Implant Dentures: Advanced Full-Arch Restorations

What are implant-supported dentures?

Implant-supported dentures combine the best of two dental technologies: dental implants and dentures. With this treatment, a row of dentures is secured to four dental implants. The patient often can leave the same day with fully functional teeth!

Revolutionary Treatment for the Edentulous

While dentures have traditionally been the go-to treatment for edentulous patients, they still pose significant challenges. They often slip, creating socially awkward encounters, come with excessive eating restrictions, and must be recreated every few years to accommodate the shrinking jaw. Dental implants have resolved all of these problems, however filling an entire row of teeth with them may be unrealistic for some patients. That is why implant dentures were created: to bring together the best of both methods, giving our patients a new smile in just one day.

Why Choose Implant Dentures

  • Great for those missing a whole row of teeth
  • Often do not require bone grafting
  • Preserve the jawbone
  • Can be used immediately in most cases
  • More affordable than all-implant restorations

The Cost of Implant-Supported Dentures

The cost of implant-supported dentures is best seen as an investment in one’s health and lifestyle. The benefits that implant dentures provide over traditional dentures bring invaluable improvements to the patient’s life. Being able to eat anything you want and smile and talk without fear of embarrassment are just the start. In addition to the enhanced quality of life, implant dentures also last longer than traditional dentures, which require frequent replacement.

Implant Dentures Procedure

The procedure takes several hours, during which you will be anesthetized to your chosen level of comfort. You will feel no pain during the surgery. Some patients do report soreness in the days following implant-supported denture surgery, however, it is usually adequately managed with over-the-counter pain medications.

Types of Implant-Supported Dentures:

Ball Attachment Denture

The ball attachment denture offers more stability than a traditional removable denture, however, it still allows for some movement, and thus requires periodic adjustments in our office. The denture is placed on two implants in the lower jaw.

A mouth with the lower jaw missing all of its teeth
1. Before
A mouth with the lower jaw with two implants and no bottom teeth
2. Implants Placed
A mouth with a Ball Attachment Denture latched onto the lower jaw by two implants
3. Denture Attached

Bar Attachment Denture

Four to six implants are inserted into the lower jaw, onto which a custom support bar is attached. The denture is then clipped onto the support bar. It can be removed for cleaning but is much more stable than a traditional removable denture.

A mouth that has all teeth missing on its lower jaw
1. Before
A mouth without teeth and four implants connected by a metal bar on its lower jaw
2. Implants Placed
A mouth with a Bar Attachment Denture secured onto the lower jaw by four implants
3. Denture Attached

Hybrid Half-Denture/Half-Fixed

A screw-retained denture offers the most stability. Five or more implants are inserted into the jaw and a permanent denture is attached to the implants by clasps. The denture does not touch the gums, which allows you to clean underneath it without removal.

A mouth that has all lower jaw teeth missing
1. Before
A mouth that has six implants and no teeth on its lower jaw
2. Implants Placed
A mouth with a Screw Attachment Denture affixed onto the lower jaw by six implants
3. Denture Attached

Individual Implants

By far the most permanent option is to have individual implants placed all along the lower jaw. This option offers maximum stability, but the process is long and costly.

A digital representation of the lower jaw missing all of its teeth
1. Before
A mouth showing the lower jaw with all the teeth as individual implants
2. Implants Placed
A mouth showing the healed lower jaw after individual implants were placed
3. Healing Completed

Upper Jaw Restorations

Implant-supported dentures are available as a treatment for the upper jaw, however, they often require more implants to be placed because the upper jawbone is not as hard as the lower.

Implant Retained Upper Denture with its implants attached

Implant Retained Upper Denture

Depending upon the number of implants to be placed, it may be possible to eliminate the need for covering the roof of your mouth with a complete denture. This option allows you to fully taste your food and gives you a better sense of its temperature. Your denture will feel more natural. You will still have a removable denture which makes cleaning the support bar and denture much easier.

Upper Dental Implants

Individual Upper Implants

If you want a restoration that is similar to your natural teeth and therefore not removable, you probably will need eight to ten individual implants placed. This is followed after healing by the placement of the abutments and new replacement crowns. 

This option is more costly and takes much longer, however it offers maximum stability.

 

Are you tired of the hassles that dentures bring to your life? Discover a better choice in full-arch replacements by calling Downtown Dental today at Downtown Dental Office Phone Number 718-576-3730.