Do I Need Dental Implants with Dentures?

Serving the Portland OR & Vancouver WA Metro Area

A typical set of dentures are designed so they stay in one spot by using a thin saliva layer between your bone tissue and underlying gums. Partial dentures may also have little hooks that help them attach to any other teeth that you may have left in your mouth. However, a problem occurs if you don’t have any teeth in your mouth as it makes it difficult to wear dentures. You will have an absolutely easier time eating, talking and enjoying life if you use dentures that are supported by dental implants.

Are Dental Implants Necessary?

Have you ever asked yourself, “do I need dental implants with my dentures?”

If you’re asking yourself this question, the answer is a resounding YES, because if you’re asking this question, you’re probably having issues that dental implants were designed to fix.

If you currently are wearing dentures then you probably know that it can be difficult to keep them from slipping around if you have reduced amount of gums or jawbone. With implants anchoring your dentures that problem is completely solved.

Types Of Implant Supported Dentures

There are a couple of different types of these dentures. Removable or Fixed.

• Removable Dentures

Generally, two or more implants need to be placed in one arch.  The wearer has the ability to remove these dentures themselves if the need should arise.

• • • Locator-Type Abutment Retained Dentures: This is the latest form of attachment for implant supported dentures and has been the generally preferred method since their introduction in the 2000’s.
    • Bar-retained dentures: These were commonly utilized in the 1970’s to 1990’s.  For the style of dentures, a dental professional will design a thin metal bar that’s used to follow the inward curve of your jawbone. This is attached to about two to five separate dental implants that are placed in the bone. Nylon clips or other types of attachments are designed to fit on your dentures, or the bar, or both. Your dentures are placed on top of the bar and securely clipped down.
    • Ball-retained dentures: These were commonly used in the 1980’s and 1990’s as well. With these dentures, a metal attachment is placed on top of the dental implant, this attachment clips into the denture. Typically, these attachments are ball-shaped and fit into sockets, which are on the denture. However, in some cases, the sockets and ball-shaped attachments are reversed.

• Fixed Dentures

Generally, 4 or more implants need to be placed in one arch.  These dentures cannot be taken out by the wearer, they must be removed at a dental appointment by a dentist if the need should arise.