Understanding Implant Supported Dentures

There are times when traditional dentures fail to provide enough stability and comfort for patients. In such cases, an implant-retained or implant-supported denture may be recommended. Instead of having your denture rest on the gums with an adhesive paste, it can be securely anchored into your jawbone using dental implants. This revolutionary denture alternative requires that patients have adequate bone in the jaw to support the implants. However, for those who do, implant-retained dentures can significantly improve their entire denture experience and their quality of life

Implant-supported dentures are used when there is an entire arch of missing teeth. While these dentures can be used in either the lower or upper jaw, they typically work best in the lower jaw, where patients commonly find it difficult to keep traditional dentures in place. By using dental implants to secure or retain your dentures, you can gain maximum confidence when laughing, chewing and speaking.

How Do Implant Retained Dentures Work?

Implant retained dentures use special attachments that snap directly onto the dental implants, which is what provides unrivaled stability compared to traditional denture models.

Implant retained dentures can be secured in one of two ways: bar-retained or ball-retained. Each option includes an acrylic gum base and porcelain or acrylic teeth that look like your natural teeth. Patients typically need two to five dental implants to properly stabilize their denture using this system.

Bar-retained dentures — A thin metal bar is attached to the dental implants that have been surgically placed in your jawbone. A special attachment or clip will be fitted to the bar, your denture or both. Your denture will then fit over the bar and clip into place. Rest assured that the bar and attachments are not visible after the denture snaps on.

Ball-retained dentures — This type of implant-retained denture uses a series of stud attachments that secure your denture to dental implants. Each implant in the jawbone holds a metal, ball-like attachment that securely fits into a special socket attachment on the denture. These are commonly referred to as “male” and “female” attachments.

Removable implant supported dentures require daily cleaning of the denture and gum. However, they represent a highly-preferred option because they do not require messy adhesive creams and they deliver much better stability than dentures not supported by dental implants. To learn more about our expansive menu of teeth replacement options, please call Sunrise Dental and Implant Center today.