Dental Implants in Edmonton

Of all the discoveries in dentistry throughout the centuries, many, such as anesthesia, have revolutionized oral care. The ability to conduct dental procedures without associated distress on the part of the patient made it possible for dentists to work more efficiently, ensuring a more comfortable experience and less stressful conditions for everyone involved.

The invention of modern dentures also had a profound impact on the dental industry, offering patients an increased ability to speak clearly and enjoy a diverse range of foods that were not possible to consume without them. Still, dentures remain an imperfect solution to the problem of tooth loss.

Common Denture Complaints

For many, dentures seem like the perfect solution to the issue of tooth loss. Some even look forward to old age when they can do away with their teeth-related problems by having them all removed and wearing dentures instead. While this may seem a simple solution, the truth is that the denture issue is much more complex than that.

Nutritional needs remain a source of concern for many denture wearers, as maintaining a comfortable fit continues to be a challenge for many. Even when the fit is acceptable, learning to eat with dentures can be difficult. You may not notice it, but your natural teeth have an innate ability to flex and feel the food in your mouth, making it easy to maneuver food for efficient chewing. With dentures, this sensation is lost, and if you have a denture that includes a full palate, you may face even more challenges.

The lack of ability for your food to contact your natural palate impedes your ability to taste food and sense its temperature. Additionally, dentures act differently when chewing and require that small portions of food be distributed evenly across both sides of the mouth in order to be processed enough to swallow comfortably. Because of this, many elderly patients eventually lose interest in eating and begin to eliminate items from their diet until they are often consuming only soft foods, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies.

The adhesives used to retain dentures in the mouth can fail and result in an unstable denture, as well as clicking or popping when speaking. This can be difficult in social situations and lead to frustration or isolation from group interactions.

A good fit is difficult to achieve with dentures and becomes more challenging over time as changes in the structure of the jaw occur. Bone resorption is a natural consequence of having teeth removed, resulting in changes in the shape and structure of the jaw over time, making it hard for your dentures to keep pace with these changes.

Natural teeth are responsible for keeping your jawbone strong and healthy by stimulating the bone tissue with bite force every time you eat. This stimulation informs your jaw that you need nutritional resources sent to reinforce and keep it strong. Without stimulation from the roots of natural teeth, the jaw assumes that resources aren’t needed to the same degree as they once were, and nutrients are diverted away. This results in bone loss and changes to the appearance of the lower half of the face. This process can begin as little as six months after the extraction of your natural teeth and continues to change the jaw over time, leading to a need for numerous adjustments to the fit of your dentures.

Dental implants are the first reliable solution to bone loss, offering 30 years of protection or more if well maintained. Dental implants involve screwing a titanium screw into the jawbone and allowing it to bond with the bone for several months before an abutment and false tooth can be placed. Dental implants offer 80% or more of the bone stimulation of natural teeth, compared to estimates as low as 10% from dentures.

The cost of dental implants is substantially higher than the cost of dentures and should be considered a long-term investment in your health. Individual implant costs in Alberta are estimated at $3,000.00 but could be as high as $97,000.00 for a full set of implant-supported dentures (also referred to as all-on-four dentures). In this case, four implants are placed along the upper and lower arches and used to secure a full set of dentures. Implants are strong and durable, able to handle the bite force required to eat a variety of foods necessary for a healthy diet.

To determine whether you are a candidate for dental implants, talk to your dentist. If you have questions about our services or other offerings at Omnia Dental, contact our clinic today.