Tucson Implant Dentures

The clear choice for tooth restorations!

What are implant-supported dentures?

Implant-supported dentures, sometimes called all-on-four, hybrid dentures, implant dentures, or teeth-in-a-day, are dental prosthetics that replace all of your upper teeth and/or lower teeth, improving your smile and self-esteem as well as your ability to speak and chew.

Why Skyline Dental?

Dr. James Raymond is a compassionate and skilled Tucson dentist whose goal is to help you love your smile. Our practice offers a variety of cosmetic and restorative dental treatments, including all-on-four implant-supported dentures.

At Skyline Dental, we want our patients to be able to enjoy the benefits of great oral health and a beautiful smile. Implant dentures may be the perfect solution for you. Your Tucson implant dentist is committed to giving you a healthy and happy smile so you can live your best life.

This is everything dental care should be.

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second chance project

How it works: Implant dentures at Skyline Dental

Initial consult and record taking

Your initial visit with Dr. James Raymond will include photos and x-rays to evaluate and confirm that implant-supported dentures are the appropriate treatment option for you. Further records will then be taken including impressions and facial scans to design your new teeth and smile.

Collaborative treatment planning and design

With the photos, x-rays, and impressions completed, Dr. Raymond will collaborate with the dental lab and implant surgeon to plan your big day and ensure everything goes smoothly. Planning includes evaluating your bone quantity and quality to determine locations for implant placement, fabrication of an implant placement guide, and designing and fabricating the teeth to be placed the day or your surgery.

“Teeth-in-a-day” visit

On surgery day, the oral surgeon will provide sedation, remove any remaining teeth, and precisely place your dental implants in pre-planned positions. Dr. Raymond will be there to attach the teeth to the implants so you leave with a new smile fixed in place. This is all achieved in a 2-4 hour surgery. It is important to note the teeth you leave with that day are temporary and in place during the healing phase, which takes 2-3 months.

Creating your final smile

Once implants have fully integrated, we begin the process of creating a second, permanent set of teeth. While most patients are completely happy with their temporary dentures, they are not durable enough for long-term wear. Creating the final smile also allows us to tweak and improve the fit and appearance for the best possible outcome. The final prosthesis is fabricated with a strong ceramic known as zirconia or with a custom titanium framework, depending on your specific needs.

Follow-up & maintenance

It is important to remember that a procedure like this does not mean you are done seeing the dentist. We recommend regular visits every 6 months in order to clean and polish around the prosthesis and implants to maintain appearance, cleanliness, and longevity of the implants.

Some implant-retained dentures, known as hybrid dentures, have a design that allows you to remove them for cleaning, allowing for more time between visits. Though less frequent, other maintenance is to be expected including the replacement or repair of worn denture teeth and pink acrylic. This will be determined by how you care for your dentures and if you grind or wear your teeth. Much like replacing worn tires on your car, sometimes we need to “retread” your denture.

BEFORE & AFTER: Seeing is Believing

Full Before & After Smile Gallery

Frequently Asked Questions

How are implant-supported dentures different from traditional dentures?

Traditional dentures rest on your gums and are removable. Even properly fitted dentures can slip around while you talk or eat. Ill-fitting dentures often lead to malnourishment and general decline in overall health. Implants minimize movement of dentures during chewing and speaking, decrease discomfort from chronic rubbing and irritation, and increase chewing efficiency. Comfortable and effective chewing is essential to a healthy appetite and diet. Apart from comfort and function, implant-supported dentures have significant social and psychological health benefits because they look and feel like real teeth.

Can I get implants if I already have traditional dentures?

Yes, you are still a candidate. Even if you have been wearing traditional dentures for years, it is very rare that dental implants will not be an option to improve your oral health, confidence, and ability to chew.

Can I get implant-supported dentures if I still have some of my teeth?

Yes. Most patients who qualify for this procedure are missing multiple teeth, have had chronic dental problems such as gum disease, cavities, multiple crowns, failing bridges, or partial dentures, and have reached a point in their dental health that starting anew with a full arch of implant-retained teeth is the best choice.