What is a Dental Implant?
Dental Implants provide a solution to the long-time problem of ill-fitting and uncomfortable dentures.
A dental implant is a small dental “post” or “screw” that is placed in the jawbone as an artificial
substitution for a natural tooth root. This provides a strong foundation to support or secure a partial or full denture.
Dental implants have the highest level of predictability among tooth replacement options, are the closest possible replacement for natural teeth, function like a tooth on its own to protect your jawbone and teeth, and are the optimal way to restore your natural smile.
Eat, Chew & Smile naturally again with Implant Secured Dentures.
Types of Implant Secured Dentures:
- Implant Supported Dentures are designed to take the full force of your bite, absorbing it through the implants and jawbone and thus functioning as the most effective and natural bite. Implant Secured Dentures require a greater number of implants and a good quality bone. These are fixed in place and are not removable.
- Implant Retained Dentures the gums will absorb the main force of the bite. They require fewer dental implants and may maximize use of stronger, thicker bone that is available. Implant retained dentures need to be removed for cleaning at night.
Implant Supported Dentures 
Implant Retained Dentures
Why are Dental Implants a Good Choice?
With Implant secured or retained dentures you will have a more stable and natural feeling compared to traditional dentures. When dentures are secured and more stable in the mouth a greater variety of foods can be chewed effectively without dislodging the dentures. Many patients who have chosen implant secured dentures are pleased and comfortable for the first time since they lost their natural teeth. They no longer feel as if their dentures will ‘slip’ when speaking or laughing and they have improved confidence with their smile.
Benefits of Dental Implants
- Improved ability to eat foods you may have avoided
- Decreased denture discomfort
- Increased denture stability
- Significant decrease in bone loss at implant sites
- Improved self esteem
- Improved nutrition
- Improved digestion
- Reduced palate of an upper denture to increase taste, temperature and texture of food
What is the process for Dental Implants?
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Make consultation appointments with our Denturist and Dr. Alex Rhee to determine if dental implants are right for you.
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Our Denturist and Dr. Alex Rhee will coordinate the treatment plan that best suits your needs.
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Several visits will be required with your Denturist (for the dentures to be fabricated and to be secured on the dental implants) and with Dr. Alex Rhee (to place the implants and to ensure, after a period of healing, they are integrated with the jawbone).
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Checkups should be scheduled at regular intervals with: our Denturist, Dental Hygienist, and implant placing Doctor. Together your dental team will provide you with the dental care your implants require for your optimal dental health.
Tips on Oral and Denture Hygiene
- Dental implants are placed in the jawbone and are intended to act much like natural teeth, and like
natural teeth, implants need to be kept clean using a toothbrush and floss. - Dental plaque is an invisible bacterial film that forms on natural teeth, dentures, retention bars and implant abutments. Once hardened by calcification, plaque becomes calculus (commonly referred to as tartar). Gum irritation and diseases are only a few of the damaging occurrences that could compromise the success of your implants over time.
- To avoid plaque build-up, a daily regimen of cleaning and rinsing is required.
- Special floss and brushes can be used to clean implant abutments and bars and to gently massage your gums.
- Avoid using metal tools to clean your implant components.
- As with natural teeth, your dental implants will require regular professional cleanings and
evaluation by a Dental Hygienist. - Do not forget your dentures! Taking care of your dentures is also part of a good oral hygiene program.
- Clean and rinse your dentures after every meal.
- Between meals, brush your dentures with a soft brush and non-abrasive denture cream.
- A denture should be removed each day and placed in a covered container with a denture soaking cleanser that kills bacteria. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the denture cleanser to determine how long your denture should be soaked. Soaking a denture overnight is optional with some denture cleansers. This keeps a denture clean, and also gives the supporting tissues in your mouth a chance to rest.
- If your denture is secured to your implants and cannot be removed by you, then your Denturist will advise you of a special hygiene regimen required.
***Educational material reprinted with permission from The Denturist Association of Ontario (DAO) Copyright © 2014 The Denturist Association of Ontario.