When most or all of the teeth on the top or bottom are gone, depending on what you're after, that's either a fixed set that stays put or a snap-in implant-retained denture, which is far steadier than a traditional plate.
Replacing missing teeth with implant retained dentures
Usually, when you lose a tooth, it is best for your oral health to have it replaced. Missing teeth can affect your “bite” as well as your ability to speak and chew. Their loss can increase the burden on your remaining teeth and can cause muscle pain in your jaws and headaches. And of course, losing a tooth can affect your appearance. The following information reviews replacing missing teeth with an implant retained denture.
Although many patients have no problem wearing an upper denture, some people find it difficult to wear and eat with lower dentures. Several implant-supported replacement options are available if you are missing all of your lower teeth.
What if I’m missing all of my lower teeth?
Ball Attachment Denture
One option is to have two implants placed in your lower jaw and a denture made that snaps onto these dental implants. This option allows your lower denture to be more stable while chewing than without implants. However, there will still be movement of your lower denture, and sore spots will occur if any food particles, especially seeds, are caught under it. As with all removable replacement teeth, you still will need periodic appointments for denture adjustment.
Bar Attachment Denture
Another option involves placing four to six implants, depending on your jaw size or shape, into your lower jaw. After healing is complete, the implants are connected with a custom-made support bar. Your denture will be made with special internal retention clips that attach onto the support bar, enabling the denture to snap firmly into place. This is called an “overdenture.” The advantage of this option is that it is much more stable than the first option and allows very little denture movement. Your denture is still removable for easy cleaning and maintenance.
Screw Retained Denture
A third option involves placing five or more implants in your jaw and attaching a permanent denture. Your denture is held in place by screws or clasps that secure it to the support posts or bar. It doesn’t touch the gum tissue, which allows you to clean under the denture without removing it. This denture will replace all your missing lower teeth and will not be removed except at maintenance visits. Although cleaning under your denture without removing it is more time consuming and requires more dexterity, many patients who want a permanent denture prefer this option.
What If I’m Missing All Of My Upper Teeth?
A similar range of treatment options is also available for your upper jaw. However, because the bone is not as hard as that in the lower jaw, people often need more implants to support their new replacement teeth.
Implant Retained Upper Denture
Depending upon the number of implants to be placed, it may be possible to eliminate the need for covering the roof of your mouth with a complete denture. This option allows you to fully taste your food and gives you a better sense of its temperature. Your denture will feel more natural. You will still have a removable denture, which makes cleaning the support bar and denture much easier.
Implant benefits:
- Improved dental hygiene
- Superior esthetics
- Nutritional benefits
The Dental Implant Process at LeBlanc Dentistry
Implants take time, and that’s on purpose. The bone has to fuse to the post before it can carry a tooth. Here’s how the timeline usually runs.
Consultation and planning
We examine your mouth, take 3D images of the jaw, and map out where each implant goes. This is also where we check whether the bone can support an implant as it is, or needs a little groundwork first.
Bone grafting
When a tooth has been gone a while, the bone underneath tends to shrink. A graft rebuilds it so there’s something solid to anchor to. When you do, it adds a few months of healing before the implant goes in.
Placing the implant
An oral surgeon places the titanium post into the jaw. It’s a smaller procedure than most people expect, done under local anesthetic or sedation, and most patients are back to normal the next day.
Healing and the final tooth
Dr. Kulic fits the crown, bridge, or denture, colour-matched to your other teeth, and you’re finished. A straightforward case runs three to six months start to finish. Grafting makes it longer.
Are You a Candidate for Implants?
Most healthy adults missing a tooth are candidates. The two things that matter most are enough jawbone to hold the implant and healthy gums around it. Neither is a dealbreaker on its own. Bone can be rebuilt with a graft, and gum disease can be treated before we start.
A few things make us look closer: heavy smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, or a habit of grinding at night. None of these rules you out automatically, but each one changes the plan. The only way to know for sure is an exam, which is what the consultation is for.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
- Look, feel, and function like natural teeth
- Prevent bone loss and preserve facial structure
- No slipping or clicking like traditional dentures
- Long-lasting with proper care
- No need to alter healthy adjacent teeth
- You can eat anything you like without worrying about your teeth
Why Choose LeBlanc General Dentistry and Aesthetics?
- All-In-One Convenience: Everything happens at one location—your dental home in Houston- from surgery to final restoration, ensuring your comfort and convenience.
- A Handpicked Team: Our implant specialists are carefully vetted and work closely with Dr. Kulic to ensure optimal results.
- Aesthetic and Functional Excellence: Dr. Kulic brings a unique blend of artistic vision and clinical precision to every case, creating smiles as beautiful as they are strong.
How Long Implants Last, and Looking After Them
With good care, implants last a long time. Twenty years or more is common, and plenty last for life. The post itself is titanium and can’t decay. The crown or denture on top can wear over the years and may eventually need replacing, but the implant underneath stays put.
Caring for one is refreshingly ordinary. Brush and floss it like a natural tooth. Keep up your regular cleanings, since the gum and bone around the implant still need to stay healthy. Skip chewing ice or using your teeth as tools. That’s really the whole list.
What Do Dental Implants Cost in Houston?
Implant pricing isn’t one-size-fits-all, so a real number comes after we’ve seen your mouth. What moves it: how many teeth you’re replacing, whether you need a graft or an extraction first, and the type of restoration on top. A single implant sits at one end; a full arch is a bigger investment.
Here’s the straight version. We won’t quote you a figure over the phone that changes once you’re in the chair. You get an exact plan and price at your consultation. To keep it manageable, we offer third-party financing through CareCredit, Alphaeon, and Cherry. And if you’re uninsured, our Smile Membership covers care here at a flat yearly rate, without the deductibles, caps, and waiting periods insurance usually brings.