Restorative Dentistry

Implant Retained Dentures in Inglewood, CA

Loose dentures can make every meal, conversation, and smile feel uncertain. You shouldn’t have to worry about your teeth slipping when you laugh or bite into your favorite food.

At Blue Diamond Dental, implant retained dentures give you a secure, comfortable smile that stays where it belongs. Small dental implants anchor your denture to your jawbone, so you can eat, speak, and smile with confidence again.

For more than 50 years, families in Inglewood, Hawthorne, and across the South Bay have trusted us with gentle, personalized restorative care. We’ll help you explore your options at your own pace, with no pressure and no judgment.

older woman smiling outside

What Are Implant Retained Dentures?

An implant retained denture is a full set of replacement teeth that attaches to dental implants placed in your jaw. Traditional dentures rest on your gums. Implant retained dentures lock onto stable anchors instead.

Dental implants are small titanium posts that act like natural tooth roots. Over time, they fuse with your jawbone. This creates a strong foundation that holds your denture firmly in place.

The result is a smile that feels more natural and works more like real teeth.

Why Missing Teeth Matter for Your Health

Replacing missing teeth is about more than looks. When teeth are lost, it can affect your bite, your speech, and your ability to chew.

Missing teeth can also:

  • Put extra strain on your jaw muscles, which may lead to jaw pain or headaches
  • Cause the jawbone to shrink over time
  • Change the shape of your face and lips
  • Make it harder to eat a healthy, balanced diet

Implant retained dentures help address these concerns while restoring a full, confident smile.

Types of Implant Retained Dentures

There’s more than one way to secure a denture with implants. The right choice depends on your jawbone, your budget, and how you want your denture to feel day to day.

Ball Attachment Dentures

This option usually uses two implants in the lower jaw. Your denture has small sockets that snap onto ball-shaped attachments on top of each implant.

Ball attachment dentures are much more stable for chewing than dentures without implants. Still, some movement is normal. Food particles, especially seeds, can get trapped underneath and cause sore spots.

You’ll remove this denture for daily cleaning. As with all removable teeth, you’ll need regular visits for adjustments.

Bar Attachment Dentures (Overdentures)

This option places four to six implants in the lower jaw, depending on your jaw’s size and shape. After healing, the implants are connected with a custom-made support bar.

Your denture, often called an “overdenture,” has special clips inside that attach to the bar. It snaps firmly into place.

Bar attachment dentures offer far more stability than ball attachments, with very little movement. They’re still removable, which makes cleaning and maintenance easy.

Screw-Retained Dentures (Fixed Dentures)

This option uses five or more implants and a permanent, fixed denture. Your new teeth are secured to the implants or a support bar with screws or clasps.

The denture doesn’t touch your gums. You can clean underneath it without taking it out. Only our team removes it, during maintenance visits.

Cleaning under a fixed denture takes a bit more time and care. Many patients feel the trade-off is worth it for a smile that feels closest to natural teeth.

Upper vs. Lower Jaw Options

Implant retained dentures can restore either jaw, or both. However, each jaw has unique needs.

Lower Implant Retained Dentures

Traditional lower dentures are often the hardest to keep in place. Your tongue and cheek muscles can push them out of position. That’s why the lower jaw is one of the most common places for implant support.

The lower jawbone is also dense and strong. This often allows fewer implants to provide excellent stability.

Upper Implant Retained Dentures

The bone in the upper jaw is softer than the bone in the lower jaw. Because of this, patients often need more implants to support their upper denture.

There’s a big advantage, though. With enough implants, your denture may not need to cover the roof of your mouth.

A palate-free denture can help you:

  • Taste your food more fully
  • Sense food and drink temperature better
  • Enjoy a lighter, more natural feel
  • Speak more comfortably

Upper implant retained dentures can still be removable, which makes cleaning your denture and support bar simple.

Who Is a Candidate for Implant Retained Dentures?

Implant retained dentures may be a great fit if you:

  • Are missing most or all of your teeth in one or both jaws
  • Struggle with loose, slipping, or uncomfortable dentures
  • Rely on denture adhesives and want a more secure option
  • Want to eat a wider variety of foods with confidence
  • Are in good general health and can heal well after minor oral surgery

You’ll also need enough healthy jawbone to support the implants. If you’ve been missing teeth for a long time, some bone loss may have occurred. Bone grafting may be an option to help prepare your jaw.

Health factors like uncontrolled diabetes, smoking, or certain medications can affect healing. That doesn’t always rule you out. It just means we’ll plan carefully together.

Not sure where you stand? A consultation with Dr. Anthony Ortega is the best way to find out. We’ll review all your options, including partial dentures or immediate dentures if they’re a better fit for you.

Schedule Your Implant Retained Denture Consultation in Inglewood

You deserve a smile that feels secure, looks natural, and lets you enjoy life again. Our caring team is here to answer your questions and help you find the right path forward.

Book your consultation at Blue Diamond Dental today. Together, we’ll create a plan that fits your health, your comfort, and your budget.

Implant Retained Dentures FAQs

Most adults who are missing many or all of their teeth can be candidates. You’ll need good general health and enough jawbone to support implants. If you’ve had bone loss, bone grafting may help. A consultation and digital X-rays will tell us which option is best for you.

Cost depends on the number of implants, the type of denture, and whether you need extra treatment like extractions or bone grafting. Many dental plans cover part of the denture or implant costs. Our team will check your benefits and explain flexible payment options, including CareCredit financing.

Most patients feel mild soreness or swelling for a few days, which is usually managed with over-the-counter pain relief. You’ll eat soft foods at first. Full healing, when the implants fuse with your jawbone, takes several months, and you can often wear a temporary denture during that time.

It depends on the type you choose. Ball and bar attachment dentures snap in and out, so you can remove them for cleaning. Screw-retained dentures are fixed in place and are only removed by our team during maintenance visits. The implants themselves are designed to be a long-term solution.

Traditional dentures rest on your gums and rely on suction or adhesive, so they can slip. Implant retained dentures lock onto implants for a much more secure fit. They also help preserve your jawbone, improve chewing, and may allow an upper denture without a palate covering the roof of your mouth.