As the name indicates, an implant-supported denture is an artificial set of teeth that fits over a piece of hardware implanted in the jaw. It may be appropriate for a patient who has lost his or her teeth, but has sufficient bone tissue to receive an implant.
The process of receiving an implant-supported denture usually takes at least five to seven months and requires two surgeries. The first surgery places the implants within the jawbone, after which the implant hardware begins to integrate with the surrounding bone. This provides the implants with their characteristic stability.
At the second surgery, which occurs four to six months after the first, the dentist exposes the implant heads and places a healing cap, which allows the gums to heal around the implants. Approximately two weeks later, the dentist can replace the caps with abutments and make a model that a laboratory uses to create customized dentures.
Several weeks later, the patient returns for the denture-fitting process. If the denture will attach by way of a metal bar, the patient receives this component at that time. The patient receives the complete denture at the final visit, after which time he or she should be able to chew and speak with confidence.
Patients who are curious about implant-supported dentures are welcome to explore Dr. Garcia's website at www.roderickgarciadmd.com or call the office directly at 505-821-6119.