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Endosteal dental implants designed to attach (i.e., anchor) removable partial dentures to the maxilla or mandibular bone. These implants are typically sharp, pointed metal (e.g., titanium, stainless steel) devices (e.g., a very thin screw) with a tip that is introduced into the bone. Two main techniques are used to attach partial dentures to anchoring implants: the permanent attachment of the partial denture to the anchoring implant with screws that only the dentist can remove and the use of dental anchoring implants, including ball heads and sockets inserted into the base of the denture, permitting the denture to snap onto the head of the socket and be held in place; users can remove the denture by applying pressure in a lifting motion with their thumbs. Partial denture anchor implants are available in a variety of shapes and sizes according to the type of denture that they are intended to fix to the bones.
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