Snap on Overdentures on Natural Teeth

Snap on overdenture on natural teeth (source: InnovaDental)

Overdentures are removable tooth replacement appliances that are inserted over existing teeth, to fill in gaps with missing teeth in an entire arch. Overdentures were the primary tooth replacement technique before modern dentistry, because surgical removal during those times was dangerous and painful without the use of modern anaesthetics. Before modern dentistry, dentures were designed to fit over damaged teeth (the remnants of broken or decayed teeth) without the need for extraction.

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Overdentures on Natural Teeth

Today, any teeth that are not severely damaged can be restored and maintained. It is usually better to retain the original tooth so the roots can maintain the connection with the underlying bone that supports them. Otherwise, the bone would resorb away, reducing the tissue available for denture support. Additionally, the root of an original tooth (after the damaged crown – section above the gums – has been cut off) can be used as a vertical support for the snap-on overdenture, allowing for more retention and stability.

Types of overdentures

The most widely used overdenture involves teeth that have been repaired using root canal therapy. If the roots of damaged teeth are serviceable, the crown is cut off at the gum line and removable appliances fitted over the stumps. In some instances, the stumps can be covered with filling material to protect them from decay. Alternatively, if the root of the existing tooth is not stable enough to support a replacement tooth, the entire tooth may be extracted and a dental implant placed to serve as the foundation of your overdenture.

Overdentures vs. Implants

Overdentures are more common in the lower jaw, and tend to go over the gum so no part of the tooth is left exposed. Full or partial standard dentures usually involve the removal of excessively damaged teeth so the false teeth can be fitted in the gaps. These regular dentures rest on the gums, and tend to fit less firmly as they rely on suction alone to keep them in place. With time, their retention worsens because of continual bone loss of the dental arches due to the lack of teeth. Overdentures, on the other hand, are supported by the root of the original tooth or implants, providing you with maximum retention, better dental function, and health benefits.

Teeth that cannot be restored are removed and replaced with removable prosthesis. But for a more stable restoration, the replacement tooth can be attached to an artificial tooth root known as an implant. The implant is surgically placed in the jaw, so that it forms an artificial tooth root. Implant retained dentures use direct connections to abutments that are attached to the implant, helping them to overcome the instability and lack of retention that is common with traditional dentures, especially in the lower jaw. They are used for patients without any teeth, but have sufficient jaw bone to support the implants.

Bar attachments for snap-on overdentures

There are a number of ways to install snap-on overdentures, but the clip bar and direct attachment options are the most common. The appeal of the former is that a bar equally distributes force between dental implants, but direct attachment are less expensive and take less vertical space.

The best type of overdenture for you depends on your mouth, which is the case with getting any other dental prosthetic. Keep in mind that even with bar attachments, they won’t be the only thing that keeps the denture in place. Tissue and attachments must both sustain all overdentures. The soft tissue supports the denture, with the attachments serving as a lock to keep the denture in place. The denture will not stay in place if there is no tissue support.

What type of overdenture should i get?

To determine whether overdentures are right for you, it’s important that you discuss your case with your dentist. If you have healthy gums and a perfect ridge form, two overdenture attachments can simply be installed to support a lower full denture. But there will be no tissue support if you have a flat ridge. The attachment will be under complete pressure. A fixed case is preferable if at all possible. A fixed patient-removable prosthesis is formed by a bar with horizontal lock attachments.

If the patient’s bite is an ideal Class I occlusion, an upper denture may operate with two attachments. A bar would be preferable if the patient had a severe overjet. The denture will be tissue-supported everywhere except the anterior flange if it is only supported by overdenture attachments. When a patient bites, the anterior flange might often slide. As a result, a mesiodistal rock occurs, putting all of the load on the attachment. A bar that extends past the ridge can be used to prevent the anterior of the denture from moving. When the patient bites into an apple, for example, the denture remains solid and the retentive parts of the bar’s attachments are not stressed. The entire denture may slide if the patient bites into an apple without the bar.

In short, whether a clip bar or direct attachment approach is employed for an overdenture implant is determined by various situational circumstances as well as the clinician’s personal preferences. Neither strategy is superior to the other essentially. In the correct situation, both strategies are useful.

How much do overdentures cost?

Snap-on overdenture cost can vary based on different factors including:

The type of dental specialist performing the procedure (cosmetic dentist versus prosthodontist)
Location of the dentist
How many tooth replacements you need

The materials of the overdenture
Type of overdenture

A straight removable denture generally costs about $2,500. Overdentures, on the other hand, may cost between $1,000 and $3,000 per tooth with implants. If you plan on getting implant overdentures, you should consider that dental implants costs range from $2,000-$6,000. This means that to replace a full upper or lower set of teeth, you may spend anything from $28,000 and above.

Snap on Overdentures near me

Within the first year after a denture is implanted, tissue recession, shrinking, and resorption are common. When this happens, more force is applied to the attachment, resulting in a rock that finally wears out the inserts.

As such, denture wearers should continue to see their dentists for checkups on their new teeth on a regular basis. Dentures are subjected to wear and tear over time, as well as changes in the structure of the jawbone and mouth. Because of these reasons, the dentures may become loose and ill-fitting over time.

Each time this occurs, the patient will be required to return to the clinic in search of fresh male dentures. A simple reline, rather than multiple office visits, provides a permanent answer to this problem.

Dentures typically survive five to ten years, with 95 percent of implants lasting five years or longer.

References

Naorem Jenny, “Beneath the Complete Denture Prosthesis: A Review.” International
Journal of Dental Sciences and Research, vol. 6, no. 4 (2018): 87-89. doi: 10.12691/ijdsr-6-4-2

https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/dentures/the-pros-and-cons-of-snap-on-dentures

https://www.healthline.com/health/snap-in-dentures

Snap On Overdentures