If you wear dentures, but would like to be able to talk and chew more comfortably, there's a solution for a more secure smile.

"When all of the teeth in an arch are missing, an excellent treatment for replacing them is what we call an implant overdenture," says Dr. Kris Tumilowicz with Dental Dimensions.

It's a denture secured with implants. It allows you to keep your denture more stable in your mouth, and remove it when necessary.

First, your dentist will completely numb the area to make you comfortable. "We make an opening in the gums for the implant and the channel is made," he describes. "Then we place the implant into the prepared channels, cover it, and stitch the gum over."

During the healing process, you can wear a temporary denture. It could take several months, but in that time, the implants fuse to your jawbone.

The next step is getting your final denture made. An impression of your mouth and a bite registration will be taken with your new implants. Then, a model of your mouth is created. "We'll use the model to create a final denture that precisely fits the implants and your bite," he says.

When the final denture is ready, your dentist will fasten it onto the implants and check the fit.

In addition to a more natural look, it provides some health benefits. "The implants slow or stop the loss of the jawbone that occurs when teeth are missing, and keeps dentures stable in your mouth which makes it more comfortable to talk and chew," he says. "You don't feel like your dentures are moving."