What Are Snap-In Implant Dentures
Snap-In Implant Dentures are dentures equipped with unique attachments that enable them to securely snap onto the dental implants installed by your dentist. By anchoring your dentures with dental implants, you can:
- Indulge in more of your favorite foods: Dental implants can help secure your dentures, allowing you to chew with increased power and confidence.
- Permanent: Does not need to be removed from the mouth like a denture.
- Feel confident to smile and laugh without worrying about your dentures becoming loose
- Experience greater comfort: Dentures are more stable, with reduced movement and irritation
- Receive better nutrition: Chew up food better
- Requires the least amount of bone: Great for people who have been told they don’t have enough bone for implants.
- Prevent bone loss: Even after natural teeth are removed, dental implants can help prevent further bone loss by stimulating the jaw to continue producing bone.
- Reduce or eliminate gagging: In some cases a portion of the palate can be removed exposing the roof of the mouth. This reduces or eliminates gagging caused by your denture.
- Increased comfort: Dental implants help reduce or eliminate the irritation caused by movement of the dentures.
- Taste your food better: Some patients with implants can have part of their upper denture’s palate removed. This allows you to taste your food better.
Snap-In Implant Dentures Vs. Traditional Dentures
Traditional dentures may appear aesthetically pleasing and are a budget-friendly option for replacing damaged or missing teeth. However, they often fall short in terms of functionality, stability, and chewing ability.
- Limited chewing ability: Lower denture movement significantly reduces chewing power, typically only reaching 10-20% of what natural teeth provide. The constant movements of the tongue and cheeks for denture wearers cause instability in the lower denture.
- Speech: Speaking can be difficult due to the movement of the lower denture.
- Embarrassment: Caused by the inability to eat around other people, laugh loudly, and converse confidently due to fear of dentures becoming loose and falling out.
- Discomfort: Since traditional dentures, especially lowers, often move around, they can rub and chafe the gums causing irritation and discomfort.
- Poor nutrition: Again, due to the loss of chewing power, patients may be unable to eat a balanced diet and chew food sufficiently for proper digestion.
- Bone loss: When someone has their teeth extracted, they usually experience significant bone loss that continues throughout their life. As a result, wearing traditional dentures becomes increasingly challenging over time.
- Gagging: Many individuals experience gagging when wearing a traditional upper denture that covers the roof of the mouth for suction and stability. Trimming the denture to alleviate gagging can result in reduced stability and loss of natural suction.
- Snap-In Implant Dentures help to improve all of these issues tremendously.
Am I a Candidate
The majority of patients are eligible! A brief consultation is required to confirm. During this appointment, a 3D scan of your jawbones will be taken, the doctor will conduct an oral examination, and your medical history will be thoroughly reviewed.
How Many Implants Will I Need
- Upper: An upper implant denture requires at least 4 implants.
- Lower: A lower implant denture requires at least 2 implants, although 3 or 4 typically provide a significant improvement in retention and stability.
Snap-In Implant Dentures Procedure Timeline
The process typically takes around 6 months from start to finish.
Procedure: Once all remaining teeth have been extracted and any required oral surgery procedures have been completed, the implants are inserted into the jawbone. Following this, the implants are usually not visible. They will stay in your jaw undisturbed for a minimum of 4 months as your bone fuses with them (osseointegration).
Post Op: We look forward to seeing you for a brief post-operative appointment scheduled for the day after your procedure. During this visit, we will assess your mouth, ensure your dentures are comfortable, and address any concerns you may have.
Soft Liners / Soft Re-Fittings: Soft liners are cushions that we periodically place in your denture as you heal. They fill in the gaps between your gums and dentures that form during the healing process, providing cushioning for your gums. This helps improve the fit and comfort of your dentures.
Uncovery: This is a minor surgical procedure in which we uncover the implants and attach small healing abutments to shape your gum tissue and prepare you for the final placement of your snap-in dentures.
Attachment of Implants to Dentures: We will replace your healing abutments with denture abutments and complete the necessary steps to attach your dentures to your implants. This process typically takes one day, but may occasionally require additional time.