Implant supported dentures have been in use for a number of years, but are now becoming commonplace.
Dental implants can replace missing roots and support replacement teeth. Because implants stick to the bone, dentures attached to implants look and act much like natural teeth.
For the patient who has difficulty with a mobile lower denture and who would like to end that suffering, an implant supported denture is often the superior treatment choice.
As an edentulous (toothless) person ages, and the bone continues to deteriorate, lower ridges frequently disappear entirely. Thus there is no vertical bone underlying the gums to stabilize a lower denture. These people frequently cannot wear a lower denture at all.
The addition of two implants in the front of the lower jaw can make it possible to retain a lower denture which would otherwise be impossible for the patient to tolerate.
The implant process is carried out over quite a long period.
Once the implants have been inserted by a dental specialist, it can take up to 3 months before the dentures are commenced. There is generally several more appointments required than what there is normally for full dentures.