Your smile affects more than just your appearance. It shapes how you feel about yourself, how you interact with others, and how comfortably you eat, speak, and go about your daily life. For people living with failing teeth, significant tooth loss, or traditional removable dentures that never quite fit right, that impact is felt every single day. Permanent dentures offer a solution that goes far beyond what conventional dentures can provide — a full, stable, natural-looking smile that stays in place and functions like real teeth.
At Briargate Dental Center in Colorado Springs, we offer permanent implant-supported dentures for patients who are ready to stop settling for a smile that doesn’t work for them. Whether you’ve been wearing removable dentures for years or you’re facing significant tooth loss and exploring your options, our team can help you understand whether permanent dentures are the right fit for your situation.
What are Permanent Dentures
Permanent dentures, also called implant-supported dentures or implant dentures, are a full arch tooth replacement solution that uses dental implants to anchor a complete set of prosthetic teeth securely to your jaw. Unlike traditional removable dentures that rest on the gums and rely on adhesives or suction to stay in place, permanent dentures are fixed. They don’t come out at night, they don’t slip when you eat or speak, and they don’t require messy adhesives to hold them in position.
You may have heard this type of procedure referred to as All-on-4 or All-on-6 dental implants. These are common terms used to describe full arch implant solutions where a complete set of teeth is supported by four or six strategically placed implants. At Briargate Dental Center, we take a personalized approach to implant-supported dentures, designing each case around the patient’s specific anatomy, bone structure, and goals rather than applying a one-size-fits-all method.
The implants themselves are small titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone. Over time, the bone fuses with the implant surface in a process called osseointegration, creating a stable and permanent foundation for your new teeth. Once the implants have integrated and your permanent prosthetic is in place, the result looks, feels, and functions remarkably close to natural teeth.
Are You a Candidate for Permanent Dentures?
Permanent dentures are a life-changing option for a wide range of patients, but they aren’t the right solution for everyone. The best way to determine whether you’re a candidate is through a thorough evaluation with our team. That said, permanent dentures are commonly a strong option for patients who:
- Have lost most or all of their teeth in one or both arches
- Are currently wearing traditional removable dentures and struggling with fit, comfort, or confidence
- Have multiple failing, severely decayed, or damaged teeth that are beyond restoration
- Have sufficient jawbone density to support dental implants, or are candidates for bone grafting to build up the necessary foundation
- Are in good enough general health to undergo an implant procedure
- Are non-smokers, or are willing to quit, as smoking significantly affects implant success rates
If you have experienced significant bone loss in the jaw, you may still be a candidate depending on the degree of loss and other factors. Our team will evaluate your bone structure and overall oral health to give you an honest assessment of your options. You can also learn more about tooth loss solutions on our missing tooth page or explore our denture options if you’re weighing different approaches.
What to Expect During the Permanent Denture Process
Initial Consultation and Treatment Planning
The process begins with a comprehensive evaluation of your oral health, jawbone density, and overall medical history. Our team will take detailed imaging and work with you to map out a treatment plan that fits your specific anatomy and goals. This is also the stage where we discuss what your final result will look like, so you have a clear picture of the outcome before anything begins.
Implant Placement
Once your treatment plan is finalized, the implants are surgically placed into the jawbone. The number and positioning of implants are determined by your bone structure and the design of your prosthetic. The procedure is performed with appropriate anesthesia so you’re comfortable throughout. Most patients are surprised by how manageable the recovery period is compared to what they anticipated.
Healing and Integration
After implant placement, a healing period follows to allow the implants to integrate with the surrounding bone. During this time, a temporary prosthetic keeps you functional and comfortable while your jaw heals. The integration process is what gives permanent dentures their stability and longevity, so this phase isn’t something to rush.
Fabrication and Placement of Your Permanent Prosthetic
This is where Briargate Dental Center offers a genuine advantage. We have an in-house dental lab, which means your permanent prosthetic is designed and fabricated right here rather than being sent to an outside laboratory. That translates to better quality control, a more precise fit, and a faster turnaround than practices that outsource their lab work. Overseeing our lab work is Dr. Michael, a graduate of the Air Force Dental Laboratory Technician School who holds his CDT from the National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology. Dr. Michael specializes in full mouth and All-on-X implant cases, bringing a level of expertise to the prosthetic side of this procedure that most dental practices simply don’t have in-house.
Once your permanent prosthetic is ready, it’s attached to your implants and adjusted for fit, bite, and appearance. The result is a full set of teeth that are stable, natural-looking, and built to last.
Benefits of Permanent Dentures
They Stay in Place
The most immediate and obvious benefit is stability. Permanent dentures are anchored to your jaw, so they don’t shift, slip, or pop loose when you eat, laugh, or speak. For anyone who has struggled with ill-fitting removable dentures, this alone is transformative.
