Sims Dentistry offers options to traditional dentures and prosthetics that provide a more comfortable and secure fit lasting many more years in most cases. Dr. Sims and Dr. Elmore may recommend something called an overdenture instead of a regular denture. You may wonder what this is. An overdenture is a removable prosthesis that covers the entire surface of a root or regular dental implant, hence the name. As its name implies, an overdenture is designed to go over a supporting structure, most commonly, dental implants. An overdenture may be supported by either two, three, or four dental implants. Overdentures with four implants are the most common option.
There are certain reasons why an overdenture may work for you as opposed to a regular denture.
Dental implant-supported overdentures may be right for you if you are using existing dentures and want to improve their retention and support. If you want to improve your chewing function, with the ability to chew your favorite food, an overdenture may work. Also, if you have a significant bone loss due to the use of dentures, your oral surgeon may recommend an overdenture.
Dental implant-supported overdentures may be right for you if you are using existing dentures and want to improve their retention and support. If you want to improve your chewing function, with the ability to chew your favorite food, an overdenture may work. Also, if you have a significant bone loss due to the use of dentures, your oral surgeon may recommend an overdenture.
Placing an overdenture in your mouth is a collaborative effort between your and the advanced team of specialist at Sims Dentistry.
We will first obtain a Cone Beam CT Scan (CBCT) to assess the quality and quantity of bone. Dr. Elmore then uses the CBCT for a three-dimensional computer-assisted planning. A surgical guide is then fabricated using 3D-printing. An interim denture is created and prepared for treatment day.
Dr. Elmore then uses the surgical guide to place the dental implants with optimal precision and accuracy. The implants are allowed to heal for 3 to 4 months. The patient continues to use the interim denture that has already been fitted.
Dr. Elmore/Dr. Sims will take the final impressions and fabricates the final overdenture that fits into the implant abutments. The bite is then adjusted, and the overdenture is then checked for overall comfort, function, and aesthetics.
Overdentures have several advantages as opposed to regular dentures. Some of them are:
Overall, implant overdentures offer the advantages of improved comfort, support, retention, and stability.
These are just some of the reasons that overdentures may work well for you.
