ADA Accessibility Information



Fixed Dentures

Tooth loss is a serious issue that affects every aspect of your life. Missing teeth make it difficult to eat and speak. Your smile suffers. Even the strength of your jawbone deteriorates as you lose bone mass. The more teeth you lose, the more significant the effects. Traditionally, a full arch of missing teeth has been replaced using dentures. Today, ZenTech Dentistry can replace a full arch of teeth with fixed dentures.

Traditional Dentures

Traditional dentures have been used for hundreds of years to replace missing teeth. Dentures are a removable prosthesis that consists of replacement teeth that are set into a rigid base. Over the years, including in recent decades, dentures have undergone numerous changes, all designed to improve the treatment. Dentures today consist of acrylic resin teeth and an acrylic gum-colored base. These features have allowed dentures to appear more realistic. Despite these improvements, however, dentures still have many downsides.

What are Fixed Dentures?

Fixed dentures, also called implant supported dentures, are a treatment designed to replace an entire arch of teeth, providing you with an alternative to traditional dentures. This treatment uses small titanium posts, which are surgically placed into your jawbone. Your bone fuses to these posts, stabilizing them within your jaw. Once you have fully healed, the posts provide support for your dental restorations.

What if I Lack Sufficient Bone Mass?

Typically, fixed dentures require 6 to 8 implant posts to support an entire arch of replacement teeth. However, if you have lost too much bone mass, your jaw may not be able to provide the necessary support.

Generally, insufficient bone mass means that you would require a bone graft. We can help to provide you with a different type of fixed dentures that allow you to avoid the need for a bone graft. Known as the All-on-4® Treatment Concept, this treatment uses only 4 implant posts to support your teeth. The posts are placed in your jaw in such a way as to maximize contact with your jawbone to provide optimal support.

Getting Your Fixed Dentures

The process for placing your fixed dentures requires a surgical procedure. Surgery is done under a local anesthetic and sedation. We make small incisions in your gums, exposing the jawbone underneath. Next, holes are drilled into the bone, and implant posts are placed in the holes. Your gums are sutured closed around the posts, and temporary teeth are set into place.

As you heal, your bone fuses to the posts, stabilizing them in your jaw. Several follow up visits allow us to monitor your progress. Once you have fully healed, we then begin the process of creating and placing, your final dental restorations.

Benefits of Fixed Dentures

Fixed dentures offer several significant benefits. These benefits include:
•  Restoring your ability to bite and chew, which also restores your digestion and nutrition. You can eat all of your favorite foods again without fear of your teeth slipping out of place or falling out.
•  You can speak normally again.
•  Your smile is beautifully restored. Your new teeth look exactly like natural teeth.
•  Greater comfort. Your teeth are supported by the implant posts rather than your gums.
•  Ease of care. You can brush and floss your new teeth just like your natural teeth.
•  The implant posts restore stimulation to your jawbone, stopping and preventing bone loss. This helps to maintain the integrity of your jawbone.

With fixed dentures, your new teeth are held securely in place, restoring the functions of your teeth and the appearance of your smile. The implant posts also help to preserve the integrity of your jawbone. For more information, and to schedule your consultation, call ZenTech Dentistry today at (503) 765-9699.
Dr. Frank Sioda
18676 Williamette Dr. Suite 202
West Linn, OR 97068-1718

ZenTech Dentistry