Implant Supported Dentures

Implant-retained dentures provide a more secure and comfortable way of restoring your teeth. Implants are placed into the jawbone, securing the denture in place for a stronger, more permanent fit. At Lifepath Dental & Wellness, our dental professionals specialize in implant-retained dentures and can help make the process simple and stress-free.

We have a certified denturist, who provides superior solutions for patients with missing teeth. We offer traditional, immediate, and partial dentures , as well as denture relines.

The Lifepath Dental & Wellness team also works alongside our denturist to create implant-supported dentures (this includes the use of titanium implants secured into the jawbone to create denture stability and restore chewing function, similar to that of natural teeth). Our denturist provides efficient, gentle, and quality service. Call our office today to schedule an appointment.

Normal full dentures are supported by your gums and are secured in the mouth with the daily application of an adhesive material. While this method can restore function for eating and chewing, as well as restoring your smile, the daily maintenance involved is far from ideal for most people. Unfortunately, typical denture adhesive material can loosen at the most inopportune moment and cause unnecessary embarrassment and discomfort to the wearer. When using denture adhesive material, it can make fitting your dentures snugly into your mouth a hassle and interfere with basic functions such as biting, chewing, and even speaking.

Implant Supported Dentures do not rely on any adhesives. Instead, they use Dental Implants to hold your dentures in place securely. Using Dental Implants, this prevents slippage and makes for a seamless, beautiful, and functional smile!

An Implant Supported Denture (also called an overdenture) is supported and attached to dental implants that are securely screwed into your jaw. Normally a regular denture rests directly on the gums and is held in place with an adhesive material.

Implant-Supported Dentures are used when you do not have any teeth in your jaw, but there is still enough bone structure left to support the installation of dental implants. The Implant Supported Denture then has special attachments that snap onto the dental implants.

Typically, Implant-Supported Dentures can be created either for the lower or upper jaw, depending on your specific needs.

To maintain your Implant Supported Denture, simply remove them daily and clean the denture as well as the surrounding gum area. Just like regular dentures, you should not sleep with them at night. If you do not want to remove your Implant-Supported Denture continually, you can also consider permanent Dental Implants for a full arch replacement.

There are two types of Implant-Supported Dentures available for you to consider: bar-retained or ball-retained. Both types require at least two dental implants for support.

• Bar-retained dentures
  These consist of a thin metal bar that follows the curve of your jaw. It is then attached to between two and five implants that have been previously placed in your jawbone. The denture then fits over the bar and is securely clipped into place.
• Ball-retained dentures (also known as stud-attachment dentures)
  Here each dental implant in the jawbone holds a metal attachment that fits into another attachment on the denture. In most cases, the attachments on the implants are ball-shaped (“male” attachments), and they fit into sockets (“female” attachments) on the denture. In some cases, the denture holds the male attachments, and the implants hold the female ones.

If you choose an Implant-Supported Denture, your dentures will be much more stable than traditional full dentures using an adhesive. You will find that you don’t have to worry about the denture becoming loose or falling out of your mouth. You should also be able to eat foods that you could not eat before! However, you will still need to be careful about chewing hard or sticky foods because they could damage the denture.

Please be aware that no single solution is ideal for every smile. During your initial consultation with your Lifepath Dental & Wellness dentist, we will be happy to discuss all of your options. We will address your Implant Supported Dentures questions and work with you to help you find the solution that best suits your needs!