For patients who are sick and tired of a traditional denturesliding around and making it difficult to talk and eat, dental implantspresent a wonderful alternative. Because they’re firmly embedded in yourjawbone, you won’t have to worry about them slipping out of place and creating awkwardmoments. The only question is, how many dental implants will you need tosupport a denture? The amount can vary from two to eight implants per jaw. Tofind out how many you’ll need, you’ll have to answer the following fourquestions.
Will Your Implants Go on Your Upper or Lower Jaw?
The bone of the upper jaw is softer, so more implants mustbe placed in order to secure a prosthesis. Usually, you’ll need a minimum offour implant posts for a full upper denture. The lower jawbone is much denser,so fewer implants can provide more stability. In some cases, two implants maybe all that is needed.
Do You Have a Strong Jawbone?
If you have plenty of jawbone density, your dentist canplace a smaller number of long implants. But if your jawbone has shrunk, youmight need a greater number of shorter implants. This may increase the cost ofyour procedure. However, you might be able to undergo a bone graft beforehandto strengthen the jawbone and create a stronger foundation for the implants.
Do You Grind Your Teeth?
People who habitually grind their teeth (a condition calledbruxism) tend to have larger jaw muscles as a result of all of that movement. Ifthis is the case, you might need more implants to secure your replacement teethand reduce their chances of breaking from the pressure.
Do You Want Your Teeth to Be Fixed or Removable?
Some patients prefer to have a denture that stays in theirmouth like natural teeth, while others like taking their denture out so theycan clean it themselves. Generally speaking, a removable implant-retaineddenture won’t require as many implants as one that is permanently fixed inplace.
Ultimately, the only way to definitively find out how manydental implants you’ll need is to schedule a consultation with your implantdentist. They can closely examine your mouth and work with you to come up witha solution that best meets your needs.
About the Practice
At Mason Dental PC, Dr. JonathanMason and Dr.Nicholas Guy have provided dental care to the Manchester, VT community foryears. They both keep up to date with the latest advancements that dentaltechnology has to offer. They partner with the best oral surgeons and periodontistsin the greater Manchester area to help rebuild your smile with dental implants.To get started on your implant journey, contact theiroffice at (802) 362-1099.
