Implant-Retained Dentures

An implant-retained denture is a dental prosthesis that looks and functions like a denture but uses implants to hold the appliance in place. Four or six implants are placed along the jaw to secure the dentures, which mimic the appearance of multiple teeth, usually a whole row. This is why this prosthesis is often advertised as an “All-on-4” or “All-on-6” implant.

Unlike normal dentures, implant-retained dentures cannot be removed except with the assistance of a trained dental professional. Once the partial or full denture has been placed on top of the abutment, patients are able to have a full smile again with a fraction of the implants that would be required to replace each tooth individually.

Implant-retained dentures should not be confused with implant-supported dentures, which usually require more implants. Crucially, dentures retained or supported by implants maintain bone density and strength in the jaw by supporting normal biting and chewing forces, which removable dentures often fail to do.