The lower over-denture

Many denture wearers cope with their upper denture however they find the lower denture difficult to wear and keep in place. There is a solution for the unstable lower denture.

By having two implants placed in the lower jaw, roughly where the eye-teeth used to be, attachments can then be placed to secure the denture stopping it “jumping” and moving around.

The attachments are either magnetic or mechanical (ball & socket), one part on top of each the implants and the other embedded in the base of the partial denture. (image 1)

Generally in the lower jaw you need to wait between 6-12 weeks between placement of the implants and putting the attachments in your denture. This is the time it takes for the bone to heal against the implants – a process we refer to as osseointegration. During that time you can wear your existing denture over the implants. (images 2 & 3)

You can have something similar done in the top jaw supporting your upper denture. You need more implants however, generally 4, as the bone “quality” is not as good in the top jaw as in the bottom jaw.