What Are Implant-Supported Dentures?

Dentures replace missing teeth, letting you smile, eat, and talk as normally as possible. There are several types of dentures a dentist can fit you with depending on your budget, the extent of tooth loss, and personal preferences. 

The most common types of dentures are partial and complete dentures that are held in place using a combination of methods, including suction, clasps, and adhesives. While they are affordable, function well, and look natural, traditional dentures have a few problems: 

• They are unstable, causing them to shift in the mouth when you eat, laugh, smile, or cough. In some cases, they may even fall out. 

• They make it harder to chew certain foods. They can also interfere with normal taste sensations. 

• They can cause speech impediments. This is especially pronounced with dentures that cover the upper roof of the mouth. 

Implant-supported or implant-retained dentures are a good alternative to traditional dentures. They are pricier, but they offer more stability and have less impact on speech and eating. 

What Are Implant-Supported Dentures?

Implant-supported dentures are anchored into permanent implants that are placed inside the jawbone. 

A dental surgeon will surgically place implants into your jaw bone. You then have to wait 3-6 months for the wounds to heal and for the implants to fully fuse with bone, to ensure sturdy support. In the meantime, you will be fitted with temporary or healing dentures. 

After healing, stronger and longer lasting dentures are then attached to these implants. 

There are several types of implant-supported dentures: 

• All-on-four dentures is a technology that replaces a full row of upper or lower teeth using dentures that are supported by only four implants. This procedure provides stability while reducing cost and recovery time. 

• Removable/snap-on dentures. Most implant dentures are of this type. The implants themselves are permanent, but the dentures can be snapped on and off for easy maintenance. 

• Fixed implant dentures. Both the dentures and the implants are fixed and cannot be removed at home. Some dentures are permanently fixed while others are screw-retained and can be occasionally removed at the dentist’s. 

Benefits of Implant-Supported Dentures

They Are Stable

The biggest benefit of implant-retained dentures is stability. Because they are anchored on permanent implants, these dentures don’t move and shift around like traditional dentures when you eat, laugh or talk. 

You also never have to worry about them falling out. 

They Are Stronger

With traditional dentures, you have to be careful when you eat. Some hard, sticky, and chewy foods like nuts, steak, candy, and carrots are off the table or you have to cut them up into small pieces. 

Implant dentures have much higher biting force and chewing efficiency, so you can eat most foods without having the dentures slip or fall out. You can comfortably bite into an apple, chew on a large piece of steak, and crunch on a carrot. 

Less Impact on Speech and Eating

Implant-supported dentures do not cover other teeth or the roof of the mouth. That means they don’t affect the position and placement of the tongue as much as traditional dentures. You can speak and eat normally with implant dentures. 

Talking and eating may still feel a bit weird at first, but you get used to it quickly and changes in speech are only mild. 

Downsides of Implant-Retained Dentures

• They are more expensive than traditional dentures. 

• The treatment is more invasive and requires a longer healing time. 

• Higher risk of complications, including infections. 

But overall, if the cost is no objection, implant-supported dentures are superior to traditional dentures in almost every way. 

Discuss with your dentist whether implant dentures are right for you and what the fitting process would be like. In some cases, some initial dental work, like bone grafting and removal of decayed teeth, is necessary.