I make dental implants on almost a daily basis. If one were to have a choice over wearing a permanant implant or removable dentures I would go with the implants whether they be bridges or permanant dentures. If you still have a good many years left in you this would be the best choice.
It will take at least a half a year of your life to have made.
the posts for the implants are imbedded into the jaw bone by the oral surgeon There are holes in the imbedded part so that the bone will regrow through the implant and anchor it in the mouth. I have a sax player friend who has had both upper and lower teeth replaced with implants.
this regrowth process takes about 4 months to heal. If the process was a sucess then your family dentist will take over by having a lab make the prosthesis. This will take at least another month or so especially if you are getting a full arch prosthesis made.
thats where I come in.
You can email me directly if you have any more questions. Dentist are also obliged to send your work to whatever lab you recommend. hint. hint. We have been making bridges and dentures for implants for over 10 years now and are on top of the technology.
PS. regular dentures work for some as long as you keep them in your head. If you dont wear them your gums will start to recede making it more difficult in later years to wear dentures at all. I'm constantly cleaning denture creme out of a friends chromatics. yuck!!
Michael "Fathead" Easton Chromatic and diatonic repair and restoratio~br>http://www.harmonicarepair.com