Using mini implants to make dentures great

Poorly fitting dentures are a major problem for thousands of people in the UK, so if your denture is loose, you are definitely not alone.

Dentures are only really as good as the gums and teeth they rest on. If there isn't a lot of gum and bone underneath, remaining teeth are loose or the gum is very spongy, good fitting dentures are extremely difficult to make.

These days, patients expect dentures to be as good as teeth. An old departed friend and colleague of mine used to tell patients "Dentures are not an alternative to teeth, they are an alternative to No Teeth".

This is the same for Part dentures as well as Full Dentures. People often have to rely on denture adhesive to stick the denture to their gums and most people would say that adhesive is horrible stuff. It affects taste, its a pain to get off and traps plaque around the remaining teeth, stopping the natural washing action of saliva.

Fortunately, we now have tried and tested ways of securing dentures with Dental Implants and one method I am extremely keen on is Mini Implants.

For over 10 years, we have been placing Mini Implants with great success, helping dentures to stay in and avoid the need for adhesives.

Mini implants are different to traditional implants. Mini implants are mostly placed without any need for surgery, so no cutting gums. Once the denture is made, the implants are placed in a single visit and the vast majority of time, the new denture fitted straight over the top. Because there isn't any surgery, discomfort is rare and most people are able to eat solid good food that very evening.

One recent example was a chap called Chris who had been suffering with a loose lower denture for years. He had pretty flat gums meaning that the denture was able to slide around all the time. Eating and talking was impossible with the lower denture in place.

We made him the best denture we could to start with and then at his final visit, he was gently numbed and the implants inserted. The suction cups were fitted inside the denture there and then and the denture fitted. It went in with a definite click and would not lift or slide about. He was able to remove the denture with his fingers, but a lot more effort was needed as it was nice and tight.

The next day he phoned to say he had gone out that evening and eaten a steak for the first time in years. 

Dr Rob Endicott BDS