Dental implants help to secure overdentures: Eliminate the problem of loose dentures.

Tooth loss is not just a cosmetic problem, it can also affect chewing, speaking, and overall quality of life.

For those who have lost all their teeth, the traditional option for both doctors and patients is full dentures. While dentures can help with basic functions, they also have many limitations, such as looseness, movement when chewing, and collapse of the gums and bone that can make dentures less comfortable.

Today, “dental implants” have become an effective alternative for fixing full dentures, known as overdentures. They are capable of holding the dentures in place, providing increased comfort and improved efficiency.

What are denture implants?

Overdentures are dentures that are attached to artificial tooth roots embedded in the jawbone. These implants act as a stable base for the dentures to stay in place, reducing the risk of movement or dislocation during activities such as chewing or speaking. This is unlike traditional dentures, which rely on suction from the gums or adhesives to hold them in place, which may not last all day.

Advantages of using dental implants to secure dentures

  • Firmly fixed dentures: Dental implants help dentures to stay firmly in place, preventing them from moving or falling out easily, allowing patients to chew food with confidence.
  • Reduce Sore Gums: Traditional dentures can cause pressure on the gums and cause sores, which can cause pain and inflammation. Using an overdenture can help reduce this pressure and friction.
  • Preserve the jawbone: Without natural tooth roots, the jawbone begins to break down, but dental implants can help maintain the shape and strength of the bone over the long term.
  • Increased Confidence in Daily Life: Patients who use overdentures feel more confident talking, eating, and smiling without worrying about their dentures falling out.
  • Easy maintenance: Overdentures are removable like traditional dentures, making them easy to maintain and clean.

Treatment procedure for overdentures

Dental implant placement to support an overdenture must be performed by a specialist dentist. The main steps include:

  • Examination and treatment planning: The dentist will examine your oral and jawbone health, take X-rays, and create treatment models.
  • Dental Implant Placement: Your dentist will place the dental implant into your jawbone, and then wait approximately 3-6 months for the tooth root to completely integrate into the bone.
  • Bonding the Denture to the Implant: Once the dental implant is fixed to the jawbone, the Overdenture is designed and adjusted to fit over the implant, ensuring a secure and stable fit.

Characteristics of Overdenture

1. Number of dental implants required

Overdentures work by placing artificial tooth implants (implants) into the jawbone. These implants are made of a strong titanium material that integrates well with bone tissue. Typically, two to four implants are placed under the gums, which act as a support for the dentures.

2. Connection between dental implant and denture

After the dental implants are placed and cemented into the bone, your dentist will install components called attachments that connect the dentures to the implants. These attachments resemble buttons or locks that allow the dentures to be easily released and inserted. Overdentures can therefore be removed and reattached as needed, but they remain firmly in place.

3. Weight distribution

Dental implants help distribute the force of chewing food. The force is not applied directly to the gums like with conventional dentures, but is distributed between the implants and the jawbone. This reduces the pressure on the gums, reduces pain and irritation, and allows the patient to chew food more efficiently.

4. Flexibility and adaptability

Overdentures offer flexibility in use because they can be removed for cleaning or oral hygiene purposes. Denture replacement is easier and does not require the adhesives found in traditional dentures. Furthermore, patients can adjust the denture’s retention strength to their needs.

5. Reduce the problem of jaw bone deterioration.

When natural teeth are lost, the jawbone deteriorates due to the lack of natural forces. However, using dental implants in an overdenture can help maintain the forces created by chewing, allowing the jawbone to remain in shape longer.

6. Increase confidence in use

With overdentures firmly attached to the implants, patients can chew, talk, and smile with confidence without worrying about the dentures falling out or moving. They also help to create a more natural speech experience.

summarize

Overdentures, or dental implants, are a combination of dental technologies designed to address loose or displaced dentures, allowing patients to return to their lives with greater confidence and comfort.

Frequently asked questions about overdentures

Q: How much does a dental implant cost?

2 dental implants (for lower jaw) price 110,000 baht per jaw

4-root denture implant (for upper or lower jaw) price 180000 baht per jaw

A: Caring for your dentures is easy and convenient. Simply remove them for cleaning and return to your dentist for regular checkups.