Are you missing all your teeth? Dentures are a good option to replace missing teeth. But completely removable dentures have their drawbacks. And implant overdentures can help resolve the issues.
What Are Implant Overdentures?
Implant dentures or overdentures are dentures that fit over dental implants. The simplest and least expensive kind of overdenture is secured to your mouth by two ball-shaped snap fixtures surgically implanted into your mouth (pictured right). The denture snaps into place for stability, enabling you to speak and chew without the denture slipping out of place. Overdentures help you avoid getting sore spots in your mouth that can occur from repeated denture slippage.
Why Get Implant Overdentures?
Dentures rest on movable tissue. Upper dentures are held in place by suction to the roof of your mouth. Lowers are kept in place by your tongue and cheeks. Because the tissue they rest on is movable, there is no way they can be as fixed or stable as your natural teeth. Because of this, your denture may slip out of place while eating or talking with friends. And, as time goes on, your jawbone will shrink, and it will get increasingly challenging to keep your dentures in place.
Also, your upper denture has to completely cover your hard palate because of the need for suction. A covered palate can spoil your taste and enjoyment of food.
A way to resolve this is to have your dentures secured to your jawbone. Dentures supported by implants make it so that your teeth are fixed in place and will not slip or fall out. With these types of dentures, the palate doesn’t even need to be covered.
Another advantage of implant-supported dentures is the prevention of bone resorption. When teeth are missing from the mouth, the body reacts by slowly breaking down the jaw’s remaining bone that it thinks it no longer needs. After 10 or 20 years, your jawbone will be so wholly resorbed that you will have a condition called facial collapse. Having a dental implant stimulates your body to retain the bone and prevent resorption.
How Many Implants Will You Need?
For increased stability and comfort, Dr. Embury can place four or six implants to retain your denture. Denture stability increases with the number of implants you receive. After your implants have bonded to your jawbone, Dr. Embury will screw your denture in place to be no movement at all.
So if you’re fearful of your dentures slipping out while you’re talking or eating, implant dentures might be an option for you. No matter what option you choose, Dr. Embury will ensure the result is a beautiful smile.
You can contact our office by completing the online form or by calling us to make an appointment.
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