Thomas S. Jennings, DDS, on "Is your lower denture less stable than you would like?" – Colorado Springs LIVING WELL Magazine

Is your lower denture less stable than you would like?

Thomas S. Jennings, DDS, Colorado Springs LIVING WELL Magazine (formerly SENIOR Magazine)

As common and useful as dentures have been for generations, they are not without their shortcomings. Are you one of many full denture wearers who are frustrated by their lack of functionality, stability and comfort? Luckily for you, an answer now exists!

Most people have heard about dental implants. Many have a friend or family member who has been treated with them. Although multiple exciting applications are continually being developed, this article will focus on implants in general and one of their primary uses…lower full denture stabilization.

Among all methods commonly employed to replace teeth, they can generally be subdivided into two groups, fixed and removable.  In dentistry, the term fixed refers to prosthetic devices which are intended to remain in place full time. Removable are those that are placed and removed daily by the patient. Although they may not function as similar to natural teeth, removable techniques have several advantages and are often the treatment of choice, most notably due to the ease in which they allow for accomplishing effective daily hygiene and establishing proper facial and lip support. However, one of their inherent disadvantages is the lack of stability. This is noted especially in the lower jaws when all teeth are being replaced.  As one might expect, dentures left to be supported and retained solely by the contours of movable soft tissues and constructed in a “U” shape around the musculature of a normally functioning tongue tend to be less secure than desired.

Dental implants as we know them today were developed primarily through the pioneering work of a Swedish orthopedic surgeon named Per-Ingvar Brånemark in the mid 1900s.  As with many significant finds throughout history, his was serendipitously discovered while studying the seemingly unrelated topic of wound healing. During his studies, Dr. Brånemark noticed the ability of bone to grow directly against titanium…a biologic process he later termed osseointegration. That and subsequent developments have led to the cylindrical, tooth root shaped devices that we know as modern dental implants. To summarize their usage, after thorough evaluation, planning, and sometimes preliminary site preparation (bone and gum augmentation through different types of grafting procedures), dental implants are strategically placed in jaws where tooth roots once existed in order to stabilize and retain different types of tooth replacements using a variety of intermediary attachment systems. The type of replacement selected is dependent on the specifics of each case and can range from the restoration of a single lost tooth in an otherwise healthy dentition, to fully supported and non-removable complete sets of upper and lower teeth.

Thanks to dental implants, there is a solution to most of the instability issues associated with full dentures, and are especially applicable to the commonly experienced issues with lower full dentures. Depending on the number of implants and the type of attachment employed, a surprising amount of stability and retention can be achieved. In general, the more implants that are used, the more stable a denture can be fabricated. The lower jaw bone tends to be denser and therefore generally more favorable for osseointegration, especially toward the front. In that area as few as two implants, placed one on either side, can remarkably improve the performance of a full denture. Even though very simple, and while still allowing some amount of movement, this system generally lends significant improvement over conventional lower dentures. The movement of these dentures is a “teter-totering” from front to back around the axis that extends between the two implants. However, while still allowing that rotational movement, those experienced in all other directions during normal function are virtually eliminated. In its simplicity, this design is considered very effective from a cost/benefit perspective and chosen frequently by lower denture wearers.

From a two implant supported lower denture, patients usually have the option of increasing the amount of stabilization with more complicated systems. In order for that to be accomplished, a minimum of 4-6 implants are usually recommended, depending on the specifics of each individual case. Each is unique and must be evaluated, planned and carried out as such.  With attachment to six appropriately spaced implants, most lower dentures can be made totally rigid but still have the advantages of being removable.

If you feel that you can benefit from implant treatment, I urge you to pursue the opinion of your dentist.  If you do not have a relationship with a dentist, my staff and I welcome you to contact our office.  We would be happy to meet you and discuss what modern implant dentistry has to offer.

Thomas Jennings, DDS, PC may be reached at www.ThomasSJennings.com, or by calling 719-590-7100.