Permanent Dentures
in Santa Maria

Instead of using a single dental implant for every missing tooth, we can now use four implants on top and/or four on the bottom to anchor full, implant-supported dentures. Your dentist can attach a denture at those spots.

Porcelain Permanent Dentures

Porcelain dentures appear more natural and authentic and often last longer than acrylic ones, although they can cost up to $5,000 more for each arch. Dental implants and dentures might cost between $25,000 and $35,000, depending on the amount of work needed. A damaged porcelain denture may cost up to $15,000 to replace.

How Does the Procedure Work?

Getting dentures might be intimidating. You may be concerned about the procedure’s discomfort and uncertainties, but we can assure you the process will be a breeze, and there are four steps to receiving permanent dentures:

• Our dentist will ensure your comfort and may use local or general anesthetic.
• Our team will prepare your mouth for dental implants by extracting any remaining damaged teeth and any sick or infected tissue from your mouth.
• We will begin by putting two titanium screws toward the front of your mouth and two toward the back to appropriately distribute the biting force imposed on the dentures.
• We will carefully clean the surgery areas and stitch the incisions once the implants have been placed. You’ll then be taken to a recovery room to rest and recuperate from your anesthesia.

So the entire procedure includes anesthetic, surgical site preparation, the placement of the dentures, and postsurgical cleaning and suturing.

How Long is the Recovery Time?

Your recovery time after traditional implant-supported dentures can range from three to eight months, but after getting permanent dentures, you should be functioning much sooner because the implants fuse to your bone and give immediate stability to dentures. Here’s what you can expect the recovery to look like starting the day of the procedure:

After the procedure, you’ll need to rest and avoid bending over, lifting heavy objects or performing any strenuous activities that could cause more bleeding and swelling.

If you normally exercise, you’ll need to avoid it for three or four days after surgery. Remember to rest, do pain management with medication prescribed by your dentist and eat soft, easy-to-chew foods. Avoid hard foods, candies or very hot foods, and avoid chewing if you do not have sensation in your tongue yet. Your dentist will likely advise you to consume only liquids or pureed foods for the first few days after your procedure.