Missing All Lower Teeth
Although many patients have no problem wearing an upper denture, some people find it difficult to wear and eat with lower dentures. If you’re missing all of your lower teeth, several implant-supported replacement options are available to restore your confidence and quality of life.
Ball Attachment Denture
Your first option involves having two implants placed in your lower jaw with a denture that snaps onto these implants. This option allows your lower denture to be more stable while chewing than without implants. However, there might still be some movement of your lower denture. As with all removable replacement teeth, you’ll still need periodic appointments for denture adjustment.
Bar Attachment Denture
Another option involves placing four to six implants into your lower jaw, depending on your jaw size or shape. 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’s much more stable than the first option and allows very little denture movement. Your denture remains removable for easy cleaning and maintenance, giving you the security you need with the convenience you want.
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, many patients who want a permanent denture prefer this option for its stability and permanence.
Individual Multiple Implants
The final option is to have all your teeth replaced with multiple implants so that they will appear to be growing out of your gum tissue and will most closely resemble the appearance of your natural teeth. This option usually requires six or more implants. Separate abutments or support posts for each one of these implants will be made, and crowns or bridges for the missing teeth will be placed.
Overall, this is the most costly option because it requires the most implants and individual replacement tooth fabrication. Your replacement options may also be limited by the current size and shape of your jawbone. However, this solution provides the most natural-looking and functioning result.
What If You’re Missing All of Your Upper Teeth?
A similar range of treatment options is available for your upper jaw. However, because the bone is not as hard as that in the lower jaw, you often need more implants to support your 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’ll still have a removable denture, which makes cleaning the support bar and denture much easier.
Individual Upper Implants
If you want a restoration that is similar to your natural teeth and therefore not removable, you’ll probably need six or more individual implants placed. This is followed after healing by the placement of the abutments and new replacement crowns and bridges. This provides you with the most permanent, natural-feeling solution for your upper teeth.
Your Path to a Complete Smile Starts Here
At Northwest Oral Surgeons in Schererville, IN, you benefit from our expertise in complex implant rehabilitation. Drs. Wolf, Mekhail and Moll specialize in these advanced procedures, using state-of-the-art 3D imaging to plan your treatment with precision.
Each solution offers unique advantages, and your oral surgeon will evaluate your bone density, jaw structure, and lifestyle needs to recommend the best option for you. Whether you prefer the flexibility of removable options or the permanence of fixed solutions, you can regain the ability to eat, speak, and smile with complete confidence.
