Dentures at Implant Dentistry Northwest
What is a denture?
A denture is a generic term for any replacement of teeth, but when people say denture, they typically think of a full removable plate. A complete denture replaces all of the teeth. When someone is missing all their teeth, all we have left is the ridge of the jawbone to help hold a denture in. We make an impression of the jawbone, take some bite records, and start to fabricate a prosthesis that replaces all of their teeth.
In the upper jaw, we rely on our denture acting like a suction cup. We must get a good impression and ensure that when we fabricate it, it is true to the form of the jawbone. That helps the upper complete denture stay in. It acts like a big suction cup. Some people who have severe resorption of their bone may have to rely on denture adhesives to keep it in place. Our goal is to ensure we get a good impression, that it adapts to those tissues well, and that the bite against the lower teeth or lower denture is designed to help stabilize the denture while the patient is chewing.
Unfortunately, a lower denture is more of a horseshoe shape. For the lowers, we tend not to get the same kind of suction we would with an upper. We rely on the patient learning how to stabilize this with their tongue, cheeks, and lips while chewing. For most of our lower dentures, we try to utilize implants to help stabilize them. That's what dentures are.
Implant Overdentures
There's one in particular called a bar overdenture, where a special bar is fabricated on the implants with special clips that a denture will attach to. This is for the upper arch. When we make a typical complete regular denture, we cover the palate to get a suction cup effect. Since we're using implants to hold this denture in place, we can leave that palate open, making it much more comfortable for patients and enhancing their sense of taste because there are taste buds in the palate too.
How is the bar attached to the implants?
We have a patient's upper jaw where the the implants are placed. An impression is made, and then we fabricate the bar, which gets screwed into the jaw and the implant. Special small screws hold that bar in place. We insert a few screws, and we use special torque drivers to ensure they're tightened to proper specifications. All screws are torqued down to secure the bar. Then the bar is now fixated to the dental implants, holding it in place.
Can this be done on lower jaws too?
We can use implants on the lower jaw as well. There's a special clip that snaps onto the bar, providing excellent retention to keep the denture from moving while the patient functions.
Removable Partial Dentures
In the past, we talked about complete dentures, which are used when somebody is missing all of their teeth. Then we can make a denture that replaces all their teeth. With a removable partial denture, a patient may not be missing all of their teeth. They could be missing anywhere from one tooth to most of their teeth, and we can make a prosthesis that utilizes the remaining teeth to help hold it in place.
Examples of Removable Partial Dentures
A partial denture can be made in different ways, whether it's all plastic, but probably the most durable type is when we make this metal framework and then attach the dentured teeth where that part is missing. The patient can remove this by pulling on the clips that hold it in.
Advantages and Design Considerations
The advantage is that we still have good stability by utilizing the patient's remaining teeth. It can be a little unsightly with the clasps, so we try to design and place them in areas where they're not very noticeable. Many patients can be missing different teeth, so there is always a variation on the theme. They can be designed in many different ways to fit your particular situation.
Attachment Retained Lower Overdentures
The reason why we like to place implants in the lower jaw for dentures is because a lower denture notoriously doesn't stay in very well. With the upper denture, we can design it to have a good suction cup effect. But with the lower, we have this thing called a tongue, and it's like putting a hole in your suction cup. You're not going to get the same kind of retention with a lower denture as you would with an upper denture. By placing at least two implants, two to four implants, let's say, and then placing special attachments on them, we can make that lower denture very stable.
Existing Denture Compatibility
The good news is that if you have an existing denture already, you don't necessarily have to have a new denture made. We've had many patients where we just placed a couple of implants and retained their existing dentures to those implants. It's what I call the best bang for your buck in dentistry. If you have a denture, we can place a couple of implants and secure that denture in place for you.
If you’re searching for quality dental care, we’re here to help. Call (253) 600-2621 or email [email protected] to schedule your visit. Our team is committed to keeping your smile healthy.