How Implant-Supported Dentures Work
Traditional dentures rely entirely on suction and the shape of your gums to stay in place, which works marginally well when your jawbone still has decent volume. As bone loss progresses—which happens naturally after tooth loss—dentures fit more loosely, move around when you chew, and require constant adjustments or replacement.
Implant-supported dentures solve this problem by anchoring to dental implants that Dr. Santoro places strategically in your jawbone. Typically, four to six implants go into each arch, positioned to provide optimal support. These implants have special attachments that your denture snaps onto, creating a secure connection that keeps everything stable during use. When you need to clean your denture or want to remove it at night, it unsnaps easily—but it won’t budge during normal activities.
The Placement Process and Timeline
Your journey toward implant-supported dentures in Scottsdale begins with a thorough evaluation of your jawbone density and oral health. Dr. Santoro uses 3D imaging to assess bone quality and plan precise implant positions that maximize stability while working with your unique anatomy.
What the Treatment Involves:
Initial Consultation and Planning
We evaluate your current situation, discuss your goals, and determine how many implants you need for optimal support. If you currently wear traditional dentures, we assess whether they can be converted to snap onto implants or if new dentures need to be fabricated.
Implant Placement Surgery
Dr. Santoro places the dental implants during a single surgical appointment. Most patients opt for sedation to stay comfortable throughout the procedure, which typically takes a couple of hours, depending on how many implants you’re receiving. If you have remaining teeth that need extraction, this happens during the same visit.
Final Restoration
Once your implants have fully integrated, we attach the specialized connectors and either modify your existing denture or create a new one designed specifically to work with your implants. The fit is precise, the retention is strong, and you’ll immediately notice how different eating and speaking feel with truly stable teeth.
Advantages Over Traditional Dentures
The benefits of implant support extend far beyond just staying in place during meals. Chewing efficiency improves dramatically because you can apply real pressure without your denture shifting or causing sore spots on your gums. Many patients find they can eat foods they’ve avoided for years—corn on the cob, steak, raw vegetables—without hesitation.
Speech clarity improves as well. Traditional dentures can slip slightly during conversation, causing clicking sounds or affecting pronunciation. Implant-supported dentures stay put, allowing you to speak naturally and clearly. You also don’t need messy adhesives that affect taste and require daily application.
Perhaps most importantly, the implants stimulate your jawbone the way natural tooth roots do, significantly slowing the bone loss that makes traditional dentures fit worse over time. This preservation maintains your facial structure and reduces how often you need denture adjustments or replacements.
Caring for Your Implant-Supported Restoration
Daily maintenance is straightforward and doesn’t require anything complicated. You remove your denture daily to clean both the prosthetic and the implant attachments. Brush your denture thoroughly just as you would traditional dentures, and use a soft brush to clean around the implant posts and attachments in your mouth. Many patients choose to remove their dentures at night, though this isn’t strictly necessary—it’s personal preference.
Regular checkups with Dr. Santoro allow us to inspect your implants, verify that all attachments are functioning properly, and professionally clean areas you can’t reach at home. The attachment components may need replacement every few years as they experience normal wear, but this is a simple procedure that takes just minutes during a regular visit.
Who Makes the Best Candidate
Implant-supported dentures work well for patients who need full-arch tooth replacement but want something more stable than traditional dentures without the cost and complexity of individual implants for every tooth. You need adequate bone density to support the implants, though less than what full implant bridges require. Those with chronic denture problems—constant slipping, difficulty eating, sore spots that never fully heal—often find this solution transformative.
Health considerations matter too. You need sufficient healing capacity for the surgical component, and conditions like uncontrolled diabetes or active gum disease require management before implant placement. During your consultation, we evaluate your complete medical history to ensure you’re a good candidate.
Implant-Supported Dentures in in Scottsdale
Experience the stability and confidence that implant-supported dentures provide. Schedule your consultation with Dr. Santoro at Scottsdale Cosmetic Dentistry to discover how this proven solution can transform your daily life and bring back the foods and activities you’ve been missing.
