Implant-Retained Dentures in San Diego

• Rejuvenate your smile confidence
• Avoid the discomfort of traditional dentures
• Maintain your normal biting, chewing, and speaking abilities
• Enjoy longer-lasting dentures
• Preserve your bone mass with strategically placed dental implants.

Tooth loss happens for a variety of reasons. At San Diego Dental Specialists, we know that though there are various dental restoration options available when it comes to replacing natural teeth, implant-retained dentures are an ideal smile-replacement solution for many patients.

A denture that’s secured to your gums by dental implants, this prosthetic dental device is anchored in place by ball- or bar-retained dental implants. With both options, the denture is crafted from an acrylic base designed to recreate the look of your natural gums, and porcelain or acrylic materials to mimic the appearance of your natural teeth.

Once you’ve decided to move forward with this procedure, we’ll schedule an appointment to place a pre-determined number of dental implants in your jaw. Once complete, we’ll allow a series of months to pass in order for the implants to fuse with your bone and provide a stable anchor for your implant-supported denture.

While you wait, we’ll provide you with a short-term denture to cover the implant sites and we’ll schedule a follow-up appointment once the determined timeframe has passed. At that point, your dentist will assess whether you’re ready for the next treatment step, and if so, a round piece of metal will be added to the top of each implant to help your surrounding gum tissue heal properly. Once the area heals (this process takes an average of 10 to 14 days), the round pieces of metal will be replaced with regular abutments. At this point, we’ll also have an impression made of your abutments and gum tissue, which our lab professionals will use to create your denture framework.

Once the framework is complete, a metal bar will be added to the abutments and the framework will be placed in your mouth for assessment. Temporary artificial teeth will then be added to it, and once you and your dentist are happy with their appearance, they’ll be permanently put in place by our lab professionals. Once complete, we’ll schedule one last visit to have your completed denture inserted.

Depending on your dedication to caring for them, your finished denture can last between 5 to 10 years, while your dental implants can last a lifetime. A variety of factors that include jawbone changes as well as wear and tear on dentures can impact their longevity, which makes regular visits to your dentist vital as checkups will help us assess their fit and performance.

Wondering if implant-retained dentures are right for you? Call us today and we’ll help you weigh the pros and cons of this smile-restoring option!