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Dentures & Implant-Retained Dentures
A denture replaces missing teeth with teeth made to fit your mouth. We make conventional dentures and implant-retained dentures, which attach to dental implants so that they stay in place. Dr. Warga places the implants in our office.
Conventional Dentures
A conventional denture rests on the gums. An upper denture is held in place by its fit against the gums and the palate. A lower denture has less to hold on to, and many people find that it moves more when they speak and chew.
A new denture takes getting used to. Speaking and eating feel different at first, and adjustments in the first weeks are a normal part of getting one.
Implant-Retained Dentures
An implant-retained denture attaches to dental implants placed in the jaw. The implants hold it in place, so it moves less when you speak and chew. Like a conventional denture, it is taken out for cleaning.
Reviews of clinical studies have found that people with a lower denture held by two implants chew better and are more satisfied with it than people with a conventional lower denture, though not every study has found a difference. For upper dentures there is far less research.
The Implants Are Placed Here
Dr. Warga places dental implants himself, in our office. Before an implant is placed, we take a 3D cone beam (CBCT) scan here. On that scan, the position, angle and depth of each implant are planned before the day of your surgery, and during the procedure that plan guides the placement. Where bone has been lost, bone grafting can rebuild enough of it to hold an implant.
In select cases we may refer you to a specialist we work in partnership with, and we coordinate your care with them.
Planned Around Your Bite
A denture has to do more than fill a space. The way its teeth meet affects how well you chew and how comfortable your jaw is. Each denture is planned from a comprehensive exam of the teeth and gums and the structures around them, with the function of your bite in mind.
If Teeth Must Be Removed First
Where remaining teeth cannot be restored, removing them is part of the plan. Dr. Warga performs extractions and bone grafting in our office, so the extractions, the implants and the denture follow one plan.
Living With a Denture
Clean your denture every day, and keep your periodic exams. The gums and the bone under a denture change over the years, so a denture that once fit well can become loose. A reline adds new material to the underside of the denture so that it fits your gums as they are now, and in time a denture may need to be replaced. Please do not adjust a denture yourself.
To talk about dentures or implant-retained dentures, call or text us at (847) 441-6510.
Questions About Dentures
Have a question that is not here? Call or text us at (847) 441-6510.
What is the difference between a denture and an implant-retained denture?
A conventional denture rests on the gums and is held in place by its fit. An implant-retained denture attaches to dental implants placed in the jaw, which hold it in place, so it moves less when you speak and chew. Both are taken out for cleaning.
Are the implants for a denture placed in your office?
Yes. Dr. Warga places dental implants in our office, planned on a 3D cone beam (CBCT) scan taken here. When a case calls for a specialist, we work in partnership with periodontists and oral surgeons to place the implant, and we coordinate your care with them.
How many implants does an implant-retained denture need?
It depends on the jaw, the bone and the denture. In the clinical studies that compare the two kinds of denture, a lower denture is most often held by two implants. The number and position of your implants are planned on a 3D scan before the day of your surgery.
How long does it take to get used to a new denture?
A new denture takes getting used to. Speaking and eating feel different at first, and adjustments in the first weeks are a normal part of getting one. If a spot stays sore, please call or text us rather than adjusting the denture yourself.
Why does a denture become loose over time?
The gums and the bone under a denture change over the years, so a denture that once fit well can become loose. A reline adds new material to the underside of the denture so that it fits your gums as they are now, and in time a denture may need to be replaced.