A lower full denture is usually not stable and chewing with it can be quite a difficult and an embarrassing balancing act. What’s the solution? Implants. There is a great variety of implants and ways to attach them to people’s dentures to hold them in place. I have chosen to use a system that you might compare to a trailer hitch. On the end of the implant is a round ball that fits into the bottom of the denture which has a housing (keeper cap) that fits over and holds onto that ball. This keeper cap has a little rubber O-ring to snug down onto the ball for retention. The “snap on” types of attachments are, in my opinion, like riding in car with no shock absorbers. The ride is jarring and rough. With a rubber O-ring the ride is cushioned and resembles the small give of tissue and so the bite feels more natural while still being retentive. For stability and balance the use of four or more implants is best. A teeter-totter is comparable to a denture with only two implants for retention. It rocks from the front to the back of the mouth on the implants. The types of titanium implants I use are called mini implants. I can use four and get the greater stability for less money than the two wide body implants with the “snap on” feature (the rough ride type). The “Snap on” type engage with plastics clips that lose their retentiveness within months. I have over 1,000 of these types of implants placed and in service. I have patients that have had mini implants with the rubber O-ring type retention devices in place for as long as 8 years before needing replacement. The average replacement time is two to three years.
