Implant Supported Denture
Not all Dentures are created equal. The Implant Supported Denture is a type of overdenture that which is attached and supported to the gums with implants. This technique is advised when there are no teeth remaining in the ja but their is enough of the bone in the jaw to support the implants. These implants use special attachments to the implants in the jaw to cement the dentures to the mouth.
While you can receive implant supported dentures in the upper or lower jaw, it usually is only sent to the lower jaw because of the extra support needed to hold the dentures in place. This implant-supported denture should be removed daily for cleaning at night.
There are two types of Implant Supported Dentures
- Bar Retained Dentures – There is a thin metal bar that is places alond the curve of your jaw and attached to two or five implants that have been placed in the jawbone. Clips may be attached to the bar and fitted. The denture fits over the attachments and are fitted to the bar, denture, or both. The denture fits over the bar and is clipped by attachments.
- Ball Retained Dentures – Each implant in the jawbone holds a metal attachment that fits into a slot attachment on the denture. These implants ave ball shaped protruding attachments that fit into sockets of the dentures to hold them into place.
The Implant Process
The implants usually are placed in the jawbone at the front of your mouth because there tends to be more bone in the front of the jaw than in the back. This usually is true even if teeth have been missing for some time. Once you lose teeth, you begin to lose bone in the area. Also, the front jaw doesn’t have many nerves or other structures that could interfere with the placement of implants.
The time frame to complete the implant depends on many factors. The shortest time frame is about five months in the lower jaw and seven months in the upper jaw. This includes surgeries and the placement of the denture. However, the process can last a year or more, especially if you need bone grafting or other preliminary procedures.
Two surgeries usually are needed. The first one places the implants in the jawbone under your gums. The second surgery exposes the tops of the implants. The second procedure comes three to six months after the first.
A one-stage procedure is now used sometimes. In this procedure, your dentist can place the implants and the supporting bar in one step. The success rate of this procedure is high.
Example of Ball Retained Denture Implants