If you’re frustrated with loose or uncomfortable dentures, you’re not alone. Fortunately, modern dental options like Snap-On Dentures (also called Implant Overdentures) offer improved comfort, stability, and confidence. In this blog, we’ll explain what they are, how they work, and how they compare to other tooth replacement solutions, so you’ll have all the information you need to make an informed decision.
A Few Key Definitions
Snap-On-Dentures, properly known as Implant Overdentures, are dentures that connect to dental implants. Before we get into the details, let’s work our way through definitions.
Dentures and bridges are two different things. Dentures come in-and-out of your mouth, while bridges are permanent. When you go to bed at night, dentures are removed and placed back into your mouth in the morning. Bridges stay put: you cannot remove them. This article focuses on dentures.
There are two types of dentures: partial dentures, and complete (also known as full) dentures. Partial dentures require you to retain some of your own natural teeth, while complete / full dentures require you to have none of your own teeth, simply by definition. This denture focuses on complete / full dentures: not partial dentures.
Note you have two jaws, properly known as “arches.” You have an upper jaw or arch, and a lower jaw or arch. You can have a mix of prostheses (teeth): you can have an upper full denture and a lower partial denture, you can have a full denture in the top and a full denture in the bottom, you can have your own natural teeth in the top and a partial denture in the bottom…. You get the picture.
Traditional Dentures: Reliable, But Not Without Fault
Common complaints about full dentures include:
- Movement. Full dentures move around in your mouth. Lower dentures are worse than uppers.
- Discomfort. The movement of the denture causes pain or discomfort.
- Lack of taste, or a decrease in the ability to taste food.
- Covering of the roof of the mouth (upper dentures only).
- Decrease chewing power or efficiency.
- The understanding that without implants, dentures will cause more bone loss over time.
- A conscious or unconscious concern that a denture can fall down or move in social situations.
- The need, or perceived need, for denture adhesives (glues).
Implant overdentures, commonly known as Snap-On Dentures, improve most of these concerns.
Fixing Problems In a Snap with Snap-On Dentures
So what is an implant overdenture? It is a full denture that snaps onto dental implants. The implants are anchors that are placed in the jaw bone. The denture has snaps that click onto the implants. Two to four implants, and occasionally six, are utilized.
Implant Overdentures are not always a perfect solution for the issues mentioned above. Patient satisfaction levels vary. Patients usually seek an implant overdenture rather than an All-On-Four or Hybrid Denture (see below) due to cost: it is less expensive than these other options, but overdentures have limitations.
As with implants in general, It is also critical to understand your presenting condition (amount of bone, quality of bone, overall health, etc) plays an important role to the success and satisfaction of an overdenture.
All-On-Four Hybrid Dentures
So what is the All-On-Four (Hybrid Denture) mentioned above? It is a set of teeth that are connected to implants in one appointment. Unlike dentures, nothing is removable. Patients instantly benefit from a stronger bite and secure teeth as opposed to the overdenture. Satisfaction levels are extremely high. One drawback is the financial investment is higher.
Understanding the Cost of Snap-On Dentures
So what are the financial investments for these options? Implant Overdentures are extremely difficult to give estimates for until a patient is examined and a discussion can ensue. This is because of the great number of variables: the number of extractions, the number of implants, the need for temporary teeth, the final material choices. So a range is from $6,210 up to $18,000 per arch. Estimates for All-On-Four are easier to provide: these range from $22,800 to $25,000 per arch.
Do you have questions? Visit our website at www.MorrisCountyDentist.com or contact us for a free consultation.
About the Author
Dr. Ira Goldberg has been performing implant procedures for 30 years. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology / Implant Dentistry, a Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. He performs all phases of implant dentistry at his office in Succasunna, NJ. He lectures to dentists in the field of implantology. For a free consultation, including a free 3-D scan (if necessary), please call his office at (973) 328-1225 or visit his website at www.MorrisCountyDentist.com Dr. Goldberg is a general dentist, and also a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry.