Denture implants are a type of overdenture. These artificial dentures are supported by and attached to implants. There are two types of denture implants: regular and implant-supported. Regular denture implants are not supported by implants as they plainly rest on the gums. When a person does not have teeth in their jaw but have enough bone in the jaw, an implant-supported denture might be used in this case. These are special denture attachments that are snapped onto the implants.

Regular denture implants are usually made for the upper jaw owing to their stability as they don’t need extra support offered by implants. Implant-supported dentures, at the same time, are made for the lower jaw because regular dentures tend to be less stable for the lower jaw. However, deciding the type of denture implant solely depends on the bone structure of the jaw.

Implant-supported denture implants
These types of denture implants are made of an acrylic base that mimic gums. Acrylic or porcelain teeth are attached to the base. The two types of implant-supported dentures available are bar-retained and ball-retained ball dentures.

Bar-retained denture implants
They are thin metal bars that follow the curve of the jaw and are attached to two to five implants that are placed in the jawbone. Bar-retained dentures and other types of attachments are fitted to the bar, the dentures, or both. This makes them securely clipped into place by the attachments.

Ball-retained dentures
Also called stud-attachment dentures, ball-retainer dentures comprise a metal attachment that fits into another attachment over the denture. These attachments are called as male attachments and those on the jaw bone are called female attachments. In other cases, the arrangement of attachment is generally the opposite.

Placing the denture implants
It is usually seen that once you lose teeth, you tend to lose the bone in that area. However, the front jaw has more bone when compared with the back. There are less nerve structures in the front jaw. These factors make it easy for placement of denture implants over the front jaw.

The shortest time frame for denture implants is five months for the lower jaw and seven months for the upper jaw. However, the process can last for a year or more if grafting or other preliminary procedures are needed.

Surgeries

Ball-retained implants
the first surgery is needed to place the denture implants in the jawbone. In this surgery, an incision will be made in the gum. This is for placing the implants. A hole will be drilled in the bone to place the implant into the hole. The incision will be then stitched close.

Second surgery is scheduled once the implants have fused with the bone. This surgery is simpler than the first as only a small incision is made to expose the top of the heads of the implants. A healing cap is placed on the top of the exposed heads. This healing cap will be placed for 10 to 14 days, after which your dentist will adjust temporary dentures. A soft reline will secure the healing abutments and the denture. Once the healing process is complete, the healing caps will be replaced with regular abutments. The dentists will now make an impression of the gum tissue and abutments. This impression will be a working model of the abutment and jaw.

Bar-retained implants
The surgical procedure is somewhat same as ball-retained implants, only at this point, metal bars are placed on the abutments. Once the denture framework and the metal bar retainer have fitted together properly, the denture is temporarily placed on the framework made of wax. This framework will be then tried in your mouth, and if it fits well, the denture will be fixed on to the metal retainer permanently. You might have to visit your dentist to get the complete denture inserted over the jaw.

Taking care of your denture implants
It is important that you remove the dentures at night before sleeping. You should clean your dentures regularly, just like you would clean your teeth. Cleaning around the attachments is equally necessary

Even though the dentures might seem stable, they can still move if you chewed hard. This might cause the dentures rub against your gums. This can eventually cause sore spots.

In case of bar retained dentures, the clips or attachments might need replacement every six to 12 months because they are made of plastic material and might damage after daily wear and tear.

Consult your dentist if you are planning to get affordable denture implants. They will be able to guide you on which type of denture implants are suitable for your jaw. Full denture denture implants might cost more than partial denture denture implants because of the surgical procedure. Ask your dentist what are the things you need to keep in mind, before you decide to go for the treatment.