Dental implants are the most durable and long-lasting way to replace missing teeth. Depending on the overall state of your oral health, a hybrid implant-supported denture may be your best option.
Hybrid dentures are essentially a cross between traditional dentures and dental implants. They offer the stability and permanence of implants, but cost less because you don’t need an implant for each tooth. For example, with all-on-4 implants, you would only need 4 implant posts to support a full set of dentures.
All About Hybrid Dentures (aka All-on-X Dental Implants)
What Is a Fixed Hybrid Denture?
Also known as a fixed hybrid denture, hybrid implant-supported dentures are a set of false teeth and gums that fully cover the upper or lower arch. Fixed hybrid dentures offer the best of both worlds, blending the aesthetics and function of traditional dentures with the stability of dental implants. They consist of natural-looking prosthetic teeth attached to titanium implant posts that have been surgically placed in the jaw.
The implants fuse to the bone and provide the stability you need to eat and speak comfortably. Depending on your needs, four, six, or more dental implants may be used. Hybrid dentures are also commonly called all-on-4, all-on-6, or all-on-x dental implants.
Hybrid Dentures vs. Traditional Dentures
Like traditional dentures, hybrid implant-supported dentures replace a full set of upper or lower teeth with an aesthetically pleasing prosthetic that fits over the gums. But while traditional dentures sit freely on the gums and can be easily removed, hybrid dentures are held securely in place with several dental implants, and can only be removed by a dentist.
The use of dental implants makes hybrid dentures more expensive than traditional dentures, but they offer much more stability. Fixed hybrid dentures restore the mouth back to its full function, so you can eat whatever you want, and you never have to worry about your dentures slipping out or sliding around and becoming uncomfortable.
Unlike traditional dentures, the implant posts in hybrid dentures will stimulate the jaw bone in a similar way to how a tooth root does. This prevents bone loss as well as changes to the shape of the face that occur over time due to bone resorption. Without something to stimulate the bone, your body assumes you no longer need it and redistributes the bone elsewhere.
Just like regular implants, hybrid dentures can last a lifetime as long as you maintain good oral hygiene. Standard dentures, however, only have a lifespan of about seven years.
Hybrid dentures use the same porcelain that our dental crowns use. This material looks beautiful and natural.
What Does Getting Hybrid Implant Dentures Involve?
The procedure for hybrid dentures builds on the principles related to getting an individual dental implant. First, a dentist will need to determine whether hybrid dentures are right for you. The initial discussion will be centered on what you’re hoping to achieve from the function and aesthetics at the completion of the whole process. Everything is more clear when we have a shared endpoint.
At Copper Creek Dental, we design exactly where the ideal custom smile should be, and have temporary hybrids made that you will comfortably wear during healing after implant placement. With a clear understanding of where the overlying teeth should be, we digitally plan the perfect placement for the implants.
From this digital plan, we create a custom stackable surgical guide that will put the bone, the implants, and the prosthetic all in our precise predetermined position. This surgical guide ensures optimal placement, ensuring the hybrid denture looks and feels as natural as possible. During our consultations, we’ll show you the models and help you better understand the process.
When all the planning is complete, we perform the implant surgery under full general anesthesia. All remaining teeth are extracted, the bone is contoured to best suit the long-term prosthetic and optimize aesthetics, the dental implants are placed, and the prosthetic is attached to the implants. You’ll be able to leave that same day with a full set of teeth that will appear very similar to our end prosthetic. When done this way, there is no moment after the dental implant procedure where you’ll have to go without teeth.
After several months of healing, we begin the process of fabricating the definitive prosthetic. During this process, we continue to create the smile you first envisioned at the beginning of the process.
Who Is Eligible for Hybrid Dentures?
Making the decision to remove teeth usually comes at the end of an emotional journey for somebody with deteriorating oral health. When a patient has tried to maintain their teeth but problems continue to set them back, a hybrid denture is a great solution to stop the downward spiral.
Although seniors are more likely to need hybrid implant-supported dentures, anyone with significant tooth loss may be eligible. However, you must have healthy bone and gum tissue in order for the implants to fuse successfully.
Some habits and disease states can make the healing process more difficult. For example, smoking slows the healing process and can lead to implant failure. And osteoporosis can reduce jaw bone quality or density. If you’re considering getting hybrid dentures, our dentists can help you determine whether or not you’re a good candidate.
Hybrid Implant-Supported Dentures in South Jordan, Utah
At Copper Creek Dental, we want you to get back to living life to the fullest as soon as possible. Using our advanced in-house technology, we’re able to place hybrid dentures in as few appointments as possible. We help the people of South Jordan’s Daybreak and surrounding communities transform their smiles with high quality, beautiful dental restorations. Give us a call at 801-280-1911 today to schedule an appointment.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (2/27/2023). Photo by Luis Machado on Unsplash