, or when you eat. Implants are so securely attached that the fear of them falling out will be eliminated!

Foods and drinks will taste better. Wearing an upper denture normally covers the palate, which results in impaired tasting. With dental implants, the palate is left uncovered and you will be able to taste and feel foods as you chew. Patients tell me the first cup of coffee afterward is what they remember, and it's the reason I ask what you've stopped eating before I design anything.

Our experienced oral surgery team places the implants and I design and deliver the teeth that attach to them. I'll design and create esthetic and custom fitting dentures that help restore the soft facial tissue and recreate the lost height of the jawbone. I also work out the optimum teeth bite and chewing muscle positions so that they fit your face. Patients come from Saucon Valley for that work.

An implant-supported denture is a full denture that attaches to implants rather than resting on the gums. Two to four implants are usually enough for a lower one. In fact, it is possible to replace all of the lower teeth with an overdenture that is supported by only 2-4 implants. It comes out for cleaning and snaps back in.

Implant-supported dentures are quoted in two parts: I quote the denture and the attachments, and the oral surgery team quotes the implant placement. You hold both figures before anything begins. The only way to determine the actual cost is by coming in for a consultation and examination to find out if you have bone loss, how many you will need, and what type of implant. Financing is available.

Most patients are three to nine months from the first appointment to the finished denture. You will notice a difference almost immediately. However, the entire process can take anywhere between 3-9 months to complete. This depends on the type and quantity of implants you need along with the quality of bone in which the implants are placed. You wear a denture throughout.

Comfort is built into each appointment. A super numbing gel goes on before any anesthetic, and I buffer the anesthetic chair-side, which brings it closer to your body's own neutral pH and makes the numbness more rapid and profound for your comfort. Nitrous oxide is available, and OraVerse, a novocaine-reversing agent, can bring the area back to normal sensation afterward.

The implants are built for decades; the denture on top is a serviceable part. Most research has shown that implants have been successful for over 30 years. Dentures and partials carry a three-year warranty under our Peace of Mind Limited Dental Warranty if a tooth or a flange breaks under normal use, with your cleanings, treatments, and care recommendations kept up. Dropping the denture isn't covered.

For most people who struggle with a lower denture, yes, because it's held by implants rather than by suction. Many denture wearers don't realize that if their false teeth fit well, there may be little or no need for denture adhesives or glues. So the first thing I do is look at the denture you have, because sometimes a better-made one is the whole answer.