Implant Dentures in Sonora, CA

For many denture wearers, the first sign of trouble is a poor fit. Slipping, shifting, and discomfort of an ill-fitting denture make everyday tasks like eating and speaking a challenge. But behind that frustrating looseness is a deeper issue: bone loss. One of the hidden downsides of traditional dentures is their impact on your jawbone. Without the stimulation from your natural tooth roots, the bone beneath your gums gradually shrinks. This causes dentures to feel loose over time and can also lead to a sunken facial appearance and reduced comfort. While one solution is to have your dentures readjusted to better fit your changing jawbone, it’s simply not a lasting fix, and frequent adjustments can lead to even more frustration. At Sonora Dentist, Dr. Paul Berger helps patients break that cycle with implant dentures.

Supported by mini dental implants, these dentures provide a secure, natural-feeling fit while also helping to preserve the underlying bone. Whether you’re new to dentures or looking to improve the ones you have, implant-supported solutions offer a more confident way forward.

The Drawbacks of a Traditional Denture

Traditional dentures have been the default option for replacing an entire arch of teeth, but many patients find that the convenience fades over time. One of the most common frustrations is looseness. Dentures that initially felt snug can start to shift, especially when you eat or speak. This isn’t just inconvenient. The movement can also lead to soreness, embarrassment, and a constant need for professional readjustments. Often, a “reline” is needed to accommodate the changes in your mouth, but this fix is temporary at best. The problem isn’t just on the surface: it’s in the bone beneath.

As your body adjusts to the loss of teeth, the jawbone naturally begins to shrink. This process, known as bone resorption, means there’s less structure to support the denture. Every bite places pressure on the gums and the underlying bone, accelerating this loss. Over time, the ridge that once held your denture in place becomes less defined, making it harder to achieve a stable fit. This is especially true on the lower arch, where stability is already more challenging.

The instability isn’t just due to bone loss. The natural movements of the jaw, including subtle shifts with normal facial expressions, can cause your dentures to lift or tilt. This unpredictable movement can make simple tasks, like talking or chewing, feel like a struggle. To manage these issues, many people rely on adhesives, but these products can be messy and inconvenient.

While lower dentures are notoriously unstable, upper dentures present a different issue. The design of an upper denture includes a piece that covers your palate. As a result, they tend to dull your sense of taste and feel bulky in your mouth.

All of these issues (looseness, irritation, compromised function, and ongoing maintenance) add up to daily frustration. Traditional dentures may offer a starting point for restoring your smile, but they often fall short of providing lasting comfort, stability, and confidence.

How Dental Implants Help

Implant Dentures in Sonora, CA | Book a Free Implant ConsultationSo, what can we do when patients want to avoid the problems of traditional dentures or feel frustrated with the ones they already have? In these cases, we typically recommend dental implants.

Dental implants are metal posts that we secure in your jawbone. Over time, they fuse with the bone and act like tooth roots. This connection to the bone is important for stability and long-term oral health. Because they’re anchored in the bone, dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that prevents bone loss by stimulating the bone. And since they stay in place permanently, they offer strong, lasting results.

When you choose implant dentures, we’ll secure the appropriate number of dental implants throughout your arch to form a solid foundation for the denture.

At our office, we use mini dental implants because they offer important advantages over traditional implants.  Their smaller size and one-piece design allow for a simpler and less invasive placement. Because the procedure is gentler, patients experience faster healing with fewer complications. As a result, we can restore smiles in much less time. Mini implants are also more affordable, making implant dentures a more accessible option for many people.

Types of Implant Dentures

Snap-In Dentures

A snap-in denture is a removable denture that attaches to dental implants. It looks similar to a traditional denture, with a gum-colored base and artificial teeth. However, the underside contains small housings that “snap” onto the implants.

Typically, the lower arch is stabilized with four mini dental implants, while the upper arch normally requires six. This design keeps the denture firmly in place while you eat or speak, unlike a traditional denture that simply rests on the gums and can slip or shift. Snap-in dentures don’t rely on adhesives and feel far more stable and natural in daily use. While they use similar materials to a traditional denture, they offer a noticeable improvement in fit, comfort, and function.

Roundhouse Bridges

A roundhouse dental bridge is a full arch of replacement teeth that are anchored to dental implants. Unlike a traditional denture or even a snap-in denture, this restoration does not have a pink acrylic base. Instead, the bridge is typically made from durable, high-quality zirconia for a sleeker design. It’s also secured using additional implants throughout the jaw. This system provides a stable and durable base that allows the bridge to function much like natural teeth.

Roundhouse bridges offer several benefits beyond stability. They provide a more natural look and feel, without the bulkiness of traditional dentures or the need to remove them daily. Patients often experience improved chewing power, clearer speech, and a more natural smile.

These bridges can be semi-removable, meaning only Dr. Berger can take them off during professional cleanings, or they can be permanently cemented in place for maximum security. Either way, a roundhouse bridge offers long-lasting results and a seamless fit that closely mimics the function and appearance of real teeth.

Enjoy a Secure Smile With Implant Dentures

If you’re dealing with a loose or uncomfortable denture, you don’t have to keep settling for short-term fixes. While traditional dentures can lead to daily frustration and long-term changes in your jawbone, implant dentures provide a more secure, comfortable, and lasting solution. They help protect your bone and make everyday activities, such as eating and speaking, much easier.

Whether you’re new to dentures or ready for an upgrade, Dr. Paul Berger and the team at Sonora Dentist are ready to help. Contact us today to schedule a free implant consultation and learn more about mini implant dentures.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re tired of loose dentures or struggling to eat the foods you love, you might be a good candidate for implant dentures. Because we use mini dental implants, more people qualify for treatment, especially those who may not have enough bone for traditional implants.

To determine if you qualify, Dr. Berger will check to make sure your jaw has enough available bone. If you already have a denture, he’ll evaluate whether it can accommodate the implant housings. Even if your current denture doesn’t work, we’ll guide you toward a solution that does. It’s all about helping you feel secure, comfortable, and confident again.

The process for getting implant dentures depends on whether you already have a denture. If you’re getting a new denture, our lab prepares it ahead of time. On the day of your procedure, Dr. Berger places the mini implants and takes a quick impression. Then you’re back the next day to have your denture secured.

If we’re converting an existing denture, Dr. Berger will check that it’s thick and strong enough to fit the implant housings. If it is, we can often place the implants and stabilize your denture in one visit. That means less downtime and quicker results!

No matter your situation, we ensure the road to a complete and functional smile is as smooth as possible!

We understand that cost is a big concern for patients, but there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The total cost of your implant dentures depends on several factors, including:

  • Whether we can convert your current denture into a snap-in denture
  • The type of denture you choose (snap-in vs. roundhouse bridge)
  • How many dental implants are needed
  • Whether any teeth need to be extracted beforehand

However, the good news is that mini dental implants are more affordable than traditional implants. They require fewer pieces, a less invasive procedure, and fewer office visits, keeping overall treatment costs down.

Our friendly office staff will also guide you through financing options and help you plan a treatment that aligns with your dental needs and budget. Our goal is to make long-lasting tooth replacement solutions accessible to all of our patients.

It’s totally normal to be nervous about discomfort, but placing mini implants is a gentle, minimally invasive process. Most patients are actually surprised by how easy it feels. Dr. Berger administers local anesthesia and uses careful techniques to make the procedure as comfortable as possible. And because mini implants are smaller and simpler to place, recovery is usually quick and mild. Some people feel a little soreness afterward, like you might after a routine dental visit, but it’s nothing most over-the-counter pain relief can’t handle. We’ll make sure you feel cared for throughout the entire process.