When you lose a tooth, it is best to replace it in order to maintain good oral health. Missing teeth can affect your bite as well as your ability to speak and chew. Tooth loss can also negatively impact your remaining teeth causing muscle pain in your jaws and headaches. Ultimately, losing a tooth can affect the appearance of your smile. The following information explains the process of replacing missing teeth with an implant retained denture.

While many patients have no issues with wearing an upper denture, some people find it more difficult to wear and eat with lower dentures. There are several implant-supported replacement options available if you are missing all of your lower teeth.

Bar Retained Denture

Depending on your jaw size or shape, another option involves placing four to six implants into your lower jaw. After your jaw has healed from the implant surgery, the implants are connected with a custom-made support bar. The denture is made with special internal retention clips that attach onto the support bar, and enable the denture to snap firmly into place. This appliance is called an “overdenture.” The advantage of this option over a ball attachment is that it is more stable and allows for very little denture movement. Your denture will still be removable for easy cleaning and maintenance.

Ball Retained Denture

One option for missing lower teeth is to have two implants placed in your lower jaw with a denture that is made to snap onto the implants. This option gives your lower denture more stability while chewing than you would have without implants. There will still be movement of your lower denture, however, and sore spots will occur if any food particles, especially seeds, get caught under it. With removable replacement teeth, you will need periodic appointments for a denture adjustment.

Screw Retained Denture

The 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 are secured to the support posts or bar. With this option, the denture does not touch the gum tissue so you can clean under the denture without removing it. This type of denture replaces all your missing lower teeth and is not removed except at maintenance visits. Although cleaning under your denture without removing may be more time consuming, those patients who prefer a permanent denture choose this option.

There are a range of treatment options also available for your upper jaw. The bone is not as hard as that in the lower jaw, however, and people often need more implants to support their new replacement teeth. Depending on the number of implants that are placed, it may be possible to eliminate the need for covering the roof of your mouth with a complete denture. This will allow you to fully taste your food as well as give you a better sense of its temperature. What’s more, your denture will feel more natural. The denture will still be removable, and will make cleaning the support bar and denture much easier.