Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry

Implant Supported Dentures

Unlike traditional dentures, which rest on your gums and are held in place with a dental adhesive, implanted supported dentures are secured and anchored in place with tiny titanium implant posts, which allows the denture to snap into place for complete stability. Implant supported dentures are custom-designed for you, allowing you to avoid the frustrations of the common issues associated with conventional dentures, such as slipping and shifting, restricted diets, and annoying discomfort.

Your compassionate team at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is wholly committed to providing you, your family, and every patient with comprehensive periodontal care that improves your oral health and daily function. We pride ourselves on offering a safe, comfortable, and relaxing environment to ensure all patients receive the personalized care and treatment that is expected and deserved. You will find us to excel in effective communication, both in listening and sharing examination objectives. With our initiative-taking engagement in the dental industry and the constant innovative technological improvements offered, each exam and corresponding treatment is completely personalized. Call Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry at 502-570-5700 with any questions or to make an appointment for an implant supported dentures evaluation.

How Do Implant Supported Dentures Actually Work?

Implant supported dentures have special clips on the underneath side that snap firmly onto attachments on the implant post extensions. Implant supported dentures are often suggested for the lower jaw because traditional dentures are far less stable on this bottom arch. Often, a conventional denture made to fit an upper jaw is stable and does not necessarily need the extra stability available with the implants. Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry will evaluate your personal situation and recommend whether an implant-supported denture is beneficial for you on either arch, upper or lower.

We offer two types of implant supported dentures: One that is bar-retained and the second that is ball-retained. With either framework version, the final denture restoration will be a custom-fabricated acrylic tray that looks like your natural gums. Porcelain or acrylic artificial crowns, looking just like your natural teeth, are attached to this base. Both kinds need at least two implants for necessary support.

  • Bar-Retained Dentures - A thin metal bar designed to follow the curve of your arch is attached to the implants that have been surgically placed in your jawbone. Clips are then fitted to either the bar or the denture, or to both. Your final restoration will fit perfectly over the bar and is secured in place with the clips.
  • Ball-Retained Dentures (Stud-Attachment Dentures) - Each implant post surgically positioned in your jawbone aligns perfectly with small nylon snaps on the underside of the denture tray. The attachments on the implants are ball-shaped, or male attachments, and they fit snugly into nylon sockets, or female attachments, on the denture tray.

Are You a Candidate for Implant Supported Dentures?

The team at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry has found that implant supported dentures can be an appropriate option for a number of patients. There is no age restriction to have this procedure performed, although there are some issues to identify with your health, to avoid complications with the surgical aspects. Implant supported dentures may also not be appropriate if you have insufficient jawbone density. If you do not have sufficient jawbone density, we can review whether a bone graft is a possibility.

The Implant Supported Denture Procedure

The actual process of having implant supported dentures placed will take some patience on your part. We begin with your initial evaluation, where Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry will review your medical and dental history, perform a complete oral examination, and capture x-rays and any necessary scans to determine if implant supported dentures are the right solution for you.

After a successful evaluation, we perform a thorough examination of your jawbone to make sure the bone has the structural density and integrity to support an implant. If you are a qualified candidate for this procedure, and the precise locations have been identified for the implants, we begin the procedure by administering a local anesthetic to numb your soft tissue before we surgically place the titanium posts into your jawbone. Titanium is used most often because it naturally integrates with the bone.

After the implant posts are placed, you will need several months to allow the posts to integrate or fuse with your jawbone. During this necessary process, Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry will provide a temporary set of custom dentures. When we have determined that the implant posts are integrated, we will add abutments or extensions to the posts to reach the surface. After allowing your gums to heal for two weeks, and once we receive your custom-fabricated implant supported dentures from a dental lab, we can place them permanently.

Proper Care for You Implant Supported Dentures

Like your natural teeth, it is important that you maintain good daily cleaning habits. It is imperative that you consistently clean the appliance, your gums, your artificial teeth, and the attachments. In addition to exercising regular daily proper self-care at home, it is also essential that you schedule regular preventative appointments every six months. At these routine checkups, Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry will complement your at-home efforts by performing cleanings and monitoring the state of your oral health, allowing us to catch any issues before they develop. We always check your implants and take X-rays to ensure that your dentures, attachments, and implants are positioned correctly.

Your Smile is Our Number One Priority

Our treatment philosophy at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is focused on patient education and the enhancement of your quality of life. We provide gentle, affordable, and painless periodontal care. We prioritize providing each patient with the information they need to make confident, informed decisions regarding their personal oral health treatment. Our experience is foundational in giving you restoratively minded periodontal treatment customized for your unique needs.

Our team specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease and in the placement of dental implants. We consider ourselves experts in the treatment of oral inflammation. We have received extensive education and training in these areas. We are familiar with the latest techniques for diagnosing and treating periodontal disease, and we are also trained in performing cosmetic periodontal procedures.

You can find Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry at:

107 Frazier Ct., 1D, Georgetown, KY

Or call us today at 502-570-5700