Something to smile about
Dentures have been around for a few thousand years. Since the times of the Egyptian pharaohs, dentures were commonly used to replace single, multiple as well as full arches of teeth. A substantial percentage of the population still wear dentures today. Many of these denture wearers resign to the fact that their dentures offer limited support and stability.
Advantages of dentures:
- Cheap
- Aesthetic
- Easy maintenance
- Replace hard and soft tissues
Disadvantages of dentures:
- Removable
- Mobility on chewing and talking
- Loss of taste
- Psychologically traumatic
Having pointed out the disadvantages patients may still be relatively happy with their dentures. Long standing edentulism results in a large volume of bone loss. Dentures replace this large volume of bone by easily adding pink acrylic resin material below the teeth. This allows the surrounding facial tissues to remain supported, in turn reducing the signs of ageing. Surely fixed Implant prosthetics eliminate any denture movement but this might mean that the patient would have to undergo extensive treatment. Treatments such as invasive bone grafting, the placement of many implants and the hefty price-tag which they command, often puts patient’s off from choosing this fixed treatment option.
There is however a very successful intermediate known as an over-denture. This allows patient’s to hang onto their dentures but at the same time eliminate denture mobility and loss of taste. This involves placing a couple of implants (as opposed to several implants in the fixed implant-bridge scenario) to secure the denture in place and allow for a more comfortable and stable denture, features currently lacking with conventional dentures.
In the mandible 2 implants may be placed in the anterior area of the jaw. Bone is always abundant in this area avoiding the need to graft bone. In the maxilla 2 to 4implants may be required to allow for the construction of a denture without having to cover the palate (roof) of the mouth. So-called male components such as bars, clips and balls amongst others are attached onto the implants and used to clip onto the respective female component embedded in the denture. These attachments need minor maintenance. At most the rubber or elastic sleave in the female component would have to be changed annually. The type of component used depends on the individual case scenario. Hygiene is much easier to maintain too. The over-denture remains a removable prosthesis so may be removed daily to rinse and clean accordingly. Once out of the mouth the patient may also clean the male components attached to the implants reducing the risk of inflammation around the implant. This gives the denture wearer added peace of mind that his/her teeth are very clean.
Aesthetics aren’t questioned as porcelain teeth may also be placed on dentures offering that cutting edge normally present with fixed teeth.
Advantages of Over-dentures:
- Replace hard and soft tissues
- Easily removed to clean
- Highly stable on eating and talking
- Aesthetic
- Cheaper than fixed-implant prosthesis
Over-dentures offer another treatment option for patients wishing to improve on their current dental situation. Its never too late to change after all its for the better!
