Implant Retained Dentures - Denture Implants
Implant retained dentures are securely fixed dentures which are made of high impact acrylic and kept in place by standard dental implants. The denture implants have an attachment which locates with compatible attachments fixed into the denture. As few as two implants are needed in the lower jaw and usually four are required in the upper jaw, making the system the most economical option for edentulous patients. (Those patients with no natural teeth remaining)
The advantages of implant retained dentures:
- They are fixed but are still removable by the patient for cleaning in a hygiene programme specified by the dentist.
- They can be replaced at low cost if they become worn through years of use.
- The forces exerted during biting and chewing are absorbed be the gums instead of being absorbed by the implants themselves. (The implants are there simply to keep the denture in place, whereas on al 'All-On-Four' system the impact forces of biting and chewing are taken on the implants themselves)
- They cost much less than full arch implant bridge restorations.
- They cost less than 'All-On-Four' implant restorations
- They are less problematic that 'All-On-Four' implant restorations, which are prone to failure due to the forces exerted on the implants, which often have to be placed at an angle, thereby increasing the mechanical stresses upon them.