Oklahoma City Implant Overdentures

Here at Forth and Bender Dental Arts, we can make you a beautiful set of complete dentures that will look so natural, people won't be able to tell they aren't your real teeth. But even at their best, removable dentures have several shortcomings, simply because they're removable. To help overcome these shortcomings, you may be interested in learning about implant overdentures.

ADVANTAGES OF OVERDENTURES OVER TRADITIONAL DENTURES They are much more stable. They don't move when you try to speak or eat. They aren't likely to fall out at embarrassing times. They improve your chewing ability so that you can eat the foods you enjoy. In some cases you can keep some natural teeth. They prevent facial collapse, which is the resorption of your bone that occurs after all your natural teeth have been extracted.

 

HOW IMPLANT OVERDENTURES WORK

The main difference between completely removable dentures and implant overdentures is the placement of two or more dental implants to help anchor the denture. Root forms that are made out of titanium are implanted into your jawbone, and then the bone is allowed to heal around the fixtures so that they become solid. There are various mechanisms that can be used to accomplish this, and the number of implants can be anywhere from two on up to eight, depending on how much stability you want and your budget. In some cases the implants may be joined by a retainer bar which is added for stability.

Overdentures are almost always preferable to removable dentures. Without teeth or other support your body’s natural desire to use what is has takes place and the bone which was needed for your teeth becomes absorbed in the body for other uses. This loss of bone is what leads to facial collapse.

If you have some natural teeth remaining, you may be able to have your overdentures placed without implants. Cuspids are the teeth that are normally used for this. These teeth have the longest root of all the teeth and are usually among the lost to be lost. Typically a root canal is performed on the cuspid and the tooth may be ground down to just above the gums. The denture is then made to fit over the cuspids.

You don’t need to wait any longer to get back your old smile. Oklahoma City Dentists Dr. Forth and Dr. Bender can help you decide if implant overdentures are right for you. A thorough consultation is just a phone call away.