Understanding Snap-In Implant Dentures
Snap-In Implant Dentures are specially designed to securely attach to dental implants placed by your dentist. By anchoring your dentures to these implants, you can enjoy several advantages:
- Enhance your dining experience | By anchoring your denture with dental implants, individuals can savor their preferred dishes with increased strength and self-assurance.
- Non-removable | Stays fixed in the mouth, unlike removable dentures.
- Smile and laugh with confidence, knowing your dentures are secure.
- Experience greater comfort | Dentures with reduced movement, minimal rubbing and chafing
- Receive better nutrition | Chew up food better
- Minimal bone requirement | Ideal for patients with insufficient bone for implants.
- Prevent bone loss | Although bone loss may persist after tooth extraction, dental implants stimulate the jaw, promoting ongoing bone production.
- Minimize or eradicate gagging | In certain instances, a segment of the palate may be excised, revealing the mouth's roof. This action diminishes or eradicates the gagging sensation induced by your denture.
- Increased comfort | Dental implants help reduce or eliminate the irritation caused by movement of the dentures.
- Enhance taste | Certain patients with implants may undergo partial removal of their upper denture's palate, improving their ability to taste food.
Snap-In Implant Dentures vs. Conventional Dentures
While traditional dentures can be aesthetically pleasing and budget-friendly, they often fall short in terms of functionality, stability, and chewing efficiency. Some drawbacks of non-implant dentures include:
- Reduced Chewing Ability: Traditional dentures can limit chewing power to just 10-20% of natural teeth due to the movement of the lower denture, which is constantly destabilized by tongue and cheek movements.
- Speech Challenges: The instability of the lower denture can make speaking difficult and uncomfortable.
- Embarrassment: Many individuals feel self-conscious about the potential for dentures to slip out, making it hard to eat, laugh, and converse comfortably in social situations.
- Pain and Discomfort: Traditional dentures, especially the lower ones, often shift during use, leading to gum irritation and discomfort.
- Poor Nutrition: Reduced chewing efficiency can hinder the ability to maintain a balanced diet, impacting overall health and digestion.
- Bone Loss: After tooth extraction, patients typically experience significant bone loss, which continues over time, making conventional dentures increasingly difficult to wear.
- Gagging Reflex: The coverage of the roof of the mouth by traditional upper dentures can trigger gagging for some individuals. Adjusting the denture to alleviate this can compromise its stability and suction.
Snap-In Implant Dentures significantly address these challenges, providing improved stability and functionality.
Am I a Candidate?
Most patients are eligible! A brief consultation is all that’s needed to confirm. During this visit, we'll take a 3D scan of your jawbone, perform an oral exam, and review your medical history in detail with you.
Snap-In Implant Dentures vs. Conventional Dentures
- Upper Dentures: At least 4 implants are required for an upper implant denture.
- Lower Dentures: A lower implant denture can work with just 2 implants, but adding 3 or 4 implants typically improves retention and stability significantly.
Dental Implant FAQs
Dental Implant Timeline
The process typically takes 5-6 months from start to finish.
1
Procedure
After extracting all teeth and completing any necessary oral surgeries, the implants are placed into the jawbone. Once inserted, the implants typically become unnoticeable. They will remain undisturbed in your jaw for at least 4 months while your bone fuses with them through a process called osseointegration.
2
Post Op
We will have a brief post-operative visit, usually scheduled for the day after your procedure. During this appointment, we'll examine your mouth, ensure you’re comfortable with your dentures, and address any questions you may have.
3
Soft Liners / Soft Re-Fittings
Soft liners are cushioning materials that we periodically add to your dentures during the healing process. They fill the gaps between your gums and dentures that may develop as you heal, providing extra cushioning for your gums. This improves both the fit and comfort of your dentures.
4
Uncovery
This is a minor surgical procedure in which we uncover the implants and attach small healing abutments. These abutments help shape your gums and prepare you for snap-in dentures.
5
Attachment of Implants to Dentures
We will replace your healing abutments with denture abutments and complete the necessary steps to attach your dentures to the implants. This process usually takes about a day, though it may occasionally take a little longer.