Implant Retained Dentures

Surgery for dental implants is a very gentle procedure, usually only requiring local anesthetic and can be completed within an hour in most cases. There is a little discomfort following placement of the implant similar to the discomfort felt when having a tooth extracted. Those who choose to have implants placed will be referred to a specialist dental surgeon who is an expert at implant placement. After surgery the implants are given 3-6 months to integrate with the bone in the jaws before the new denture can be attached to the implants. During this period the patient would wear their old dentures or a transitional denture that has been fabricated for this purpose.

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TYPES OF IMPLANT OVERDENTURES AVAILABLE
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Snap-in Locator Attachments
​(Removable)

A great way to get the lower denture to stay put is to use 2-4 implants with locator attachments.  There is a male attachment screwed into the implant (the titanium screw in the bone) which snaps into the female attachment in the denture, effectively holding it in place.  

To secure an upper denture using locator attachments, a minimum of 4 implants must be placed due to the nature of the bone present in the upper jaw which contains many air pockets (hence the name "spongy bone" which is used to describe it).

Snap-in Bar Retained Denture
(Removable)

A bar retained denture allows the attachment sites of the denture to be placed exactly where they are needed for optimal function, regardless of where the implants were placed in the jaw or the angles of the implants placed by the surgeon (within reason).  

​The bar acts as a splint, equalizing the forces on the implants which helps to prolong their life.

There are many different type of attachments available for the denture to secure itself onto the bar when placed.  Locators, ball attachments, hader clips, ERA attachments and swiss lock system are all different examples of the attachments that can be used.

​Pictured above are locator attachments on the bar, which is fixed onto the implants in the jaw.  

Screw Retained Dentures
​(Fixed Case - Non Removable)

Screw retained dentures are fixed in place with screws, making them non-removable by the patient.  Because of this, the patient feels as if they have their own teeth back.  

Screw retained dentures require at least 4 implants to be placed and the dentures are attached to these implants with little screws by the dentist.  Once screwed in place, the screw access holes are filled in with hard material to prevent food debris, calculus and tampering with the screws.

With a fixed prosthesis it is very important to keep everything clean.  Hygiene is of the utmost importance.  The patient must have the manual dexterity to be able to brush and clean underneath the denture and around the implants to ensure that the implants will last a long time and be in good shape.
Appointments with a dentist regularly for a cleaning is a good idea to make sure everything is ok.