If you’ve lost most or all of the teeth in your upper or lower dental arches, potential options for replacing your smile typically include removable dentures or implant dentures — a solution that uses dental implants to anchor a custom denture to your jawbone. Since the implants surgically affix your denture to the gumline, this form of tooth replacement can look and feel very natural. With implant dentures, patients in San Diego generally appreciate the ability to speak more comfortably and enjoy an unrestricted diet composed of their favorite foods. These issues are inconveniences commonly associated with traditional dentures, which are attached using dental pastes and adhesives.
Thanks to the nature of implant-supported dentures, fewer dental implants are required to secure the restoration to your jawbone than replacing each individual tooth with a single dental implant. That said, the exact number of implants necessary to affix your denture depends on numerous factors, including:
- The location of your missing teeth
- The number of teeth that need replacing
- The amount of bone volume in your upper and/or lower jaws
Dr. Libby and our skilled dentists will have to evaluate your teeth and the state of your bone structure to determine how many dental implants are required to restore your smile. For some patients, All-on-4® can be an optimal technique. This allows an entire upper or lower denture to be secured using only four to six dental implants. For patients who have experienced significant bone loss and who have limited levels of bone density, All-on-4® can still anchor your restoration by placing the implants at strategic angles.
Our team would be happy to recommend an ideal treatment to repair your smile based on your unique needs. Contact Libby Dental at our Mission Valley offices for more information, or to book a consultation with our dentists.
