This is the first post of my Blog and my hope is that I can offer answers to questions and information about restorative dentistry.

I would like to share the differences between a removable implant retained Denture and a non-removable fixed denture to implants as described by my patients.
I have had many patients with both types of prosthetics. Certainly, having implants secured teeth to their jaws that eliminate having to use denture adhesives is a much more desirable than conventional traditional dentures.

The advantage of implants also allows the patients to not have the entire palate or roof of the mouth cover as in a conventional upper denture. This allows patients to not only taste their food but also feel the temperature.
Dental implants afford confidence in smiling, speaking and chewing and now with new techniques and advances in dental implants patients that were told in the past that they were not candidates for implants can now have them and eliminate grafting and waiting periods to have there teeth.

Why would people choose teeth that are removable vs. fixed (non-removable by the patient)?
The answer is cost. With removable dentures that can attach to implants, patients need fewer implants to secure their dentures. With dentures that are attached to the implants that are non-removable by the patient the lab fees are much higher, more appointments are necessary and the patients require more implants to support the denture.

The best way to describe the difference is that the removable type of denture that attaches to implants is not really supported by the implants. The implant attachment holds the denture in place. But the patient still chews with pressure on the gums. It is the gums that support the denture and the implant attachment are the anchors for retention.

Dentures that are fixed in place, meaning screwed directly into the implant, is rigid and actually supported by the jaw bone and not the gums.
Both serve patients well. The comments about the removable type of denture are that it moves or can rock.
Many patients adapt to the function of the removable type of implant denture. Some choose to upgrade if it is in their budget to a denture that is non-removable and fixed in place.