Back in school, you probably heard that George Washington wore wooden dentures, explaining his dour expression in his well-known portraits. You may not realize that’s one of the most popular myths about the father of our country (along with the cherry tree legend), but it is true that Washington had dental problems, and uncomfortable dentures in ivory, gold and lead surely didn’t help matters. Today, dentures come in natural-looking porcelain or plastic materials—far more comfortable and lifelike than lead. Still, there are modern-day alternatives to dentures that are just like your own natural teeth. That’s why we’re predicting dentures will soon go the way of powdered wigs.
Talk to a grandparent or other elder in your family about what it’s like to live with dentures, and they’ll readily tell you all the problems dentures cause because they are not anchored in the mouth—they may pinch, slip, create mouth sores or trap food underneath. (Think of the annoyance of trying to walk with pebble in your shoe.) Biting into a fresh, crisp apple or buttery corn on the cob? Forget it. In addition, dentures must be removed and cleaned regularly to avoid infections, disease or bad breath.
What’s the modern-day alternative to dentures that patients are raving about? We call it our “Teeth in a Day” procedure, which uses All-on-4™ dental implants. In only one appointment our surgeons remove teeth and replace them with a full dental bridge supported by only four dental implants. With fewer implants needed, the overall treatment time is reduced. Best of all, All-on-4™ dental implants support a full dental bridge that is fixed in your mouth. And because dental implants act like a natural tooth root, patients literally can’t tell the difference.
If you’d like to learn more about today’s alternative to uncomfortable, ill-fitting dentures, schedule a consultation today with one of our highly skilled surgeons.