Dentures can be indispensably useful to someone who needs them, relieving pain and improving quality of life. However, there are many types available, which can make the consultation process complicated. While you may not have heard about them, implant-supported dentures are an excellent choice, as they offer vast health benefits and are low maintenance. Learn more about this option below to determine if it's right for you.

What Are the Negative Effects of Missing Teeth?

If you're missing even one tooth, your jaw may become misaligned. The crookedness places strain on one side of your mouth, which contributes to pain in the jaw joints, persistent headaches, and tinnitus. Additionally, it'll be harder to move your mouth, so you may develop a lisp, bite your inner cheek frequently, or acquire an overbite or underbite.

It'll also be more difficult and uncomfortable to chew food thoroughly. As a result, you won't produce as much saliva while you eat, and your esophagus and stomach will need to work harder to transfer and break down food. A misaligned jaw also often leads to sleep apnea, which will exacerbate these issues and keep you from restful sleep.  Single implants are a great way to preserve your jaw and overall health as you age.  However, if you find yourself needing multiple teeth removed, implant-supported dentures are the most like real teeth experience when chewing food.

What Are Implant-Supported Dentures?

Standard dentures are useful, but they need to be bonded to your gums regularly with adhesive, and they can sometimes slip uncomfortably out of place. However, with enough bone mass in your jaw, you can opt for implant-supported dentures instead.

With these, a dentist or oral surgeon inserts bar, screw, or stud implants into your jawbone so that the dentures can be attached to them. This makes them more stable, letting you chew and speak more naturally. The implants also keep you from losing jaw bone mass, and they're as simple to clean as regular teeth.

For professional advice on implant-supported dentures, go to All Smiles Harrisonburg in Virginia. In addition to fitting you for dentures, they offer a variety of other implant services and oral surgeries as well, including wisdom teeth removal. They also specialize in pediatric dentistry, making them an excellent choice for your whole family. To make an appointment, call (540) 432-1300 or message them online.