Secure Dentures from Your Local San Diego Dentist!

Is it time for you or a loved one to regain your smile and oral health with a full set of teeth? Dr. Landon Libby, our Mission Valley dentist, offers a revolutionary spin on dentures, the classic tooth restoration option. With implant-supported dentures, your restorations can be as secure and comfortable as your natural teeth. You’ll feel so much better with a smile that makes room for your confidence!

As your family dentist in San Diego, Dr. Libby takes pride in our patients embracing life more confidently with smiles that look and feel like they’ve never lost any teeth! If you are looking for dentures that look and feel natural, we encourage you to give us a call at (619) 789-5519 to schedule your consultation for implant dentures.

What are Implant Dentures?
Why Choose Libby Dental?
Implant Dentures Benefits
Implant Dentures Candidates
Implant Dentures vs. Implant Bridges
Types of Implant Dentures
Implant Dentures Recovery
Implant Dentures Results
Implant Dentures Cost
Implant Dentures Complements

What Sets Implant Dentures Apart?

Implant dentures are for patients who have lost many teeth and want to restore their smiles with a secure option that feels natural. Too many denture wearers feel uncomfortable with their new teeth, complaining that they do not fit well or do not fully restore their ability to chew properly. Implant dentures solve these problems because they use dental implants, placed into the jaw to support your new teeth. Rather than traditional dentures that sit on top of the gums, your new smile can now snap into place atop dental implants. This stability makes your new smile feel natural and secure, so you can chew, speak, and smile with confidence!

The security of snap-on dentures comes with an added benefit: jawbone stimulation. The dental implants stimulate your jawbone in the same fashion as your natural tooth roots. This prevents jawbone recession, preserving your bone density as well as your youthful appearance.

Options for Denture Wearers

Why Get Implant-Supported Dentures at Libby Dental?

Dr. Landon Libby isn’t your ordinary dentist in 92110! In fact, by incorporating state-of-the-art CEREC^{^®} technology into their full-service dental office, the team at Libby Dental takes a personal approach in maintaining your dental and oral health. We take pride in creating unique denture sets that make our patients feel like they have their old smiles back! The snap-on dentures that we offer improve the traditional model in every way, so patients are able to enjoy a fully restored lifestyle as well as a new smile.

From designing beautiful same-day teeth to creating comfortable, natural-looking dentures, everything we do starts with getting to know you and partnering with you throughout the process of restoring your smile. If you or a loved one has suffered from tooth loss, we will help you find a solution that will best suit your lifestyle.

What Benefits Do Implant Dentures Offer?

Implant-supported dentures are often seen as an “upgrade” to traditional dentures, which are normally secured with dental pastes and adhesives. This often leads to an unnatural or uncomfortable fit for your dentures, not to mention insecurity when speaking or eating due to the lack of stability. By affixing custom-made dentures to the jawbone with dental implants, patients can enjoy:

No restrictions on their favorite foods, thanks to a stronger, more functional bite
Greater security and a natural fit for their dentures
A renewed, fully functional smile
Regeneration of their jawbone volume, which typically recedes when the teeth are missing
Little to no maintenance besides daily brushing and flossing
Zero need for messy pastes and adhesives

Dental implants are considered the most effective way to replace teeth, if possible, because implant surgery can prevent further bone loss. This also helps stop your facial shape from changing, which is a common effect of missing teeth caused by jawbone recession. It’s not uncommon for implant dentures to be combined into a full mouth rehabilitation plan.

Are Implant Dentures Right for Me?

Implant dentures can be a great way to replace entire rows of teeth, but the technique isn’t for everyone. Since gaining the security of implant dentures requires oral surgery, treatment may not be beneficial for individuals who have too much bone loss or who deal with certain medical conditions, such as osteoporosis. This tooth replacement option is most successful for patients who:

Want a more stable alternative to removable dentures
Have enough jawbone support to support dental implants
Are in good health and can withstand the healing process
Are non-smokers or willing to quit smoking before and after implant surgery

If you don’t have enough bone density to replace all of your missing teeth with individual dental implants, options like All-on-4^{^®} or implant dentures can be very effective. Dr. Landon Libby and our dental team can evaluate your unique needs and determine the most efficient, natural-looking solution to achieve your goals.

Implant Dentures vs. Implant Bridges

Implant dentures and implant bridges both offer secured restorations to replace missing teeth. The best treatment for you depends on the extent of your dental needs. For San Diego patients who have entire rows of missing teeth, an implant-supported denture is typically recommended to restore full functionality of your upper/lower dental arch. However, if you only have portions of missing teeth in your upper or lower jaw, an implant-supported bridge may be enough to achieve your goals.

