Why do lower dentures come loose?
An upper denture has the whole roof of the mouth to hold onto. A lower one sits on a narrow ridge of gum, with the tongue and cheeks moving around it, so it has far less to grip.
And the ridge gets smaller with time. Once the teeth are gone, the bone that held them shrinks, because nothing is loading it anymore. A denture that fit well when it was made slowly loosens, and adhesive can only do so much.
How does an implant-retained denture work?
A small number of implants are placed in the jaw. Once bone has grown onto them, they carry a denture made to clip onto them. People often call these snap-in dentures, which describes the feel: it clicks into place and is held by the implants rather than by suction and adhesive.
It still comes out. You unclip it to clean it and clip it back in, but while it is in, it stays where you put it.
How many implants you need, and where they go, depends on your jaw and the bone in it. That is what the planning appointment is for.
What changes when you eat and speak?
Chewing is usually the first difference people notice. A denture that does not lift or slide when you bite lets you chew with more confidence, and foods you had quietly given up may come back onto the plate.
Speaking changes too. A loose denture can click or shift mid-sentence, and people learn to talk around it. Held by implants, it stays put while you talk and laugh.
It is still a denture. It will not feel like the teeth you had, and it takes some getting used to. What changes is that it stops moving.
Cleaning and caring for it
Take it out to clean it, as you do now. Brush the denture, then brush the gum and the tops of the implants too, because the gum around an implant can become inflamed and lose bone, much as it can around a natural tooth.
The clips that hold it wear with use and need replacing from time to time. Check-ups are where we look at those, at the gum around each implant, and at how the denture sits on the ridge.
Who is an implant-retained denture right for?
It suits people who are tired of a denture that moves, most often a lower one, and who want something that stays put but still comes out for cleaning. It also needs enough bone where the implants will go and healthy gums around them. Smoking lowers the success rate of implants, and we will say so.
It is not for everyone. If your health makes even minor surgery unwise, or a well-made conventional denture would do the job, we will tell you that instead. For the wider comparison, see implants vs dentures.
What does the process involve?
If you are nervous about having implants placed, ask about nitrous oxide or oral sedation. Otherwise the process follows the same steps as any implant, with the denture last:
- Planning. We look at the bone and at where the nerve and sinus sit, and talk through what you will wear while the implants heal.
- Placement. The implants go in under local anesthetic. Most people say the day after feels like having a tooth pulled.
- Healing. Several months while bone fuses to the implants. You are not left without teeth to wear while that happens.
- The denture. Once the implants are ready, the clip-in denture is fitted, and we adjust it until it sits and bites properly.
What do implant-retained dentures cost?
More than a conventional denture, and less than replacing every tooth with its own implant. The fee depends on the number of implants and the denture itself, so you get a written estimate before anything is scheduled.
Dental plans differ a great deal on implants, and many treat them differently from dentures. See insurance for the plans we work with, or the Virginia Dental Club if you have no dental insurance.
Questions patients ask
Are snap-in dentures the same as implant-retained dentures?
Yes. Snap-in is the everyday name for a denture that clips onto implants. The clips hold it in place while you eat and talk, and let it come out for cleaning.
Will I still need denture adhesive?
Adhesive is not what holds it anymore, because the implants do that job. If the denture starts to feel loose again, the clips may need replacing, so mention it at your next visit.
Can implants hold an upper denture too?
Yes, implants can hold an upper denture as well as a lower one. The lower is where people tend to feel the biggest difference, because a lower denture has so much less to grip.
How long does it take to get an implant-retained denture?
Months rather than weeks, because bone needs several months to fuse to the implants before the denture can clip on. You are not left without teeth to wear while that happens.