Switching From Dentures to Implants: What to Know

Yes, most denture wearers can switch to implants, even after many years without teeth. The main question is how much jawbone is left, which a 3D scan answers. Depending on that, you can move to a snap-in denture held by implants, or to fixed teeth that never come out.

If your denture slips when you eat, needs adhesive to stay put or makes your gums sore, you are not alone, and you are not stuck with it. This article is written for people who already wear a full or partial denture and are wondering whether implants are realistic for them. If you still have most of your teeth and are weighing options in general, our comparison of dental implants vs dentures is a better starting point.

Why dentures get looser over the years

A denture that fitted well when it was made often fits less well a few years later. The main reason is the bone underneath. Tooth roots stimulate the jawbone; once the teeth are gone, the ridge of bone that held them gradually shrinks. A conventional denture sits on that ridge but does not replace the roots, so the bone keeps changing shape and the denture loosens. Relines can make up some of the difference, but they do not stop the underlying change.

Implants act more like roots. Cleveland Clinic notes that implant-supported dentures help prevent bone loss in the jaw because the implants mimic natural tooth roots, and a 2011 review in the Journal of Medicine and Life reported that the positive effect of implants on lower-jaw ridge resorption has been scientifically shown.

Why the lower denture is usually the problem

Many people manage an upper denture fairly well, because it seals against the roof of the mouth. The lower denture has much less to hold onto, and the tongue and cheeks move it around. The same 2011 review noted that while most patients can tolerate an upper denture, the lower denture is a different situation, and it described a two-implant lower overdenture as the first alternative treatment for a toothless lower jaw.

So if only your lower denture bothers you, you may not need to treat both jaws. Our article on treating one arch or both goes into that decision.

Your options when you switch

A snap-in implant denture

Two to four implants are placed, and your denture, either a new one or sometimes an adapted existing one, gets attachments that clip onto them. You still take it out to clean it, but it stops slipping. This is usually the lower-cost route and needs the fewest implants.

Fixed full-arch teeth

Four or more implants support a full arch of teeth that is screwed in and does not come out. In the upper jaw, nothing covers the roof of your mouth. This is the closest to having your own teeth again. Our full mouth dental implants page explains what fixed treatment at Shield Dental Care includes and costs.

Our article comparing fixed and removable implant dentures sets the two side by side.

What if you have lost a lot of bone?

Long-term denture wearers often have less bone than someone who has just lost their teeth, and that is the most common worry we hear. It does not automatically rule implants out. Approaches such as All-on-4 tilt the back implants to make use of the bone that is there and avoid the sinus and nerve, and a 2017 consensus statement on the technique listed people with a thin, resorbed jaw who want to avoid grafting among those it is designed for. In other cases, bone grafting comes first.

The only way to know is a CBCT scan, which shows the bone in three dimensions. Our article on implants with bone loss explains the options in more detail.

What the switch involves

• A consultation with a CBCT scan, digital impressions and photos, so Dr. Ghorbani can see your bone and plan where implants can go.
• A treatment plan that tells you which option suits your bone and goals, how many implants it needs, whether grafting is needed and what it costs.
• Implant surgery. With fixed treatment, temporary teeth are usually attached the same day when the implants are stable enough; otherwise you keep wearing a denture, adjusted to sit over the healing implants.
• Healing, which averages three to six months according to Cleveland Clinic, and can take longer after grafting.
• Your final teeth or final snap-in denture.

The full sequence for fixed teeth is in our full-arch implant timeline.

Will you be without teeth at any point?

Not usually. Most people who switch keep wearing their denture or get a temporary set of teeth throughout. You should not expect to walk around without teeth while the implants heal.

Questions to ask before you switch

• How much bone do I have, and do I need grafting?
• Which option fits my bone: snap-in or fixed, and how many implants?
• What exactly is included in the price, from the scan and extractions to the temporary and final teeth?
• What will I wear while the implants heal?
• What maintenance will I need afterwards, and how often?

Our article on what a full-arch implant quote should include covers the money questions in more detail.

Thinking about switching in Burke, VA?

If you wear dentures and live in Burke, Fairfax, Springfield or nearby, a consultation is the way to find out what is realistic. Bring your current denture, and tell us what bothers you most about it. See our dentures page for conventional options too, or see what full-arch implant treatment includes. Call (703) 250-5072 to book.