Torn between Dentures and Full Dental Implants? <Case of Treatment by a Specialist in Periodontics>

Hello.

I am Dr. Lee Chang-min, a periodontal specialist who has been practicing at Guardians Dental Myeongdong for 20 years.

If there are not many teeth left, do I have to remove them all? The full implant is burdensome, is there another way?

General dentures can replace several teeth with relatively minor surgery, but since they are placed on the gums, you can feel the movement when chewing or speaking.

On the other hand, fixed full implants can provide stable chewing function, but the scope of surgery, cost, and management burden must be considered.

If you are hesitant between the two methods, you can consider implant dentures as an option.

Today, for those who are looking into implant treatment at Guardians Dental Myeongdong, we will introduce the implant denture treatment process for patients who have lost most of their teeth.

Difference between general dentures and implant dentures

General dentures are a method of using dentures made to fit the shape of the gums and jawbone.

If the jawbone is insufficient or the gum shape changes over time, the denture can become loose and may click or shift when eating.

Implant dentures are a treatment that connects dentures to implants embedded in the jawbone.

Since the implant acts as a kind of fixed point, it can help reduce movement compared to general dentures.

General dentures are placed on the gums, while implant dentures use implants as a support.

However, the number and position of implants required for implant dentures are not fixed.

After checking the remaining gum bone, the relationship between the upper and lower jaws, chewing force, and management ability,

a plan must be made differently for each patient.

If there are not many teeth left, do I have to remove them all?

At the time of the first visit, most of the upper teeth had been lost, and the lower teeth were also difficult to chew food with, except for some front teeth.

In such cases, it's not right to decide to remove all teeth or make dentures immediately just by looking at the number of remaining teeth.

First, we need to check the amount of remaining gum bone, the degree of inflammation, looseness, and whether each tooth can withstand future chewing force.

Teeth that can be used after treatment are preserved,

and teeth with deep inflammation or insufficient supporting bone are considered for extraction.

This case also started by distinguishing between teeth that could be kept and those that needed to be cleaned up through periodontal examination and radiographic examination.

We plan the position of dental implants to minimize denture movement

In dental implant treatment, it's crucial to determine not only how many implants to place but also where to position them.

If the spacing and position of the implants are not appropriate, the denture may tilt to one side or the biting force may be concentrated on a specific implant.

Therefore, we use CT scans and X-rays to check the height and width of the gums and bones, as well as the distance to the maxillary sinus or nerve canal, before deciding on the implant position.

For this patient, we also considered the remaining gums and bones and the final shape of the denture when planning the implant position.

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The key to dental implant treatment is not to place as many implants as possible but to position them in a way that provides stable support for the denture.

Results of dental implant treatment at Guardians Dental Myeongdong

When teeth are lost for a long time, not only the teeth but also the surrounding gums and bones may shrink.

If only the tooth shape is restored in this state, the artificial tooth may appear too long or may not provide sufficient support for the lips.

On the other hand, if the prosthesis is too thick, it may cause discomfort, affect speech, or make lip movement difficult.

In other words, we adjusted the shape considering not only the length and arrangement of the front teeth but also the ratio of the teeth and gums visible when smiling and the degree of lip support.

Why periodontal specialists check the gums before implant treatment

The starting point of implant treatment is to determine whether the surrounding tissue can support the implant for a long time.

Checking only the height and width of the gums and bones is not enough.

We must also examine whether there is any remaining periodontal disease, whether the gum thickness is stable, and whether the patient can clean the area around the prosthesis themselves.

If the inflammation is not controlled or the gums are too thin, the surrounding tissue may weaken over time, even if the implant integrates with the bone.

As a periodontal specialist, I evaluate the prognosis of the remaining natural teeth, the condition of the gums and soft tissue, the biting force that will be transmitted to the implant, and the possibility of post-treatment management as a single flow.

I believe that creating a structure that the patient can manage for a long time, not just placing the implant well, is part of the implant treatment plan.

Guardians Dental Myeongdong, Considering Between Dentures and Full Dental Implants

General dentures, implant dentures, and fixed full dental implants have different structures and management methods.

General dentures have less surgical burden but may cause movement and adaptation problems.

Implant dentures can help reduce the movement of dentures by using implants as supports, but patients must separate and clean them daily.

Fixed full dental implants have a structure that does not need to be removed, but may require a wider range of surgery and more meticulous hygiene management.

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Therefore, rather than deciding which treatment is better,

we should consider the current gum bone and overall health, desired fixation, surgical burden, and management ability together.

The applicability and required number of implants should be determined based on individual oral conditions after a thorough examination.

In Conclusion

While learning about Guardians Dental Myeongdong implants, if you are considering between general dentures, implant dentures, and full dental implants, it is essential to check the prognosis of the remaining natural teeth and the condition of the gum bone first, rather than deciding on a treatment method.

Especially for treatments that recover multiple teeth at once, a comprehensive judgment is necessary, from the decision to extract teeth to the location and number of implants, prosthetic structure, and management method.

Therefore, we recommend that you consult with a periodontal specialist with extensive experience in gum and implant treatment, compare the pros and cons of each treatment and the expected treatment process, and decide on the direction that suits you best.

The treatment method and period may vary depending on the remaining teeth, gum bone, and overall health.

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If you have any questions about implant treatment, please leave a comment.

We will directly review and answer within the confirmable range.^^ - Dr. Lee Chang-min - ▼ Guardians Dental Myeongdong Preview ▼

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NAutomatically translated from the Korean post on our Naver blog. Read the original ↗