How Overdentures Work

People lose their natural teeth due to a variety of circumstances. Common ways people lose their teeth include accidents and oral conditions such as periodontitis, tooth decay, and gingivitis. One of the perfect ways to replace missing teeth is overdentures. An overdenture is a dental prosthesis supported by implants. Usually, the dentures snap onto the implants for a perfect fit. The dentures can rest on dental implants, natural teeth, or the roots. Overdentures and bone health are closely associated because these prostheses can replace missing teeth from the entire lower or upper jaw with zero resorption. Practically, candidates who lost their natural teeth recently are the best candidates for overdentures. This is because they have no or very little jaw bone loss. Hence, the implants have strong support. Persons with jaw bone deterioration can treat the condition before having overdentures. The most common treatment method for jaw bone deterioration is bone grafting. Bone grafting patients require a minimum of four months of healing before the placement of implants.

Overdentures Vs Dentures

The primary difference between implant-supported dentures and traditional dentures involves stability. Overdentures are more stable as they have implant support. This automatically makes them more comfortable compared to conventional dentures. Therefore, chances of overdentures slipping out or moving are very rare. The majority of patients who have overdentures reveal that they experience no difficulties while eating or speaking.

See Also: Implant Supported Over-dentures 

Moreover, they can comfortably consume crunchy food with no pain. On the other hand, traditional dentures can easily fall out because they are held in place by an adhesive, mostly a strip or paste. While conventional dentures are effective concerning regular cleaning and affordability, they cause discomfort while chewing and speaking. Patients with traditional dentures reveal that a common problem with the dental prostheses is that they can cause embarrassment by slipping out at the most inappropriate moment. Hence, many patients are switching to implant-supported overdentures despite their cost.

Ideal Overdentures Candidates

Persons with Most or All Teeth Missing

Most patients who require overdentures have a significant number of teeth missing due to a variety of conditions. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, the leading causes of tooth loss include periodontitis, tooth decay, gingivitis, smoking, and physical trauma. People with chronic conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, asthma, and heart disease also experience tooth loss due to untreated dental conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that an average of 15% of adults 65 years or older experience complete tooth loss at some point. Overdentures for seniors are, therefore, common around the globe. A growing body of research also indicates that people with autoimmune diseases are perfect candidates for overdentures. This is because some autoimmune conditions lead to a dry mouth, increasing the chances of developing cavities and other oral conditions.

People With Overall Good Health

Similarly to other surgical processes, overdenture placement requires a patient to have good overall health. Remember that being in good health helps the whole process go smoothly. In conjunction with that, a person’s health status significantly affects the healing process and time. Furthermore, individuals with good health are less likely to develop infections during the surgery and healing period. Prior to the surgical procedure, the healthcare practitioner may ask the following questions;

  1. Are you allergic to any medications?
  2. Are you under any medication currently?
  3. Do you have any underlying health conditions?
  4. Is there a history of certain medical conditions in your family?
  5. Do you have any bleeding problems?
  6. Do you consume alcohol, and if so, how frequently?
  7. Do you smoke tobacco?
  8. Have you had any oral conditions?
  9. Is it your first time having oral surgery?

Patients with Good Oral Health

Placement of implant-supported dentures is impossible when one has an existing oral condition. Individuals with any oral conditions, including minor infections, must receive treatment before surgery. Practitioners clean the teeth to eliminate plaque and bacteria before installing implants to prevent infection and quicken healing. Patients with jawbone deterioration need bone grafting to stimulate jawbone growth. This is because implants need an appropriate bone mass for support.

The Overdentures Procedure: Overdentures Step-by-Step

First Appointment

This is the initial phase of the procedure and it involves overdentures consultation. During the initial phase, your orthodontist asks questions to determine whether you are an appropriate candidate for overdentures. The healthcare practitioner will need to know about any existing oral complications, your overall health, and any allergies you have. An assessment of family medical history is also essential to establish any potential complications during and after the surgery. Details like age and race are also crucial. The dentist will perform an overall oral examination to assess the condition of your jawbone density and any existing teeth. This process is critical as it determines the best treatment plan for you. X-rays and CT scans are standard during the initial overdenture consultation. If you have any existing oral conditions, your practitioner may schedule a treatment plan before the next crucial step. For instance, treatment of cavities, tooth decay, or periodontitis may be necessary. Some patients undergo bone grafting for jawbone growth stimulation.

Step 2: Implant Placement

Overdentures fitting begins with implant insertion. Practitioners must be cautious during this step to avoid significant injuries and infection. Implant placement will also determine the comfort and stability of the dental prostheses. The implant placement procedure unfolds as follows;

  1. The dentist administers local anesthesia to numb your gums. This ensures that the entire process is painless.
  2. The placement of implants begins. The implants are usually titanium posts. After implant insertion, the healing process begins. It takes approximately five to eight months for complete osseointegration. Therefore, the practitioner will schedule several visits to monitor the healing process.

