What Are Fixed Dentures? 5 Facts You Need to Know
Are you considering fixed dentures?
In researching tooth replacement options, have you come across the term fixed dentures? Are you confused by the sheer number of options? Between traditional dentures, single implants, full-mouth implants, dental bridges, and other options, how is the average person expected to make an informed decision?
Thankfully, West Wind Dental is here to help you understand your options.
When most people talk about fixed dentures, they’re referring to a permanent replacement option for a full arch of teeth. Often called full-mouth dental implants, All-on-4 implants, or a range of other branded names, they’re a long-term solution for missing, damaged, or loose teeth. Gaining popularity as a healthier, more durable, and more natural looking choice for replacement, they offer a number of benefits that can’t be matched by other options.
What Are Fixed Dentures?
Usually referred to as dental implants, fixed dentures are completely different from removable dentures. Where removable dentures must be removed every night, permanent dentures are fixed to your jawbone. In this way, they almost perfectly emulate your natural teeth.
Because of this, fixed or permanent dentures are better for your oral health, more convenient, and better at providing the stability necessary to prevent bone loss. Even better, they don’t require any major adjustments to your existing oral hygiene routine, meaning they don’t require any special cleaning tools or adjustments to maintain.
How Fixed Dentures Work
Unlike traditional removable dentures, dental implants are a permanent solution. In fact, according to the Cleveland Clinic, dental implants can last a lifetime. For the most part, this is because the implants fuse with your jawbone via a process called osseointegration. This process ensures a long-lasting, beautiful smile.
01. Schedule an Exam
Before anything else, you’ll need to schedule a visit to discuss the possibility of permanent dentures. We’ll need to perform X-rays to determine if your jawbone can support the implants.
02. Dental Implant Surgery
After your eligibility has been determined, it’s time to schedule your surgery. Implant placement can usually be done in a single day, but it may need to be scheduled a few months in advance.
03. Post-Surgery Healing
It’s not uncommon to experience mild pain after your surgery. We’ll typically recommend icing your jaw, continuing your regular oral hygiene procedures, and making a few dietary changes.
For a more in-depth discussion of the implant procedure, be sure to read our blog on how long it takes to get dental implants.
Benefits of Fixed Dentures
01. They offer a quick solution
There’s a reason that dental implants are often called ‘teeth in a day.’ After your implants have been placed, fixed dentures have the ability to restore your smile in just one visit. If you’ve been missing teeth for a long time, imagine the feeling of going to the dentist and walking out with brand new teeth in less time than it takes to get a haircut.
In other posts, we’ve talked about the process behind same-day dental implants, and extolled their benefits. But, the key takeaway is that there’s no other permanent tooth replacement option that can be performed as quickly. And, while surgery and X-rays may sound intimidating, they both contribute to a faster, better, and less intrusive solution.
02. Fixed dentures are designed to last
Let’s get it out of the way: dental implants are more expensive than other options. In the long run, though, you’ll be thankful that you invested, as they’re designed to last a lifetime. As long as you stick to a consistent oral hygiene routine, you can expect your implants to last.
So, while you can spend half as much on traditional dentures or single implants, you won’t get the same return on your investment. And, with dentures needing to be replaced every five to seven years, the costs can add up over time. In addition to that, the amount of time you’ll spend caring for traditional dentures can add up.
03. They look just like natural teeth
If you’ve been missing teeth for a long time, your jaw’s strength has likely degraded. With no tooth there to create the pressure necessary to stimulate the jaw, the jaw weakens, which can cause even more dental issues and, in some cases, changes to your appearance.
Fixed dentures emulate the natural bite force and resulting pressure created by tooth roots. Because of this, they strengthen your jawbone, maintain your appearance, and ensure that your jaw – and the teeth it supports – remains healthy and whole.
04. You can customize your fixed dentures
As a way to replace missing or damaged teeth, dental implants are the best way to preserve – and improve – your smile. With the ability to choose exactly how your finished teeth look, you can restore your former smile or, if you want, you can design an entirely new smile. Best of all, because they’re permanently fixed to your jaw, your new teeth provide a completely natural, slip-free look.
