Lansing, MI Dentures and Implants

Removable Dentures, no implants

-For patients requiring replacement of all teeth in the upper and/or lower arch of the mouth, removable dentures are an excellent treatment option. They provide improved esthetics by replacing the missing teeth in the mouth, and improved overall function for eating and speech.

Removable dentures are a prosthesis placed in the mouth containing replacement teeth, typically mounted in a base made of a pink gum-colored resin formed to an exact fit over your existing gums. They are designed to be removable without the assistance of a dental professional.

The process of creating the dentures begins with Dr. Dyras taking several impressions of your gums. These impressions are then sent to a laboratory, where an expert technician builds a model of your mouth. The lab then works closely with Dr. Dyras to design your prosthesis using the model as a base.

As each phase of the design is completed, Dr. Dyras will meet with you to check for proper fit and bite alignment. It usually requires multiple incremental "try-in" fittings to ensure the best final result for you.

After a brief period of adjusting to the feel of the dentures in your mouth, they will begin to feel natural to you- making eating easier and your speech clearer. Once your dentures are finished and you have fully adjusted to them, you will have a removable restoration specially designed to mimic the appearance of natural teeth that improves the overall function of your mouth.

Implant-Supported Dentures – Snap attachment, Removable
-For existing denture wearers seeking improved stability and function while eating and speaking, converting to a locator retained overdenture with dental implants is an excellent treatment option.

Converting to this type of prosthesis is a convenient and cost-effective way to obtain the stability provided by dental implants combined with the convenience of a removable denture. It will require multiple appointments for Dr. Dyras to place the dental implants and complete the conversion of your existing denture.

Converting your denture involves the addition of button-like fittings called locators, which then snap onto specialized locator abutments secured to dental implants placed into the supporting bone structure.

Utilizing implants not only provides a solid foundation for the denture teeth allowing for optimal eating and speaking, but also helps to preserve the underlying bone which can shrink over time without a tooth root structure to support it.

The first step in this process involves taking an impression of the edentulous area, as well as a series of diagnostic images to plan out the placement of your dental implants.

Next, the area is prepared and your dental implants are placed. Special healing caps are placed over your implants while you heal. At subsequent visits Dr. Dyras will monitor the healing process, letting you know when the area is ready for the next phase of treatment. You can continue to wear your existing denture during this time.

Once your implants have fully healed, Dr. Dyras will place the locator abutments and attachments onto them. Space is made inside your existing denture and filled with resin, and then the denture is set onto the locators to pick up the attachment pieces.

Dr. Dyras then uses a special curing light to harden the resin, securing the locator attachments to your denture. Once this is done, Dr. Dyras removes the denture and makes final adjustments.

With the process completed, your denture has been enhanced with the stability and function provided by the addition of locator attachments and dental implants.

Permanent Implant Dentures – All-On-4 system, Not removable

For patients requiring replacement of all teeth in the upper and/or lower arch of the mouth, screw-retained dentures with dental implants are an excellent treatment option. They improve your appearance by replacing your missing teeth while providing improved overall function for eating and speech, with the added stability of a fixed restoration thanks to the use of implants. It will require multiple appointments to place the dental implants and for Dr. Dyras to design your dentures.

Screw retained dentures are a prosthesis placed in the mouth containing replacement teeth, mounted in a base made of pink resin formed over a metal structure to create an exact fit over your existing gums. They are secured in place using dental implants, which are artificial roots placed into the supporting bone. Utilizing implants not only provides a solid foundation for the denture teeth allowing for optimal eating and speaking, but also helps to preserve the surrounding bone from shrinking over time without a tooth root structure to support it.

The first step in this process is to take an impression of the area, which Dr. Dyras will use to create a set of temporary dentures for you. When the temporary dentures are completed, diagnostic images are taken of the area to plan out the placement of your dental implants.

Next, the area is prepared and your dental implants are placed. If Dr. Dyras feels that the implants are stable enough to handle the force of biting, abutments will be secured into the implants and the temporary dentures will be secured to the abutments. At subsequent visits Dr. Dyras will monitor the healing process, letting you know when the area is ready for the next phase of treatment.

Once your implants have fully healed, Dr. Dyras will take new impressions of your mouth. These impressions will be used to create your final dentures.

During follow up appointments, Dr. Dyras will check for proper fit and bite alignment of the final denture. It may require multiple incremental try-in fittings to ensure the best final result for you. Once all adjustments have been made, the final denture is fixed in place.

With the process completed, you will have a restoration specially designed to replace your natural teeth in a way that greatly improves your appearance, while being securely fixed in place in a way that promotes optimal function when eating or speaking.