Denture Stabilisation & Longevity of Prosthetics


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Prosthetics unsupported by dental implants are exposed to the same stresses and forces as our natural teeth, but without a lot of the underlying support structure. Our teeth have developed remarkable structural integrity through a linkage with the robust jawbone beneath or above them provided through a dental root. This linkage means that whenever we bite or chew, our natural teeth experience only some of the forces involved, while the rest is distributed to the jawbone.

This is an extremely effective mechanism, and the proof is in the fact that with proper care your teeth will endure a lifetime of daily chewing.


Without the stability provided by implants, prosthetics often have to endure these forces without the benefit of support from the jawbone. This is where implants play such a vital role, in emulating and providing the stability that would otherwise be offered to our teeth through their roots and the jawbone beneath. Implants are left to integrate with the jawbone after the surgery has been completion, and thanks to a process called osseointegration the end result is a titanium implant that has fused with the jawbone and acts as a root structure in support of dental prostheses.

Dentures, crowns, and bridges can be fitted to these implants to share in the strength and stability of the jawbone. This stability means that forces that would eventually wear down prosthetics are distributed to and throughout the jawbone, improving the longevity of prosthetics as well as offering other distinctive benefits like improved comfort, and access to more foods thanks to improved bite strength and comfort. Despite the robust materials chosen to make up crowns, dentures, and bridges, many of these prosthetics can be worn down over time without the support offered by implants.

Overtime the stability offered by implants can actually improve as the structure helps to restore jawbone that may be lost following the loss of teeth. The jawbone depends on the stimulus provided by regular chewing and biting with our teeth to maintain itself, and in the absence of such a stimulus the body begins to cannibalise what it considers unused bone for other purposes. Implants and the linkage they offer between our teeth and the jawbone can provide a stimulus very similar to that produced by our regular teeth. Over time, bone is restored to the jaw and through that the stability conferred by dental implants improves. These benefits translate to improved longevity of both implants and any dental prosthetics being used, as well as improved comfort and usability.

Considering the costs involved in both the implant procedure and the application of dentures and other dental prosthetics, improved longevity is a huge asset. However it should be pointed out that regular oral care and maintenance is still extremely important. Many implant procedures fail in the long run because of poor oral hygiene and maintenance of prosthetics, therefore it isn’t enough to just have implants put in, you also need to look after them. With the proper care implants can last you a lifetime, which is comforting considering how costly and time consuming the procedure can be.

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