They Look Like Natural Teeth
A well-made implant-supported prosthetic is designed to look like a natural, healthy set of teeth. With Dr. Michael’s expertise in dental laboratory technology and implant cases, the aesthetic result at Briargate is crafted with care and precision from start to finish.
They Preserve Jawbone
When teeth are lost, the jawbone beneath them begins to resorb over time because it no longer has roots stimulating it. Traditional dentures sit on top of the gums and do nothing to address this ongoing bone loss. Dental implants, because they’re anchored in the bone, provide the stimulation needed to slow or prevent that resorption, helping to preserve your facial structure over time.
They’re Easy to Care For
Permanent dentures are cared for much like natural teeth. Regular brushing, flossing around the implants, and routine dental checkups are the primary maintenance requirements. There are no adhesives, no overnight soaking, and no removal involved in daily care.
They Restore Confidence
The psychological impact of a stable, natural-looking smile is hard to overstate. Patients who make the transition to permanent dentures frequently report improvements in confidence, social comfort, and overall quality of life that go well beyond what they expected from a dental procedure.
They’re a Long-Term Investment
With proper care, dental implants can last decades. The implants themselves are designed to be a permanent solution, and while the prosthetic may need to be updated over time, the foundation you’re building is meant to last.
Why Choose Briargate Dental Center for Permanent Dentures
There are a number of places in Colorado Springs where you can explore implant-supported dentures. Here’s what sets Briargate Dental Center apart for patients considering this procedure.
Our in-house dental lab is a meaningful differentiator. Most dental practices outsource their prosthetic fabrication to third-party labs, which adds time, reduces quality control, and puts distance between the clinical and laboratory sides of your care. At Briargate, the lab is part of the practice, which means tighter coordination, better precision, and a more seamless process from implant placement to final restoration.
Dr. Michael brings specialized credentials to our lab that are rare in a general dental practice setting. As a CDT with focused expertise in full mouth and All-on-X implant cases, he brings a level of prosthetic knowledge to each case that directly benefits the fit, function, and appearance of your final result.
We also take a genuinely personalized approach to treatment planning. Permanent dentures are not a one-size-fits-all procedure, and we don’t treat them that way. Every patient’s anatomy, bone structure, and goals are different, and your treatment plan reflects that. Our team takes the time to thoroughly evaluate your situation and walk you through your options so you can make a decision that’s right for you.
You can learn more about dental implants and what the process involves on our dental implant guide, or explore our full range of dental services to see everything Briargate Dental Center has to offer.
Permanent Dentures FAQs
How are permanent dentures different from traditional removable dentures?
Traditional removable dentures rest on top of the gums and are held in place by suction or adhesive. They can shift, slip, and cause discomfort over time, and they do nothing to address ongoing jawbone loss. Permanent dentures are anchored to the jaw with dental implants, making them stable, fixed, and far more functional and comfortable for most patients.
Will permanent dentures look natural?
Yes. A well-crafted implant-supported prosthetic is designed to closely resemble natural teeth in both appearance and proportion. At Briargate Dental Center, our in-house lab and Dr. Michael’s specialized expertise in implant cases means the aesthetic side of your restoration receives the same level of attention as the clinical side.
Is the implant procedure painful?
The procedure is performed with anesthesia, so you won’t feel pain during the placement itself. Some soreness and swelling in the days following surgery is normal and manageable with over-the-counter or prescribed medication. Most patients find the recovery more comfortable than they anticipated going in.
How long do permanent dentures last?
The implants themselves are designed to be a long-term solution and can last decades with proper care. The prosthetic teeth attached to the implants may need to be updated or replaced over time due to normal wear, but the implant foundation is built to be permanent.
What is the difference between All-on-4 and All-on-6 implants?
All-on-4 and All-on-6 are terms commonly used to describe full arch implant solutions supported by four or six implants respectively. The number of implants used depends on the patient’s bone density, anatomy, and the specific design of the prosthetic. At Briargate, we determine the right approach based on your individual case rather than applying a fixed protocol.
Can I eat normally with permanent dentures?
Yes, and this is one of the biggest quality of life improvements patients report after making the transition. Because permanent dentures are anchored securely to the jaw, you can eat a much wider range of foods than traditional denture wearers typically manage. Most patients are able to enjoy a normal diet once healing is complete.
How do I care for permanent dentures?
Daily care for permanent dentures is straightforward. Brush twice daily, floss around the implant attachments, and maintain your regular dental checkup schedule. There are no adhesives to apply, no overnight soaking routines, and no removal involved. Your Briargate Dental team will walk you through the specific care routine that’s right for your restoration.
Ready to Learn More?
If you’re tired of dealing with failing teeth or removable dentures that don’t work the way you need them to, permanent dentures may be the solution you’ve been looking for. Our team at Briargate Dental Center is here to walk you through your options, answer your questions, and help you figure out whether this is the right path for your smile and your life.
Schedule a consultation at Briargate Dental Center today and take the first step toward a smile that works as hard as you do.