Implant-retained dentures

Also known as snap-in, clip-in or overdentures, denture implants use a minimum of 2 grade 5 titanium implants per arch which are fused to your jawbone in a process called osseointegration. A custom made acrylic denture can be snapped on and off using press stud-like ball clips, giving you the ability to remove your dentures when required. When worn, this prevents your dentures from moving for a more secure bite and increased comfort compared to traditional loose dentures.

If you have bone loss additional implants can be added, or for severe cases of bone loss opt for permanent dental implants using PMMA or zirconia arches. Supported by bone grafts, sinus lifts, pterygoid or zygomatic implants, this can give you a long lasting, secure bite that lasts up to 20 years with care.

The consultation and procedure can be completed as soon as the same week subject to availability.

1. Book a consultation: You will be called to discuss your requirements before confirming your appointment.
2. Attend the consultation: For just £65 you will have a full medical review and scans with a GDC registered dentist with a special interest in dental implants, at one of nine clinics nationwide.
3. Any additional work to make you ready for implants is carried out - this can increase treatment costs and timescale.
4. Procedure day: At the end of the day you will have had implants and a temporary denture fit. This remains in place for the next 3-4 months while you heal and the implants fuse to your bone.
5. Re-scan: Once healed you will be rescanned to model the final position of your implants. This is passed to our lab, where your final overdentures are custom made.
6. Final fit: Your new overdentures are attached, giving you a beautiful confident smile.

A typical implant denture procedure takes around 4-7 hours with breaks and follows these steps:

1. New scans if required
2. Any remaining teeth are removed
3. The bone is exposed and implants secured
4. Abutments added to each implant
5. Gums stitched
6. A custom made temporary overdenture is created on-site
7. Denture fitting

You leave the implant centre with a new smile the same-day. Please note we do not convert existing dentures.

The titanium implants used in implant retained denture procedures are the same as those used in standard dental implant procedures and can last up to 20 years with care.

Dentures may last between 5 - 10 years and will naturally discolour and wear with use. They cannot be whitened using traditional teeth whitening products and procedures.

If dentures become worn, discoloured or damaged they can be replaced following new scans and X-rays to determine the position of your implants over time. This is at an additional cost.

Denture implants may be upgraded to full dental implants. This typically requires additional implants, potentially bone loss treatments, and a new set of arches.

With sedation*, any pain and discomfort can be managed. Patients are kept awake but in a relaxed "dream-like" state throughout. This makes time feel like it's passing quickly and gives you the ability to respond to questions from the dentist throughout the treatment.

*A wide range of sedation options are available depending on your preference. Sedation can increase treatment cost. If you're having sedation please ensure you are accompanied on your treatment day and that you can be safely driven or accompanied while travelling home.

Denture implants are available for all adults aged 18-80+. To be eligible you should ideally:

• Have had a dentist recommend dentures - not required, but a good sign
• Have more missing or failing teeth than healthy
• Have stopped smoking/vaping to reduce the risk of implant failure - ask your GP for help
• Have no gum disease or receding gums - additional treatments available
• Have no bone loss - additional treatments available

Denture implants are typically secured using 2 or 4 implants per arch. However, the number of implants required can depend on two factors:

1. How secure you want your dentures to be. More secure requires more implants
2. Mild bone loss can require additional implants to secure the denture

Implant-retained dentures are not recommended for moderate to severe cases of bone loss. These require standard dental implants accompanied by specialist bone loss enhancements such as bone grafts, sinus lifts, pterygoid implants and zygomatic implants.

If your teeth are missing, damaged or failing then denture implants on either jaw can be an effective way of reclaiming your smile.

If the aesthetic result is the most important thing to you, our most affordable way to improve your smile is with denture implants applied to your upper jaw. This gives most people a fantastic smile where it counts - what people can see.

If a pain-free or comfortable bite is more of a priority then consider having implant-retained dentures on both the upper and lower jaws.

The difference between retained and supported dentures starts with the number of implants used to secure the overdentures in place. Supported dentures use a minimum of 4 titanium implants to permanently hold the overdenture securely in place (all-on-4). Retained dentures use just 2 implants usually positioned at the front of the jaw. This allows retained dentures to snap on and off as required. A full breakdown follows:

The McGill consensus published in 2002 says that for the minimum standard of care a lower overdenture should be supported by no less than 2 dental implants.