What Is Overdenture Implants?
An overdenture is a denture, the base of which covers one or more teeth, prepared roots or implants. An overdenture is usually used for elderly patients that have lost some teeth but not all, rendering them suitable for a set of full dentures. The overdenture is not rigid in the mouth; it is removable.
Overdenture implants are a set of dentures which are supported by implants. Overdenture implants are also often referred to as implant dentures, implant-retained dentures, or simply implants.
What is an overdenture used for?
An overdenture is a denture, the base of which covers one or more teeth, prepared roots or implants. An overdenture is usually used for elderly patients that have lost some teeth but not all, rendering them suitable for a set of full dentures. The overdenture is not rigid in the mouth; it is removable.
What is the difference between denture and overdenture?
Dentures are held in place by adhesives, natural suction, or a combination of both. Overdentures look like conventional dentures from the outside, but they are actually secured in your mouth by clipping or screwing onto titanium dental implants that have been placed in your jawbone.
Who is the best candidate for overdentures?
Overdentures are a denture choice for those who are missing most or all of their teeth. If a person is only missing a few teeth, but experiencing problems with the rest of their teeth, they must make an appointment with a dental professional to determine if the teeth can be salvaged or must be extracted.
Are overdentures fixed or removable?
Because overdentures are removable, maintaining them is straightforward. They can be taken out and cleaned just like regular teeth. While they're out, you can clean the areas beneath them easily.
How long do overdentures last?
The denture itself will likely last about 5-10 years before it needs to be replaced to ensure that your artificial teeth always look and feel nice and natural. The implants, however, are likely to last for many decades or even a lifetime without needing to be modified or replaced. It varies from patient to patient and on after delivery maintenance by patient and various other factors which are not in the control of a dental clinician.
Are Overdentures comfortable?
Overdentures are extremely comfortable and cause no pain. Easy maintenance: Overdentures are extremely easy to maintain and can be cleaned just like normal teeth.
Are overdentures permanent?
-"Permanent Dentures Lock In Place"
You will never lose your false teeth again with removable "Full Mouth Dental Implants", also called overdentures or snap-in dentures. Steak, nuts, or vegetables no longer need to be softened because your permanent dentures are locked into place with implants.
Types of Overdentures
Overdenture implants can be fixed in place or removable depending on your needs and budget. Both types are significantly more comfortable and esthetic than a regular denture and help improve a person’s oral health by preventing further bone loss and supporting nutritional needs more readily than traditional dentures.
Implant-Supported Overdentures
Implant-supported dentures are a type of overdenture that use four or six implants screwed into the mandibular and maxillary jawbone. They help retain your existing bone to prevent further deterioration. This will help improve bone stability and offer a more youthful appearance.
An implant-supported overdenture typically requires two surgical procedures: one to place the implant into the jawbone and one to uncover the implant so a custom prosthetic can be fabricated. The implant-supported overdenture can be removed when it's time to sleep or when it needs to be cleaned by the patient.
Fixed Implant-Supported Overdenture
A fixed implant-supported overdenture is similar to a removable one, but it is locked in place by screws and cannot be removed by the patient. You would need your dentist to gently unscrew the prosthetic to remove it.
This option offers the most stable option for the edentulous patient. However, it is a challenge to clean because only a dentist can remove it. It is also typically the most expensive option as it needs four dental implants and uses screws as abutments.
Bar Retained Implant-Supported Overdentures
A bar-retained implant-supported overdenture has a bar attached to the implants that the denture can clip onto. It allows the denture to clip on and off the implants as needed but offers more security than a conventional denture. Most people will only remove the overdenture to clean and sleep.
Ball Retained Implant-Supported Overdentures
Ball retained implants are an excellent solution for the lower arch, where usually two or four implants are inserted in the jawbone.
A ball retained overdenture is one where the abutment that connects from the implant to the denture is ball-shaped. It provides stability and improved functionality compared to a traditional denture.
Additionally, ball attachments make it easier to clean and simple to change parts if replacements are needed.
Overdenture Partials
Sometimes people are missing only a few teeth and need a partial denture. Similar to a full denture, it is usually removable and comes with some drawbacks like putting pressure on existing neighboring teeth.
An overdenture partial does exactly what a complete implant-retained denture does. It replaces tooth roots with one or more implants, so that the partial can clip onto the implants.
An overdenture partial gives a more natural appearance compared to a traditional partial denture.
The most common benefits include:
- A permanent solution to missing teeth
- Greater confidence eating, smiling, and laughing
- Preserves jaw bone and keeps a youthful look
- No risk of dislodgement like a denture
- Creates a more natural appearance
- The main downside of an overdenture is the high cost, and you need a sufficient amount of bone for implant success
Can you eat with overdentures?
Eating with implant supported dentures
While eating when wearing implant supported dentures will take a little time to get used to, which is common with all types of dentures, once someone learns how it will be second nature in no time at all. Examples of eating tips include cutting up food into bite-sized pieces, chewing slowly and carefully chewing on both sides of the mouth at all times. The majority of new denture wearers will learn how to eat wearing the new dentures in just a couple of weeks.
Eating with implant supported dentures
Wearers need to be careful when eating certain foods, as some foods include tiny particles that tend to get caught underneath dentures. This situation can be quite painful, so it is important for wearers to be aware that this can happen. Foods that are known to cause this type of problem include chewy meats and hard rolls and bread. If tiny particles do get underneath the dentures, wearers can swish water around in the mouth to try to remove them.
Sleeping with implant supported dentures
While it may be tempting for new denture wearers to wear them when sleeping, this is not recommended. As with any type of denture, it is necessary to remove implant-supported dentures from the mouth before going to bed at night. There are a few reasons why this is necessary, with one of the more important reasons being that the gum tissues need to rest. Another reason is to prevent any potential infections, which are definitely to be avoided.