At Mansfield Dental Associates, Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris like to educate patients about preventive dentistry. Today, more people than ever are retaining their natural teeth for life. However, in some cases, teeth must be replaced. For some, this means having a permanent bridge or a removable partial. For others, it means wearing full dentures.

The Problem with Dentures

Upper dentures can be secured with natural suction on the roof of the mouth or with denture adhesive. Lower dentures rely on adhesive. The lining of a denture is custom fitted to the ridges on a patient’s gums. Over the years, friction between the denture linking and gums wears down ridges. Without stimulation from teeth roots, jawbone tissue degenerates, only compounding the problem. In most cases, a denture must be regularly relined to fit properly. When the gums become smooth and have no ridges, even properly fitted dentures can slip out of place. This is a common problem with lower dentures.

Implant-Retained Dentures

Dental implants provide an anchor for dentures. The base of an implant, the post, is secured into the jaw. Bone naturally fuses to the implant, effectively supporting the implant so that it mimics a natural tooth root. Typically, a denture is attached to four strategically-placed dental implant posts. When snapped in place, an implant-retained denture won’t slip, slide, or loosen. No adhesive is required, and with proper care, implants can last a lifetime. However, dental implants require healthy, dense jawbone tissue for successful integration. For patients who’ve experienced jawbone deterioration, bone grafts may be necessary prior to placement of traditional dental implants. At Mansfield Dental Associates, Dr. Jones offers another option: Mini Dental Implants, or MDIs.

Mini Dental Implants

For patients who aren’t good candidates for traditional dental implants or bone graft surgery, MDIs present a practical way to secure dentures. MDIs do not require traditional implant surgery. With a post that resembles a small screw, MDIs are secured into the jaw without flap surgery. Dr. Jones can place the mini implants at our Mansfied dentist office. As with traditional implants, a denture snaps onto about four MDI posts.

Your Dental Implant Consultation

If you’d like to learn more about tooth replacement, traditional dental implants, or mini dental implants, schedule a consultation with Dr. Jones or Dr. Harris today. Call 817-473-6227. Our general dentist office serves patients from Mansfield, South Arlington, Kennedale, Southeast Ft. Worth, Alvaredo, Midlothian, and the 76063 area code.