After their dental implants are completed, clients often find that their confidence is restored. In recent studies, 93% of people who were satisfied with their smile rated their self-confidence as excellent. With a permanent solution in place, you’ll be free from the anxiety of being judged for poor teeth. More importantly, you’ll be able to more fully enjoy your life.
05. Eat what you want, when you want
If there’s one thing most people agree on, it’s that food is amazing. And, given that we all have our own preferences, it can be devastating to not be able to enjoy the foods that we love. Beyond the well-documented health issues, damaged teeth can negatively impact a person’s quality of life. The inability to eat healthy foods – and the foods you enjoy – can have dramatic, long-lasting effects.
Being able to bite, chew, and eat healthy foods isn’t just crucial to your oral health, it’s crucial to your overall health. From depression to diabetes, fixed dentures can help to prevent a wide range of health conditions.
Disadvantages of Removable Dentures
01. They’re not as stable as dental implants
Because they’re not engineered to be permanent, traditional removable dentures are far more prone to slipping, shifting, or becoming ‘unstuck.’ When this happens, it can make it much more difficult to eat or speak. And, worse yet, these slips can cause embarrassment and a lack of confidence in your new teeth.
02. Changes to your facial structure
By creating regular pressure, your natural teeth work to preserve your gum tissue and bone structure. Without this pressure, the underlying foundation of your jaw bone can begin to erode away. After a while, this bone loss can cause aesthetic changes to your appearance, including wrinkles and an older appearance.
03. Removable dentures are less comfortable
Constant friction caused by loose dentures can irritate your gums, leading to pain when chewing and speaking. Conventional dentures rest directly atop your gums, so when they become loose, they don’t just make it difficult to perform everyday tasks, they can cause blisters, swelling, gagging, and other long-term issues.
04. Reduced chewing efficiency
Because there’s often a gap between them and the roof of your mouth, it’s not unusual for food to find its way under removable dentures. When this happens, it’s often necessary to remove the dentures, rinse them, and reaffix them. While it’s not terrible if it only happens once in a while, ill-fitting dentures have a tendency to worsen over time, so infrequent annoyances today could become regular occurrences down the road.
05. Less durable than other options
Since they’re made of less durable materials, conventional dentures don’t last as long as implant-supported dentures. Even with proper care, they’re not designed to last more than ten years. So, in the long run, it may be more cost-efficient to pursue dental implants as a solution to your tooth loss.
Questions About Fixed or Permanent Dentures?
At West Wind Dental, we focus on educating our clients and ensuring that they’re aware of all their options. Offering the area’s most technologically advanced dental services, we have the experience, education, and tools necessary to help you find a solution that works for you. We can work with you to understand and deliver the cosmetic dentistry, sedation dentistry, and restorative dentistry services that you need.
Led by Dr. Andrew Hamilton and a compassionate administrative team, we’ve built our reputation around providing attentive, personalized care. No matter where you are in your journey to improving your dental hygiene, we’re here to advocate for you. So, if you’ve been on the fence about dentures, dental implants, or reclaiming the power of your smile, we encourage you to reach out to us today.
Dr. Andrew Hamilton, DDS, FAGD
Dr. Hamilton is an active member of several professional organizations including the American Dental Association (ADA), the Michigan Dental Association (MDA), the Kalamazoo Valley District Dental Society (KVDDS), the American Academy of Implant dentistry (AAID), the International Academy of Facial Aesthetics (IAFA) and also attends courses with the Pikos Institute in Northwest Florida. He is a member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICIO), has achieved fellowship status in the International Dental Implant Association (IDIA) and in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD), has graduated from and is an alumnus of the Kois Center program in Seattle, and is on the faculty of the Global Dental Implant Academy (GDIA).
The little spare time left over is spent Steelhead and Salmon fishing and the occasional round of golf.
