Implant-Supported Dentures in Cullman

Implant-Supported Dentures

Replacing an Entire Arch with Stable, Natural-Looking Teeth

Dentures have traditionally been used as the solution for replacing an entire arch of teeth. However, regular dentures have many disadvantages. Accelerated bone loss caused by the wearing of dentures can make you look older than you really are and cause your dentures to become looser and looser fitting over time. Loose dentures can move around in your mouth and make distracting noises while you eat or speak. Dentures also provide relatively poor chewing power—only about 30 percent of that of natural teeth. Thanks to modern developments, dentures can now be supported by implants, making dentures fully stable in your mouth and providing greatly increased chewing power. Implant-supported dentures can either be fixed or removable (snapping onto implants), depending on your needs. Our doctors provide many types of implant-supported dentures, and they also provide implant-supported, all-porcelain bridges for an even more lifelike result. They can craft you an entirely new set of implant-supported dentures, or retrofit your existing denture to be supported by implants.

Experienced, skilled implant dentist

Dr. Bartlett has been placing implants for over 10 years and is experienced in the creation of implant-supported dentures. She has kept up-to-date with the latest techniques in implant dentistry through regular continuing education and will make sure that your implant-supported dentures are comfortable, stable and well-fitting. Our doctors use 3D cone beam CT imaging technology for precise diagnosis and treatment planning and use surgical guides for accurate and efficient implant placement.

Complimentary Dental Implant Consultation

Implant Consultation

You can receive a free consultation with Dr. Bartlett to find out if you are a candidate for dental implants and learn more about implant-supported dentures. She can also show you how she can retrofit your existing dentures so that they are stabilized by implants. Your visit will include:

  • Oral exam, including limited periodontal (gum) evaluation
  • Bite evaluation
  • Consultation with the doctor
  • Find out more about dental implants
  • Discuss your treatment options
  • Get all your questions answered

To make an appointment, call 256‑841‑7222 or click here to request an appointment online.

Our Stable and Lifelike Implant-Supported Dentures

Implant-Retained, Removable Snap-On Dentures

Dr. Bartlett provides removable dentures that snap onto four to eight implants for your upper arch, and two to four implants for your lower arch, greatly increasing stability and chewing power. You will be able to remove your dentures at any time for cleaning, as you would with regular dentures. Your dentures will not move around in your mouth. There will normally be no fake palate to inhibit your sense of taste, and your chewing power with this type of denture is increased to 70-80 percent of that of natural teeth. Dr. Bartlett can either craft you an entirely new set of implant-retained removable dentures, or retrofit your existing dentures with attachments that snap onto implants. She will use four to six implants in the upper jaw and two to four implants in the lower jaw to anchor your snap-on denture.

Learn more about our Dental Implants & Dentures packages.

All-On-4 New Teeth in One Day

Implant-retained, removable snap-on dentures

Dr. Bartlett also provides fixed, implant-supported dentures called the All-On-4 New Teeth In One Day procedure, which provides 80-90 percent chewing power compared to natural teeth. Fixed dentures are extremely stable and are permanently attached to implants in your jaws. Only the dentist can remove them. You can brush and clean them like regular teeth. Dr. Bartlett recommend this type of denture for patients who want to have teeth that stay permanently in their mouths like real teeth. She also recommends it when extra stability is needed or when there is a large defect in the jawbone to compensate for (for example when there is a large area of bone missing). Dr. Bartlett will normally place a fixed, implant-supported denture on four to six implants in each jaw.

Learn more about our Dental Implants & Dentures packages.

Implant-Supported, All-Porcelain Bridges

Implant-supported, all-porcelain fixed bridges

Dr. Bartlett can replace an entire arch of teeth using a series of fixed, implant-supported bridges. Implant-supported bridges are crafted of all-porcelain material and are very lifelike. Dr. Bartlett uses ultra-strong “zirconia” porcelain for the bridges in the back of the mouth, and even more natural-looking, layered porcelain around a zirconia core in the front, for a perfectly aesthetic and natural look. Dr. Bartlett will occasionally also utilize a single porcelain bridge for the entire arch—mostly for patients with weak bone, or in cases where extra support is needed.

