An implant assisted or retained denture is a class of overdenture that is attached to and supported by the implant. It is commonly used for people who don’t have any teeth but still have a jawbone that is strong enough to support the implant. There are special attachments that clip into the dental implant. The implant assisted or retained denture may be used either for the upper or lower jaw. However, it is mostly used for the lower jaw because regular dentures are prone to be unstable at that location.
There are two types of implant assisted or retained dentures: the bar-retained denture and the ball-retained denture. The former involves a thin metal bar being attached to the implant, while the latter has attachments on the implants that are ball-shaped. Both options are considered very strong and stable and will fit securely to your gums just like natural teeth.