Are Mini Dentures the Right Choice for Your Smile? [Watch Before You Decide]

If you’ve been looking into getting dentures, you may have come across the phrase “mini dentures.” And no, these aren’t tiny prosthetics that wouldn’t fit in your mouth. Mini dentures often refer to mini dental implant-supported dentures! These restorations replace your missing teeth, but are anchored in place to stay secure. So if you’re one of the 36 million Americans without teeth and struggling with traditional dentures, book a free implant consultation with us in Sonora, CA! Dr. Berger at Sonora Dentist will help you determine whether mini dentures are the right choice to replace your missing teeth and secure your smile in place.

What Are Mini Dentures?

Mini dentures, or mini implant dentures, are artificial tooth restorations that rely on mini dental implants for support. Unlike traditional dentures, these prosthetics don’t simply rest against your gums. Instead, we anchor them with dental implants.

Mini dental implants are small, biocompatible titanium screws. Biocompatibility means that once we place these implants in your jaw, they will integrate with your bone to form a strong connection. Using this connection, we stabilize your denture to keep your smile secure!

In some cases, we may even be able to transform a loose traditional denture into a mini denture. However, your loose denture must be in good condition and large enough to accommodate implants. In just one appointment, we may be able to retrofit your traditional prosthetic with housings that fit perfectly over the implants we place in your mouth. Then you can walk out of our office with a functional, secure smile that will stay in place.

The Benefit of Mini Implant Dentures

Traditional dentures are notorious for coming loose over time and creating a lot of issues for patients. But mini dentures typically eliminate these problems, improving your quality of life! Advantages of mini implant dentures include:

• Better chewing: To chew effectively, you need a strong bite that breaks down food. Unfortunately, loose dentures struggle to break down certain foods, forcing you to limit your diet. But with mini dentures, you can eat all the foods you love without hesitation!
• All-day comfort: Loose dentures shift around on your gums, causing painful denture sores and significant discomfort. In contrast, implant-supported dentures are anchored in place and never shift around! If anything, these restorations feel similar to natural teeth and keep you comfortable throughout your day.
• Healthier smile: Traditional dentures replace your smile, but they don’t replace your tooth roots. Natural teeth have roots below your gums that embed in your jawbone, stimulating it whenever you chew. But after tooth loss, your bone may shrink due to a lack of stimulation. Fortunately, mini implants replace missing tooth roots, stimulating your jaw to keep your smile healthier.
• Natural look: Dentures are bulky and sometimes artificial-looking. But mini dentures are much sleeker because their bases don’t need to be as large. We offer natural-looking restorations that fit perfectly in your smile and don’t feel awkward in your mouth!

Our Mini Dentures in Sonora, CA

At our office in Sonora, CA, Dr. Berger offers several types of mini dentures. These restorations range in removability and price, so we have a solution for everyone.

Snap-in Dentures

For patients who still want to remove their dentures at their own convenience, we offer snap-in dentures. These prosthetics are fully removable but secure to 4 to 8 mini implants we place in your jaw.

Inside the denture, there are housings with little rubber O-rings. These rings are what attach to the implant, keeping your smile secure while in place. Then, when you need to clean your restoration or your gums, simply “snap” the denture off and on again.

Additionally, thanks to the extra support from the mini implants, we make your prosthetic much sleeker. Your denture will look natural and feel more comfortable in your mouth.

Semi-Removable Roundhouse Bridges

If you want a denture that you don’t need to remove, but we can still take out, we offer semi-removable roundhouse bridges.

A roundhouse bridge is a row of artificial teeth that follows the natural arch of your jaw. These teeth are bonded together, forming one long unit that secures on 6 to 10 mini implants.

Because a semi-removable roundhouse bridge uses more implants, we’re able to remove even more of the bulky denture base. Some patients only need the artificial teeth, which are secured directly over their implants.

During routine dental visits, we will remove your denture to perform maintenance. Otherwise, it stays secure, allowing you to function better.

Non-Removable Roundhouse Bridges

A non-removable roundhouse bridge is exactly what it sounds like. This mini denture replaces all of your missing teeth by securing to 10 to 12 mini implants. These implants are placed strategically around your jawbone, evenly distributing the pressure of your bite.

Because these dentures are so secure, many patients don’t need a denture base. Instead, they sit against your gums, looking incredibly natural. And because these implants are cemented in place, they feel natural too! Simply treat non-removable roundhouse bridges like your natural smile, brushing and flossing regularly.

Restore Your Smile With Mini Implants at Sonora Dentist!

Mini dentures are dentures that replace your missing teeth, but are supported by dental implants. These titanium screws embed in your jawbone, creating a strong foundation for your prosthetic to rely on. With mini dentures, you can eat the foods you love without worry and smile confidently. And at Sonora Dentist, we offer 3 different types of mini dentures for patients to choose from. Book a free consultation with Dr. Berger to learn which implant denture is right for your smile!

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