How Many Dental Implants Would You Need for Over dentures?

How Many Dental Implants Would You Need for Over dentures?

September 1, 2021

An dental implant overdenture is an innovative solution for missing teeth offering patients a secular and comfortable alternative to traditional dentures. Implant overdentures combine the benefits of dental implants and conventional dentures to help people miss most or all their teeth. People desiring to have an implant-supported denture experience results appearing, functioning, and feeling like their natural teeth.

Generally, implant dentures are helpful for complete teeth replacement of the upper or lower dental arch. Implant dentures don’t require individual implants for every missing tooth. On the contrary, a few dental implants are sufficient to successfully and comfortably stabilize the denture. Some patients may only require two or four implants, while others may need six or more implants.

Which Factors Help Determine How Many Dental Implants Are Required?

Dentist in Forty Fort, PA must consider various unique factors when determining how many dental implants are necessary to deliver messages. The most significant indicator is the level of jawbone density in some areas of the mouth. The dental implants require placements in specific regions to correctly anchor a custom hybrid denture, and the site must have durable jawbone volume to accommodate the implant adequately.

The jawbone in the upper jaw is generally softer than the bone in the lower jaw. Therefore, people desiring an entire arch of teeth in the upper jaw may require four or six implants, while the lower jaw can accommodate a complete lower arch denture on merely two dental implants. In addition, patients receiving treatment with a fixed partial denture may not need as many implants for adequate support as people who need overdentures.

Why Consider Replacing Missing Teeth with Overdentures?

People with all or several missing teeth encounter various challenges when eating, speaking, or even chewing foods. Besides the above, they also confront challenges with jawbone resorption. People can consider getting traditional dentures available for over a century but will still face challenges with the dentures slipping when speaking of loosening when they try to laugh.

People picking an overdenture invest in the dental prosthetic, helping them defeat the problems affiliated with conventional dentures. Overdentures are dental prosthetics supported by dental implants allowing them to remain stable in the mouth. Overdentures offer a natural smile while helping people comfortably chew, laugh, and smile without concerns about the dentures moving around. In addition, overdentures eventually improve people’s lives by acting as their natural teeth.

What Is the Process for Getting an Overdenture?

Getting overdentures supported by dental implants initially has the same steps as getting a single dental implant. People desiring an overdenture must review the stages of the process with their dentist or oral surgeon.

People must discuss their needs with their dentist besides any concerns they have and their budget. The dentist examines their mouth thoroughly and inquires about their medical and dental history. Images of the mouth are also taken by the dentist to determine bone heights and decide whether the patient needs additional procedures like sinus augmentation or bone grafting.

During dental implant placement, patients receive anesthesia to help them manage the pain as the dentist uses a 3D surgical guide to place the implants in the jawbone. Depending on the patient’s specific situation, two to six implants are embedded into the jawbone and sutured to help the patient heal.

The healing time requires three to six months before the dentist exposes the dental implants. The healing time is for osseointegration to complete. After exposure to the dental implant, the dentist attaches a healing cap to help guide the abutment placement and the patient’s hybrid denture.

Patients without sufficient bone mass in the jaw to hold traditional dental implants also have a solution with mini dental implants functioning as effectively as conventional implants. Mini implants are tinier than the conventional variety and shouldn’t make patients believe they must have mini dentures in their mouths that look ungainly instead of the traditional array.

Differences between Conventional and Overdentures

Conventional dentures are removable and affordable solutions to replace missing teeth. The acrylic denture helps restore aesthetics and function, allowing people to eat comfortably. A complete traditional denture fits over the bony ridge and loosens over time because of bone resorption.

On the other hand, an overdenture remains permanently in the mouth without dislodging easily. As a result, overdentures are stable and give patients the confidence and comfort they need with conventional dentures. Overdentures are expensive but are an excellent lifelong investment for your oral and overall health.

Overdentures help retain patient’s jawbone by strengthening it, providing them a youthful appearance than traditional dentures. Best of all, overdentures encourage bone regeneration instead of deterioration.

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