Lower Denture Replacement: Clinical Examples

The simplest approach is to place two implants in the lower anterior area. These implants are restored with over denture attachments.
The lower denture fits over these attachments in a ball and ring relationship. The advantage to this approach is that it requires the least amount of therapy. This disadvantage to this approach is that the prosthesis may rotate anterior posterially when you bite on food with the front teeth. However, even with two implants the prosthesis is infinitely more stable than your full lower denture.
To eliminate the problem of rotation of a lower over denture placed on two implants, two additional implants are added. This approach provides a much more stable, functional base for the prosthesis.
The prosthesis attaches to the four implants with ring assemblies. The advantage to this approach is that it does not require placement more than four implants or fabrication of a fixed bridge. The disadvantage to this approach is that you still remove the prosthesis to clean around the implants. However, this prosthesis is as comfortable and stable as a fixed bridge in function.
If you desire a final result which you do not remove from your mouth at any time and which is shaped like natural teeth, six implants are placed in the lower arch and restored with a fixed bridge. [Click the picture to see where the implants are placed beneath the fixed bridge.]