“Lower full dentures are only ever better than no teeth at all!” This was actually uttered by one of the top dental specialists in false teeth in the UK and when you’ve been in the business as long as we have here at Sheen Dental, you can understand exactly why he said it.
When a full lower denture is fitted the tongue muscles can easily get in the way and as such the denture hasn’t got a ‘cat in hells’ chance of staying put. This is despite the best efforts of the concerned dentist who will try in vain to adjust, realign and re-base it. Because of this the patient often struggles to eat while the denture jumps around like it’s got a life of its own and if this isn’t bad enough, many lower denture wearers can’t speak properly for fear of it falling out. Finally, the inevitable movement is also likely to cause friction sores as it rubs on the gum. How miserable is that for the patient?
Is there an alternative?
In a word…yes, and it comes in the form of the flexible and versatile dental implant. In Richmond, here at Sheen Dental we like to offer our patients an alternative and cost-effective solution in the form of implant retained dentures.
So what exactly are they and how do they work?
When the words ‘dental implants’ are mentioned many people understandably think of rocketing prices because let’s face it… they don’t come cheap. However implant retained dentures give the patient the stability and durability of dental implants without the cost.
So how so?
Firstly only 2 or 4 implants are necessary rather than a whole set. After being placed at strategic positions along the lower jaw the patient then has the option of using their existing dentures which are modified with fixings. These are then attached or ‘snapped’ firmly onto the implants. There’s no need for expensive bridgework, so it’s a cost-effective solution. However more than simply saving money the implant retained denture is guaranteed to stay exactly where it is. This means the patient can eat what they like, speak freely without fear of any embarrassment and most importantly, wear them without any discomfort.
If you’re fed up with your existing lower dentures and want to find out more about how implant retained dentures can improve your life then contact the team at Sheen Dental on 020 8876 5277. Alternatively, if you would like to know more about dental implants in Richmond in general, then feel free to visit our website at www.sheendental.co.uk where you’ll find a wealth of information to help you make an informed dental decision.