Missing All Lower Teeth

Although many patients have no problem wearing an upper denture, some people find it difficult to wear and eat with lower dentures. Several implant-supported replacement options are available if you are missing all of your lower teeth.

Ball Attachment Denture

One option is to have two implants placed in your lower jaw and a denture made that snaps onto these implants. This option allows your lower denture to be more stable while chewing than without implants. However, there will still be movement of your lower denture, and sore spots will occur if any food particles, especially seeds, are caught under it. As with all removable replacement teeth, you still will need periodic appointments for denture adjustment.

Jaw missing all of its teeth
1. Before
Jaw with two dental implants and no bottom teeth
2. Implants Placed
Ball Attachment Denture latched onto the lower jaw by two dental implants
3. Denture Attached

Bar Attachment Denture

Another option involves placing four to six implants, depending on your jaw size or shape, into your lower jaw. After healing is complete, the implants are connected with a custom-made support bar. Your denture will be made with special internal retention clips that attach onto the support bar, enabling the denture to snap firmly into place. This is called an “overdenture.” The advantage of this option is that it is much more stable than the first option and allows very little denture movement. Your denture is still removable for easy cleaning and maintenance.

Teeth missing on its lower jaw
1. Before
Four dental implants connected by a metal bar on its lower jaw
2. Implants Placed
Bar Attachment Denture secured onto the lower jaw by four dental implants
3. Denture Attached

Screw Retained Denture

A third option involves placing five or more implants in your jaw and attaching a permanent denture. Your denture is held in place by screws or clasps that secure it to the support posts or bar. It doesn’t touch the gum tissue, which allows you to clean under the denture without removing it. This denture will replace all your missing lower teeth and will not be removed except at maintenance visits. Although cleaning under your denture without removing it is more time consuming and requires more dexterity, many patients who want a permanent denture prefer this option.

Jaw missing teeth
1. Before
Six dental implants and no teeth on its lower jaw
2. Implants Placed
Screw Attachment Denture affixed onto the lower jaw by six dental implants
3. Denture Attached

Individual Implants

The final option is to have all your teeth individually replaced so that they will appear to be growing out of your gum tissue and will most closely resemble the appearance of your natural teeth. This option usually requires eight or more implants. Separate abutments or support posts for each one of these implants will be made and crowns for each missing tooth will be placed. The teeth are often joined together for sinus grafting to replace bone height strength and support. Overall, this is the most costly option, because it requires the most implants and individual replacement tooth fabrication. Your replacement options may also be limited by the current size and shape of your jawbone.

Jaw missing all of its teeth
1. Before
Lower jaw with all the teeth as individual dental implants
2. Implants Placed
Healed lower jaw after individual dental implants were placed
3. Healing Completed
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What if I’m missing all of my upper teeth?

A similar range of treatment options is also available for your upper jaw. However, because the bone is not as hard as that in the lower jaw, people often need more implants to support their new replacement teeth. Depending upon the number of implants to be placed, it may be possible to eliminate the need for covering the roof of your mouth with a complete denture. This option allows you to fully taste your food and gives you a better sense of its temperature. Your denture will feel more natural. You will still have a removable denture, which makes cleaning the support bar and denture much easier.

Implant Retained Upper Denture with its dental implants attached

Implant Retained Upper Denture

Depending upon the number of implants to be placed, it may be possible to eliminate the need for covering the roof of your mouth with a complete denture. This option allows you to fully taste your food and gives you a better sense of its temperature. Your denture will feel more natural. You will still have a removable denture, which makes cleaning the support bar and denture much easier.

Upper Dental Implants

Individual Upper Implants

If you want a restoration that is similar to your natural teeth and therefore not removable, you probably will need eight to ten individual implantsplaced. This is followed after healing by the placement of the abutments and new replacement crowns.

Surgical Arts of Boca Raton

5 out of 5 stars based on 38 Missing All Upper or Lower Teeth reviews

Excellent service will highly recommend

- Cynthia S

5 out of 5 stars on

Very pleased with office staff, courteous, printed receipt when needed after payment made. Dr. G and the rest of the staff are extremely friendly.

- Loretta B

5 out of 5 stars on

Great experience I never thought having a tooth pulled would be such a great experience!

- Arlene G

5 out of 5 stars on

The entire staff was friendly especially Lisa and Krystal.

- Robert J

5 out of 5 stars on

Best experience I’ve ever had at a dental offfice.

- Elaine S

5 out of 5 stars on

The Doctor is wonderful and so is his staff, I give this office 5+ stars and would definitely recommend..

- Roslyn H

5 out of 5 stars on

GreAt experience professional staff kind courteous. Highly recommend

- Jeffrey Faust

5 out of 5 stars on

This office and staff truly care about their patients. The Dr. Pornof is fantastic My sinus lift and implant turned out great. Go to this doctor for quality care.

- Karen d G

5 out of 5 stars on

Doctor P has an excellent team that actually cares about their patients! I had a broken jaw and had to go in for surgery! Because of this Covid stuff going on I couldn’t have any friends or family at the hospital. Dr. P made me feel so comfortable going into surgery it was a relief! The best thing was he had me out of the hospital in a day!! Best doctor hands down and has a heart of gold!! Thanks

- Christopher C M

5 out of 5 stars on

Thank you so much Dr. And team! Once healed, I look forward to living out of tooth pain.

- Michelle H

5 out of 5 stars on

Dr. Portnof is very friendly and knowledgeable. He answered all of my questions and gave me peace of mind. I highly recommend Dr. Portnof !

- Robert W

5 out of 5 stars on

the best doctor portnof and his staff with Danita she was the best also lisa thank you all for helping me in my time of trouble all you were the very best so thank you very much louella valenti

- louella v

5 out of 5 stars on

I had my wisdom teeth taken out this past February and the doctor and staff were great and were very kind to me. I was anxious at first but they reassured me that I would be alright and my healing process was great. No dry socket or anything! 🙂 Dr. Portnof and Danita are very nice people and are experienced with their jobs.

- Gabriela G

5 out of 5 stars on

I took my Husband for a tooth Extraction, and him being a stroke patient the help from the staff was God sent. The receptionist at the front Ms. Nardia was so great with us. When we went on the inside there I met the rest of the staff. Ms. Danita, the care of heart she had helping me transferring my husband from the wheelchair unto the dentist chair. How she explained the procedure to him, to him making sure he understood everything, which was done very slowly and with great compassion knowing his health condition. And then here comes Dr. Jason Portnof, could this get any better of course. The procedure was done before I knew it. They made sure his script was sent over to the pharmacy, which was giving a little trouble but they went above and beyond to make sure it went through before we left. Great team, clean environment. Dr. Jason to you and your staff, continued blessing on your business. you guys made his day.

- Fay F

5 out of 5 stars on

Dr. London is the BEST!!! He is skilled, kind and compassionate. My daughter had 4 wisdom teeth extracted with no pain and recovered quickly. He put my mind at ease immediately. The team is VERY friendly, the office is immaculate and the overall experience was amazing. I highly recommend Dr. Michael London, he is genuine and caring, his follow-up is above par!!

- MaryLou W

5 out of 5 stars on

Rodrigo the dental assistant was amazing, the entire staff and doctor treated me like a king.

- Ellis B

5 out of 5 stars on

Dr. Portnof was an excellent surgeon with good bedside manners. Highly recommended.

- Andrea K

5 out of 5 stars on

Caring involved excellent follow through highly recommended.

- Pam F

5 out of 5 stars on

The doctor is the best and the staff deserves 20 stars

- Michael L

5 out of 5 stars on

Everything was productive and efficient

- Anthony L

5 out of 5 stars on