Step 3: Placement of Abutments

After complete osseointegration occurs, the dentist places extensions known as abutments on the gum. These extensions act as bases for the overdentures.

Step 4: Taking Impressions

The dentist takes an impression of your oral structure. This helps in designing the most suitable overdentures for you.

Step 5: Overdenture Placement

Overdenture placement is more effortless than implant insertion. The orthodontist snaps the overdentures onto the abutments. Adjustments are made, if necessary, for maximum overdentures comfort.

Overdentures Pros

Overdentures Stability

One of the benefits of overdentures is the firm fitting of implants into the jawbone. The implants are made of titanium, a strong and biocompatible material. Therefore, the metal resists corrosion, making it the perfect structure to use in the human body. Patients with overdentures rarely complain of a lost grip, falling out of the prostheses, or difficulty with speech.

Natural Appearance

The positioning of overdentures is perfect, making them appear natural. Also, their firmness prevents them from moving around or slipping out; hence, it is difficult for other folks to notice if they are artificial. Moreover, dental practitioners make a perfect impression of your natural teeth before customizing the prostheses. Their size and color match your natural teeth, thus giving you an aesthetic smile.

Perfect Osseointegration

Full arch overdentures support complete healing of the jawbone. The firm placement of titanium implants allows complete fusion of the jawbone to the implants. This lessens the chances of irritation, especially while speaking and eating, thus improving your quality of life.

Durability

Considering the firmness of overdentures, they last longer than traditional dentures. Due to the complete fusion of implants with the jawbone, overdentures last an average of five to ten years without the need for replacement.

No Adhesives

Unlike traditional dentures that require several visits to the dentist to replace adhesives, overdentures stay in place for an extended period. The abutments used as bases provide robust support.

Overdentures Aftercare

After surgery, your orthodontist schedules visits to monitor the healing process. You need to attend the appointments so the practitioner can determine if there are any existing complications. Keep in mind that infections might develop after the procedure. Should they stay untreated, you might experience serious complications, especially now that you have dental prostheses.
The following are key tips to overdentures maintenance.

  1. Daily cleaning: Brush the prostheses as you brush your teeth. Remove the overdentures and clean them using a soft bristle brush. Fortunately, cleaning of overdentures is more convenient compared to fixed prostheses. Using a water flosser is a perfect way of cleaning the spaces between the abutments and overdentures. This minimizes the buildup of plaque and developing infections. You can also use dental tablets as they are non-abrasive. Aside from that, they enable deep cleaning by reaching more hidden areas than regular toothpaste.
  2. Night routine: You will likely develop plaque and bacteria when wearing overdentures. Therefore, it is best to remove them before bedtime. Remember that leaving the prostheses on for too long can lead to irritation and bone deterioration.
  3. Pain management: Take pain medication at least six hours after the procedure. Your dentist will prescribe the most suitable pain pill and the correct dosage. Usually, you will start taking the pain medication before the anesthetic completely wears off.
  4. Swelling management: Hold an ice pack to the cheek to control swelling. You can do this for 25 minutes every hour until you feel better. Avoid rinsing your mouth with hot water, which may damage the prosthesis material. In addition, hot water may cause over-tightening of the implants, which will cause more discomfort.
  5. Clean after meals: Remove your dentures and clean them after every meal. This prevents the buildup of plaque. Rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash before putting back the overdentures.
  6. Gentle handling: Do not use excessive force to avoid damage when cleaning the prostheses.
  7. Commit to the follow-up visits.

Overdentures Cost

The average cost of one implant ranges from $1000 to $6000. An entire overdenture procedure can cost anything between $10,000 and $22,500. This depends on the depth of the procedure—individuals who require prior treatment before implant installation pay additional fees. For instance, the average cost for bone grafting is $800. Periodontitis costs roughly $7000. The total cost of overdentures may also vary across states.Judging by overdentures pros and cons, they remain one of the top-notch treatment for tooth loss,despite their expense.

Dental Implants and Overdentures

Is overdentures right for you? Dental overdentures are perfect options for individuals experiencing tooth loss. First, removable overdentures are very durable, making them one of the most suitable solutions for minimizing dental visits for restoration. Their firm grip improves your quality of life as you can smile, chew, and talk easily. Remember that they appear very natural, thus giving you a radiant smile. If you are experiencing tooth loss, you only have to consider a few factors: oral health, overall health, and missing most or all your teeth. Suppose you have any existing oral conditions; your dentist designs the perfect overdentures treatment plan before installing the implants. According to the National Institutes of Health, the overdentures success rate is 95.6%. You can restore your once radiant smile with the right overdentures care tips.

Reference Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10901637/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6340085/

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Southland Dental Care
Published On: August 17th, 2024 / Categories: dental implants /

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Southland Dental Care