What is an Attachment Denture?
An attachment denture is used to replace an entire row of missing teeth with a dental bridge that is supported by as few as four dental implants. Despite relying on a relatively small number of implants for stability, attachment dentures provide stability and security that is dramatically better than those offered by conventional dentures. Because so few dental implants are needed to support a full row of teeth, attachment dentures are also considerably less invasive, with a shorter treatment time and lower cost than full-mouth dental implants. In many ways, an attachment denture blends the convenience of a conventional denture with the stability and health benefits of dental implants, providing a cost-effective, durable alternative for patients who seek to replace one or both full rows of missing teeth. While conventional dentures require frequent adjustments and fitting, interfering with enjoyable eating and causing painful sores and embarrassing mishaps, attachment dentures pose none of these risks and provide a long-lasting alternative.
The unique structure of the attachment denture allows it to provide stability with a limited number of dental implants. For a traditional dental implant restoration, there is usually a one-to-one correspondence between dental implant and dental prosthetic, with each dental implant supporting a single dental crown. This type of treatment requires a sufficient amount of healthy bone, which may mean bone grafts are necessary before treatment can commence.
For many types of implant-supported and implant-retained dentures, dentists can strategically place fewer dental implants to support more teeth, utilizing available bone to support strategically placed dental implants. Because of the specific angled placement of the implants used to support an attachment denture, the need for bone grafts and other augmentations diminishes, and dentists can rely on available healthy bone for support. The decreased need for bone grafts leads to shorter treatment and healing times and a less-invasive procedure, and it also reduces the overall cost of treatment.
Once the strategically angled dental implants are surgically placed into the jaw, the bone that surrounds the implants is given time to heal. As the bone heals, it bonds with the implants, fusing together permanently and creating impenetrable stability. After the bone has fully healed, a bar attachment is affixed to the tops of the implants; this bar serves as the foundation for an overdenture, which is snapped onto the bar and into place. These attachment dentures can be snapped into and out of the mouth and should be removed for cleaning and sleeping. The attachment mechanisms require periodic adjustments and replacement, a routine, inexpensive procedure that helps keep the attachment denture secure over the long term. Attachment dentures also help improve the oral health over the long term, as dental implants stimulate the growth and vitality of healthy bone as they exercise the tissue through routine forces like those associated with biting and chewing.
Through decades of successful treatment and positive results, attachment dentures have established themselves as a favorable solution for patients who are missing multiple teeth. Providing more comfort and stability than conventional dentures, and with less time and money invested than for full mouth dental implants, attachment dentures are a satisfying, successful compromise.