With age, dental trauma, or poor dental hygiene, the condition of our teeth can deteriorate. This deterioration can directly impact our mental and physical health. Fortunately, solutions exist, including the fitting of dentures. The choice and installation of this type of dental prosthesis are not to be taken lightly. Dentures are used to replace or protect one or more missing or very damaged teeth. Beyond the aesthetic aspect, getting a dental prosthesis can be essential, because missing teeth can create an imbalance in the jaw. An imbalance that can impact the whole body and cause joint or muscle pain.
Dentures of any kind make it possible to restore certain functions essential to the maintenance of autonomy and health. They help maintain natural chewing, pronunciation, or phonation. They also are important for aesthetic reasons, in particular to avoid withdrawal and social isolation and maintain your smile.
Traditional Dentures
Traditional dentures are the false teeth that everyone knows about. They replace your complete dentition and are made to fit exactly with and attach to your gums. They are often held on with adhesive. The denture is worn throughout the day and allows you to eat almost anything you used to eat and not feel any discomfort. It is to be removed at night and it is advisable to let it soak in a special cleaning solution. The removable dental prosthesis must be well maintained and well protected to have the longest possible life. They are often the most economical choice if you are missing all or most of your teeth. Many patients say that traditional dentures take some time to get used to when speaking or eating, but they report eventually getting used to them. When wearing a removable dental prosthesis, it is advisable to:
- Do not keep it 24 hours a day.
- Continue to brush your teeth thoroughly.
- Avoid shocks.
- Avoid biting into anything very hard (like using your teeth as a nutcracker!).
Overdentures
For more stability, it is also possible to place full dentures on dental implants, which are known as overdentures. Overdentures are a fixed prosthesis.
Fixed dentures on implants, or overdentures are very stable and comfortable. These are complete dentures which are fixed to a few implants, which, in turn are fixed directly in the jawbone. These implants actually act like artificial tooth roots, becoming part of your jawbone. The implant itself helps maintain the health of your jawbone and your oral health by supporting growth and strength in your jawbone. The procedure is quite long, because a healing period of several months is necessary between the placement of the implants and that of the fixed dentures.
Once the implants are surgically placed and healed, overdentures, which look and feel like natural teeth, can be attached to the implants. The advantages of implant-supported dentures are numerous:
- It offers more stability.
- It does not irritate the gums.
- It guarantees more comfort.
- No need to take it off every night before sleeping.
- It allows functional chewing similar to physiological chewing.
- It offers a better aesthetic rendering.
If you opt for this type of dental prosthesis, remember to find out if you have a dental prosthesis reimbursement as part of your dental insurance, as this is generally a more expensive process than traditional dentures.
Before opting for one denture model over another, it is essential to review various criteria. In addition to comfort, several characteristics must be studied, such as resistance, flexibility, practicality, lightness, and biocompatibility. Be sure to speak with your dentist at great length if you are looking to replace all your missing teeth!
Difference Between Implant Retained Overdenture and Implant Supported Overdenture