Unlike secured dentures, an implant bridge is designed to fill gaps between healthy adjacent teeth. Using dental implants to anchor the bridge can minimize bone recession caused by missing teeth and provide you with more security when compared to bridges attached via dental crowns. Rest assured that Dr. Libby and our talented dental team will discuss all of your options with you in person during your appointment. The most ideal solution for you depends on the amount of bone volume in the affected area(s) and how many of your teeth require replacing.

Types of Implant Dentures

Implant dentures can be placed on the upper dental arch, lower dental arch, or both sets of jaws according to your needs. There are also solutions, such as implant-supported dental bridges, that can replace a sole quadrant of the teeth. Dr. Libby can advise you on whether implant bridges, All-on-4^{^®}, or full mouth restoration is the best type of implant restoration for you.

All-on-4^{^®}

All-on-4^{^®} is an innovative implant denture technique that can secure your restoration using only four to six dental implants. These implants are positioned at very strategic angles to obtain the desired security without having to replace each individual missing tooth with a single implant. Since only a few implants are used, All-on-4^{^®} can be ideal for patients who do not have enough bone volume for other implant dentistry techniques.

What Can I Expect During the Implant Dentures Recovery Period?

Since implant dentures require oral surgery, there is a brief recovery period associated with the procedure. You will receive detailed post-operative instructions from our team. It’s imperative to follow these guidelines closely, and take all medications as prescribed. Swelling, tenderness, and general discomfort in the treated areas are normal reactions to the procedure, and medications can help alleviate discomfort. Immediately after surgery, patients should stick to a liquid or soft-food diet in order to minimize chewing and avoid disruptions to the surgical site. After Dr. Libby advises it’s safe to resume eating other types of foods, we recommend chewing on the opposite side of the treated area if possible.

Biting down on gauze immediately after surgery should stop any bleeding and help facilitate the healing process. Dr. Libby recommends restricting activities for the first few days after the procedure, but there is usually no extensive downtime required. Using ice packs on the sides of the face for the first 48 hours can help reduce swelling. Although it will take months for your implants to integrate with the jawbone, the gums should heal in approximately two weeks. Not smoking or consuming tobacco products is critical to ensuring the osseointegration (bone fusing) process is successful. Smoking is one of the leading causes of implant failure and can cause your body to reject the implant. Patients should also maintain good oral hygiene after implant surgery, as this can help aid the healing process. Once your gums are fully healed and the implants are integrated with your jawbone, your custom-made dentures will then be placed and fitted. You may need adjustments to the denture as you become accustomed to wearing them and our team will help ensure your implant dentures feel comfortable and natural.

How Long Do Implant Dentures Results Last?

Implant dentures can enhance your smile and your ability to bite for a lifetime as long as you maintain good oral hygiene and minimize bacteria buildup in the mouth. Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, and conditions that interfere with osseointegration are all factors that can limit the longevity of your results and potentially lead to implant failure. For many patients, implant dentures are able to restore form and function for decades. While the need for a new denture may present itself in the future, your implants can remain stable indefinitely with good care.

How Much Do Implant Dentures Cost?

Patients’ needs vary widely with implant-supported dentures, so the cost of treatment also differs from person to person. The cost of implant dentures is determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the specific details of each individual’s treatment plan, such as:

The number of dental implants required
The techniques and treatments utilized, including procedures like gum disease treatment or dental crowns
Whether a bone graft was necessary
The complexity of your treatment plan

Our office will be able to give you a personalized quote once your needs are assessed in person. Please don’t hesitate to ask our team about dental financing options such as CareCredit^{^®}, which can provide qualified patients with affordable payment plans that can accommodate their unique budget.

Questions? Contact Libby Dental to book an appointment or to speak with our skilled team about replacing your missing teeth.

Complements to Implant Dentures

Implant-supported dentures are often used in conjunction with more extensive treatment plans to restore full form and function in your teeth. Depending on the nature of your concerns and your goals, restorative dentistry services usually performed at the same time as implant dentures may include:

Full Mouth Rehabilitation: Implant dentures can be a transformative treatment incorporated into full mouth rehabilitation, offering restored security, functionality, and aesthetics for San Diego patients. This approach is often most effective for individuals who have missing or severely damaged teeth in combination with other cosmetic or restorative dental concerns.
Dental Implants: Implants play a critical role in the success of implant dentures by providing a stable and durable foundation for your restoration. With the addition of dental implants, many of the drawbacks associated with removable dentures are eliminated.

Familiarizing yourself with all of the different treatments to reconstruct your teeth can help give you an understanding of the best dental plan to restore your confidence and smile. After a discussion of your needs, Dr. Libby would be happy to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to give you the results you’re striving for.