Restorative Dentistry
Implant Supported Dentures
If your denture slips when you talk, needs adhesive to stay put, or has made you give up on certain foods, implants can fix that. Two to four implants anchor the denture so it clicks firmly into place and comes out for cleaning. Often your current denture can be adapted to fit them.
Why it matters
Benefits
- No more slipping, clicking, or adhesive. The denture snaps onto the implants and stays.
- Eat properly again. An anchored denture lets you bite and chew foods a loose one cannot.
- Often your existing denture can be retrofitted, which keeps the cost down.
- Slows the bone loss that makes dentures loosen over time.
- Implants placed and the denture fitted here, by the same team, with sedation if you want it.
What to expect
The process
- 01
Consultation and 3D scan
We look at your current denture, your bite, and a 3D CT scan of your jaw. That tells us how many implants you need and whether your existing denture can be adapted.
- 02
Implant placement
Usually two implants in the lower jaw or four in the upper, placed in a single appointment with local freezing and sedation if you prefer. You go home with your denture adjusted to wear during healing.
- 03
Healing
The implants fuse with the bone over three to six months. You keep wearing your denture in the meantime, relined so it stays comfortable.
- 04
Fitting the attachments
Small connectors are fitted to the implants and matching clips are set into the underside of your denture. From that day on it snaps in and out.
- 05
Adjustments
A check a couple of weeks later fine-tunes the fit. The clips wear with use and are replaced every year or two as part of normal maintenance.
When a denture stops cooperating
Dentures rest on the gums, and gums change. The jawbone under a denture slowly shrinks once the natural teeth are gone, which is why a denture that fit well five years ago now slips, rubs, or needs adhesive to get through a meal. Lower dentures are the worst for it, because there is less surface for them to grip.
Implants solve the problem at the root. Instead of sitting on the gum, the denture clips onto posts anchored in the bone. It stays put when you laugh, you can bite into an apple, and the implants themselves slow the bone loss that caused the trouble.
Snap-in or fixed
An implant-retained (snap-in) denture is removable. It clicks onto two to four implants, comes out at night for cleaning, and is the more affordable of the two options. It is a big step up from a conventional denture for most people.
A fixed full-arch bridge, often called All-on-4, stays in permanently on four or more implants and feels the most like natural teeth. It costs more and takes a little longer.
Both are planned, placed, and fitted here in South Calgary. At your consultation we show you the scan, explain which option fits your bone and your budget, and give you a written quote for each.
What the process is like
The implant appointment is usually a single visit, and you leave wearing your denture. The waiting is the healing: a few months while the implants bond to the bone. Then a short visit to fit the clips, and the denture snaps in for the first time. Patients tend to notice the difference at their next meal.
If you are tired of a loose denture, book a consultation or call 403-271-2221. The first visit is about finding out what is possible.
FAQ
Questions we hear most often
- What is the difference between a snap-in denture and All-on-4?
- A snap-in, or implant-retained, denture is removable. You take it out to clean it and it clicks back onto the implants. All-on-4 is a fixed bridge that stays in permanently and is only removed by the dentist. Snap-in dentures use fewer implants and cost less; All-on-4 feels most like natural teeth. We walk you through both.
- Can my current denture be used?
- Often, yes. If your denture fits well and is in good shape, the clips can be set into it. If it is worn or ill-fitting, a new denture made to fit the implants gives a better result.
- How many implants do I need?
- Two is the usual minimum for a lower denture, which is the one that tends to float. Upper dentures usually need four because the bone is softer. The 3D scan decides it.
- Is the surgery painful?
- You are frozen for the procedure and sedation is available if you want to be relaxed or asleep. Most patients describe the few days afterwards as sore rather than painful, similar to an extraction.
- How much do implant supported dentures cost in Calgary?
- Cost depends on the number of implants and whether a new denture is needed or your existing one can be adapted. You get a complete written quote after your consultation. We direct-bill most insurance plans and can walk you through financing.
- Am I too old for implants?
- No. Age on its own is not a barrier; the deciding factors are bone, general health, and gum health. Plenty of implant denture patients are in their seventies and eighties.
Ready to talk it through?
Book a consultation.
We'll listen first, then build a plan around your goals and comfort.