An implant-retained denture is a denture held in place by dental implants. These dentures may be removable by the patient or be of a fixed design and thereby are removable only by the dentist.
Before dental implants were introduced, a patient who had lost all their teeth was limited to wearing complete dentures, and the stability and retention of those dentures was often unpredictable at best and impossible at worst.
With the use of as few as two implants,, we are able to construct a removable denture which snaps into place and provides excellent retention and stability. With more implants, it is possible to fabricate a fixed denture or a fixed dental bridge, which is just like having one's own teeth.
Fixed or Removable Implant-Retained Dentures
Patients have more choices with fixed and removable implant-retained dentures .
Fixed implant-retained dentures require more implants than removable implant-retained dentures because the denture is permanently attached to the implants and needs greater stabilization. Implant-retained dentures feel more natural than removable ones, and chewing efficiency is fully restored.
Removable, implant-retained dentures require fewer implants; four dental implants securely support an upper denture, allowing the plate to be smaller or completely eliminated. Denture plate reduction or elimination feels more natural and improves the taste of food. Just two implants placed under a lower denture can enhance stability and restore chewing efficiency to up to 90%, while four implants can provide up to 100% of normal chewing ability. Removable dentures also simplify maintenance and cleaning.
Teeth in a Day - All on 4 - All on 6
All-on-4® (Nobel Biocare), Teeth in a Day, Teeth in an Hour are same-day denture procedures for implant-retained dentures that treat the entire upper and/or lower set of teeth. The procedure is best for patients with significant tooth loss or decay and for people whose jawbone loss prevents the use of traditional dental implants.
Four dental implants support a temporary fixed denture. The denture is placed on the day of surgery, immediately after the implants.
All-on-Six denture procedure used more implants than the standard All-on-Four. The exact number of dental implants required can vary from patient-to-patient based on individual dental health and the supporting jawbone structure.
Dental Implant All on Four, Teeth in a Day Procedure Time Frame
- Time to complete - two dental visits are usually required to place the dental implants and the temporary denture. Fabrication of the permanent denture may take three to six weeks, and additional healing time may be required, taking several weeks for the procedure to be completed.
- 1st procedure visit - X-ray and/or CT Scan. We will review and plan the exact placement location for the dental implants.
- 2nd visit - We will perform the dental implants placement and provide a temporary denture - Teeth-in-a-day.
- 3rd visit - is a healing/progress visit. We will take impressions for the custom implant abutments, and the permanent denture(s) that will be fabricated by our dental lab.
- 4th visit - the permanent denture is placed on the implants and required adjustments are made.
Dental Implant-Retained Dentures provide superior function
Compared to traditional removable dentures, implant-retained dentures are significantly better. A person's chewing ability with complete conventional dentures is only about 15% of that with natural teeth. Implant-retained dentures enable a person to function up to 100% as effectively as with natural teeth.
The procedure starts with an initial consultation to determine the best treatment plan. Once decided, detailed dental images are taken, and the selected number of implants are placed. After the implants heal and are securely in place, the fixed or removable dentures are made and installed. Follow-up visits are needed to clean the implants, just like natural teeth, and to ensure the dentures function as intended. Once completed, these dentures will provide many years of reliable service.