When all the natural teeth are lost from one or both jaws, there’s a need to restore the entire dental arch — either upper, lower, or both. The most advanced and comprehensive solution today is the placement of dental implants, followed by bridges supported by those implants. However, as an alternative, full dentures can be used — either traditional ones or ones that are stabilized with a small number of implants, fewer than those required for full-arch bridgework.
Each full denture consists of a pink acrylic base that holds the artificial teeth. This base provides support and retention for the denture itself, while also helping to maintain the shape of the lips and cheeks. The artificial teeth restore the ability to chew, speak more clearly and smile with confidence. Like partial dentures, these are removable — they’re not fixed in the mouth and can be taken out and put back in by the patient.
Traditional full dentures rely on a suction effect to stay in place, particularly by fitting snugly against the soft gum tissue — more accurately called the oral mucosa — and the underlying bone. However, in many cases, a significant amount of jawbone has been lost along with the teeth. This often leads to reduced denture retention, especially in the lower jaw.
In such cases, stability can be significantly improved with the addition of a few dental implants — at least two in the lower jaw, and at least four in the upper. Special attachments are screwed onto these implants and the denture is designed to “click” onto them. This is called an overdenture an offers much greater retention and stability compared to a conventional denture.
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