Loose Denture: 8 things that 2 Implants Can Do
Dentures that look natural and feel secure in Phoenix, Arizona
Ready for a smile you are happy to show? Gum disease, cavities, and fear of the dentist can spiral to broken down, loose teeth that can be embarrassing to show. Loose dentures in the elderly are a big problem. There comes a time when you know you want something different and better. Dentures are a way to get back the smile, comfort, and esthetics to take the face-covering off and greet post-COVID with confidence.
Over time dentures get loose and move around
Dentures can be tricky to wear. These plastic trays with plastic teeth are floating on the gums. They are held in place by gravity and muscle control. Suction helps the upper plate stay in place. People may wonder, “Why are my dentures loose?” Over time, the bone in the jaws changes without teeth. Dentures will lose suction and stability, be hard to keep in place and eat. Many people try to figure out how to tighten dentures at home. Pinterest and Youtube offer lots of home remedies for loose dentures. For the long-time denture user, sticky glues and pastes can help. Denture adhesives like SeaBond or Poligrip will hold them for a while but can harm the remaining bone.
What about another solution to fix dentures problems and are loose and uncomfortable? The support and stability provided by implants come into play to improve the fit of a denture. Dental implants can improve the fit and the comfort of a denture in several ways.
The ALL-ON-FOUR Denture is the Cadillac of false teeth. This appliance is made from affordable pink acrylic and plastic teeth to Zirconia. Zirconia is a biocompatible metal-ceramic that replicates the shape, color, and feel of real teeth and gums and is strong and durable.
All On Six Fixed Dental Teeth
These dentures have a very high lab and fabrication cost and are therefore more expensive.
An Affordable Option to Fix Loose Denture
Overdentures are an affordable denture option for those who want dentures to have a tighter fit and a more secure feel. By using snaps inside the denture or a metal bar attached to dental implants, the lower denture can snap in and out. Not only are the materials less expensive, but the number of implants needed is also less. The overall cost to the consumer makes the implant overdenture a less expensive, affordable option. If desired, the denture can upgrade to an ALL ON FOUR permanent denture provided there is enough healthy bone.
The benefits of an implant-supported denture are encouraging for denture wearers who need some increase stability and control.
The overdenture still sits on the gums and relies on the gms and bone for chewing. With the placement of two or four implants in the front of the lower jaw, there is a nice Improvement in support by the gums and bone by keeping the denture in place with less need for tongue and cheeks control.
Increased chewing efficiency. Eating is not the same with a denture. It is estimated that chewing efficiency decreases by up to 85% from natural teeth. A couple of implants that snap into buttonholes inside the denture can improve the efficiency up to 20%. While you won't be eating corn off the cob, the variety of foods and textures that can be enjoyed increases.
Less expensive than All On X Teeth. All on Four fixed teeth is like regaining solid beautiful teeth but the cost is high. Why? Four, six, or eight implants are more expensive to place. With the implant-supported overdenture, two to four implants are needed depending on the level of stability the patient wants. That makes the implant-supported overdenture an affordable denture choice for Phoenix, Arizona residents.
Improved Facial Esthetic. The plastic part of a denture will provide flattering lip and cheek fullness that the face does not have without teeth. The sunken-in look of a person without their dentures in place is a great example of the esthetic benefits of a denture.
Ease of hygiene. Overdentures are easily removed at night to clean the denture and dental implants.
Clenching and Grinding Habits. The same clenching and grinding that caused worn out and broken teeth occur with dentures and All on 4 Teeth. Those same destructive, uncontrollable forces can damage the denture. The damage is far less expensive to repair on an overdenture versus All On Four teeth. Additionally, it is removed at night, protecting the denture from nighttime grinding damage and wear.
Less food caught underneath. Denture users know the frustration of food getting caught under their dentures when they are eating. It is not only annoying, but it can also be painful if it is hard food. With two to four dental implants holding the overdenture in place, less food gets under the denture because it isn’t moving as much. Food is also less likely to settle under the moving parts than by the implants.
Considering the benefits and the affordability of placing two implants and changing a loose, poorly fitting denture into a secure snap-on or clip-on denture, an implant-supported overdenture is a great investment to improve quality of life.
Not only is the overdenture less costly than an All On Four non-removable appliance, the surgery to place two implants is far easier and shorter than surgery to place four, six, or more implants required for the non-removable version.
While the denture does still move when eating and talking, the snap-on or clip-on parts provide just the right amount of hold, making it an easier prosthetic for people who need a bit of additional retention.
The price range for a custom overdenture secured with two to four implants in Pheonix can range from $7000 to $20,000 per arch depending on the patient's current oral health, bone quality, and desires. It requires detailed evaluation and planning to provide the best fit possible. If you feel like an implant-supported overdenture could improve your loose denture fit, call our dental office in Phoenix for a consultation.