Mini Implants to support removable implant-supported dentures

Implant-Supported Dentures

In cases where there is not enough bone in the jaw or where there is not enough space for regular implants, our doctorscan sometimes use mini implants to support a removable full or partial snap-on denture. Mini implants have a smaller diameter than regular implants and may be able to provide a solution in such instances.

Implant-Supported, Removable Partial Dentures

Dr. Bartlett also provides removable partial dentures that snap onto implants. Implant-supported partial dentures are stable in your mouth, do not move around and have better chewing power than regular partial dentures. The implants used to support partial dentures also help prevent bone loss in your jaw, which could otherwise cause your adjacent teeth to shift in your mouth and contribute to other oral health complications.

Denture Stabilization

implants2

If you are currently wearing a denture and would like increased stability and chewing power, our doctors can stabilize your existing denture with dental implants. When your dentures are retained by implants, they are fully stable in your mouth and will continue to be so even after many years. Implant-retained dentures also provide increased chewing power (70-80 percent of natural chewing power) compared to regular dentures (about 30 perceent). Dentures stabilized with implants do not move around in your mouth or make clicking sounds or other disturbing noises while you eat or speak, and they are more comfortable to wear.

How denture stabilization works

The doctor will fit your dentures with special snap-on attachments that snap onto implants in your jaw. In certain circumstances, a bar attachment may be used that clips onto implants. In the upper jaw, your denture can be stabilized using four to eight implants. For the lower jaw, two to four implants are usually sufficient. You will still remove your denture for cleaning, as you would with a traditional denture. When snapped in, your denture will be highly secure and will not move around in your mouth, and it will give you greatly increased chewing power.

Our Approach to Implant-Supported Dentures

Our doctors will do a thorough exam and meticulous treatment planning to ensure that your implant-supported dentures are stable, fit well and look very natural.

Detailed, high-tech diagnostics

Cone Beam Scanner


We will get a detailed view of your mouth for use in treatment planning.

Our team will perform a detailed, thorough examination of your mouth to assess the situation and determine if you are a candidate for implant-supported dentures. We will take digital X-rays and have you get a 3D cone beam CT scan which will provide us with detailed 360° images of your teeth, jaw and skull. This will give us a comprehensive overview of all the hard and soft structures in your head, which allows for accurate treatment planning.

Study model and meticulous treatment planning

Next, our doctors will make a study model of your mouth, which they will use, along with your X-rays and CT scan, to lay out a detailed plan for your treatment. It is important to properly and meticulously plan out the location and angle of the implants for implant treatment to be a success.

Surgical guides

Implant-Supported Dentures

Dr. Bartlett will create surgical guides marking the exact location and angle at which your implants are going to be placed. This makes their placement more accurate and efficient.

Extractions and bone grafting

If you still have any teeth that need to be extracted, Dr. Bartlett can usually perform the extractions at the same time as placing your implants. If any bone grafting is needed for your implants to be stably supported by adequate bone, our doctors can usually perform these bone grafts during the same surgical procedure as the placement of your implants. If a prior bone grafting procedure is needed, we will let you know prior to treatment.

Temporary dentures for immediate wear

A set of temporary dentures may be crafted for you to wear immediately after your extractions, so that you never have to be without teeth. You will wear your temporary dentures until your implants have fully healed, at which point you will be fitted with your final and permanent implant-supported dentures. Our doctors will give you instructions on what to eat while wearing your temporary implant-supported dentures, and on how to take care of them.

High-quality new teeth

We use high-quality materials and labs to ensure that your new teeth are stable, comfortable and natural-looking. We take great care with the details of your denture design to make sure that it looks very lifelike. Throughout the entire process, we take the time to get it just right, so that you can walk out of our office with new teeth you absolutely love.

To make an appointment, call 256‑841‑7222 or click here to request an appointment online.

(256) 588-3096