Difference Between Implant Retained Overdenture and Implant Supported Overdenture?
The technology of replacing multiple missing teeth with dentures is centuries old. We have heard about wooden dentures and we know that dentists have improved the materials they use for dentures to those that look more like natural teeth. In addition, there are improvements to the old denture adhesive and better ways to keep your dentures in your mouth securely while you eat and talk throughout your day.
Many people avoid talking to their dentists about dentures because they have heard how dentures can slip around, pinch soft tissue, and cause issues when you are trying to chew your food. It may seem easier to try to navigate with missing teeth rather than struggle with dentures every day. There are ways to combine the established dental prosthetic dentures with more modern dental implants to help keep your dentures in place securely.
What Are Implant Supported and Implant Retained Dentures?
When dentists use dental implants to support dentures, dentures are instantly more secure like natural teeth. The dentures are no longer resting on your gums, but they are anchored in place. The dentist uses strategically placed implanted posts in your gums that heal in place and fuse with your jaw bone. The dentist will place screws on top of the implanted posts where the screws will provide a place for the denture abutment to be attached. Dentures can be held in place with clips or a bar that clicks into the dentures. The implants will help keep your jaw bone strong through stimulation whereas traditional dentures do not offer that same opportunity to reduce bone loss.
There are two types of implant supported dentures as well as a hybrid. The first type of implant supported denture is a removable overdenture. This type is also called an implant retained denture. You will be able to remove these dentures to clean and when you go to sleep. The other type of implant supported denture is a fixed overdenture. This type is also called a fixed implant supported denture. These dentures remain in your mouth securely and can be only removed by the dentist or other dental professionals. You are able to maintain these dentures the same way you do your natural teeth.
When comparing an implant retained overdenture and a fixed implant supported overdenture, you must first look at how they are held in place. The implant retained overdentures require just a few dental implants and clasps or other retaining attachments. The associated cost of these kinds of implant retained dentures is only slightly higher than the cost of traditional dentures. The increase in cost is more than worth the price when you experience the security that comes with knowing your dentures will not move when eating or talking. Instead of the traditional dentures covering the majority of your upper palate, the dentures will not need to be as large and may improve your eating experience and sense of taste.
The pricier option is the fixed implant supported overdentures and it requires potentially more implants that the removable overdentures. The dentures are attached to the implants with special abutments that can only be removed by the dentist.