How Long Do Overdentures Last?
Traditional dentures continue to be a viable option for full mouth teeth replacement because they can be the most cost-effective solution. With well-designed dentures, you can expect to restore your aesthetics and functionality.
The biggest disadvantage of conventional dentures is the diminished ability to chew because of their poor stability and security. Natural functionality is compromised with complete dentures, causing difficulty eating certain foods. Wearing a lower denture is even more problematic than wearing an upper denture. The lower denture’s instability stems from your tongue movement, which can often dislodge the denture during chewing and speaking.
What are Implant Overdentures?
For a far better, more comfortable lower denture, the implant supported overdenture provides significant stability and retention by securing the removable denture onto at least two dental implants. An implant attachment on the top of each implant is used to create a snapping mechanism, which will keep the denture in position during chewing and speaking. It also can be easily removed for daily cleaning and maintenance.
* Advantages- The overdenture attachments keep the denture from pressing down too hard on your gum line, allowing you to bite on harder foods without the usual discomfort you experience with a traditional denture when biting down hard. There is a significant improvement in the level of comfort and functionality.
A severe gag reflex can sometimes cause issues when wearing an upper denture. Since the fit of an upper denture comes from the suction effect on the palate, coverage of your palate is a requirement for a good fit. If you have a gag reflex, it is now impossible to extend the denture appropriately. In this case, an implant overdenture is a significant advantage and a comfortable solution. With the retention of the denture now coming from the snapping mechanism of the implant attachments, your palate does not need to be covered, thereby minimizing your gag reflex.
* Disadvantages- Implant-supported overdentures can still be less than ideal for you depending on your treatment objectives. When your denture is still removeable, functionality is not what you might expect from dental implant treatment. Compared to a traditional denture, the overdenture function is certainly an improvement, but still less than the functionality of your natural teeth. Research has shown that a denture wearer’s function is only about 20% of full function. Overdentures can improve that percentage to 50% of your normal biting force, but this is still below what you would expect from permanent tooth replacement using dental implants.
* Maintenance- Maintenance is required over time with any implant supported overdenture. The most common issue is the wear and tear on the attachment device. With the repeated snapping in and out of the overdenture, the attachments eventually wear out, resulting in a diminished snap retention and a perceived looseness of the overdenture. The usual replacement schedule is every 12 to 18 months. This maintenance procedure can be done during your normal checkup. There will be a cost associated with the replacement of any parts, like any regular maintenance. The overdenture that is supported on your gum tissue can also incur change as it relates to a quality fit, as the gum line might reduce or resorb. An implant overdenture will require occasional re-fitting. You should expect to reline an implant overdenture every three to five years to maintain an optimal fit.
