Dental Implant-Retained Dentures 

If you are getting dentures, you should know that there are actually several different types available. The type that you would need and benefit from can be determined during your initial consultation with your dentist. One increasingly popular type is dental implant-retained dentures.

Implant-Retained Dentures for Replacing Missing Teeth 

Losing your natural teeth can result in a number of negative consequences that go beyond just your smile. For example, it may be harder to chew your favorite foods or speak clearly. You may find that you are embarrassed whenever you open your mouth to chew your food or smile.

Dentures can help solve some of the problems experienced by those with missing teeth, but they can also pose challenges. Many patients are turning to implant-retained dentures to solve some of these problems.

Benefits of Implant-Retained Dentures 

Implant-retained dentures are a great solution for many patients, offering the following benefits. 

• Improved stability: This type offers more stability than conventional dentures and will not slip or fall out.
• Improved eating: Implant-retained dentures allow you to more easily chew and bite your food.
• Natural appearance: In comparison to traditional dentures, implant-retained dentures look and feel more like natural teeth.
• Preserves bone mass: Prevents the sunken-in appearance that those with missing teeth often experience.
• More comfortable: Since these dentures fit better, they provide enhanced comfort and cause less friction with soft tissues in the mouth.

What if all of my lower teeth are missing?

If you are missing all of your lower teeth, you have several options.

Locator-attached Denture or Ball Attachment 

This type incorporates as little as two implants for anchoring the denture. A complete set of lower dentures locks into the anchors. This provides more stability and less shifting than conventional dentures.

Ball Attachment Denture

This type uses anywhere from two to six dental implants placed within the lower jaw for anchoring a complete set of dentures. A support bar is custom-fitted and attached to your implants, allowing your teeth to snap into place with retention clips. This offers the ability for teeth to be retained securely, involving very little movement or shifting whenever you speak or eat. However, you can still remove it for cleaning.

Screw-retained Denture

This is a more permanent type of denture for those missing all of their lower teeth. Four or more dental implants are used for support. The dentures are attached to them using screws, which offers exceptional security. You do not remove this type of denture; rather, you will clean around and under the teeth.

What if all of my upper teeth are missing?

The quality of the bone in the upper jaw is different from the lower jaw. However, you still have some solutions available. Your dentist may be able to place your dentures so that a dental appliance is not required for extension across the roof of your mouth. This results in a more natural appearance whenever you speak or eat.

When upper dentures are supported by dental implants, they are less prone to shift and can be removed to clean or maintain them.