When a person doesn’t have any teeth in the jaw, but has enough bone to support implants, Dr. Petroff may recommend implant-retained (or implant-supported) dentures.
Implant-retained dentures have special attachments that snap onto the implants, which contain the opposite side of the attachments. They can be lifted off for cleaning and snapped right back on. They’re worn all the time, including when you’re sleeping.
Usually, implant-retained dentures are made for the lower jaw for extra stability. Regular dentures are generally used on the upper jaw because it generally doesn’t need the extra support provided by implants. But you can have an implant-retained denture in either the upper or lower jaw.
An oral surgeon will place the implants and abutments in strategic positions in your jaw bone. Dr. Petroff then fits you with the implant-retained dentures.
These dentures have a snug, strong fit so you can eat anything you like without worrying they’ll slip. There’s no adhesive, no taking them out overnight. This type of denture is ideal for stimulating the bones in your jaw to keep them strong, so they continue to support the muscles and skin of your face, which can begin to sag without the framework of your jawbones.