Benefits of Snap-On Dentures: Restoring Your Smile with Confidence
What Are Snap-On Dentures?
Snap-on dentures are popularly known as implant-supported dentures or overdentures. They are dental prosthetics that enhance stability and retention concerning multiple tooth replacements.
Compared to traditional removable dentures, snap-on dentures in Bolton are more secure. They are designed to attach to dental implants, tiny titanium posts surgically erected into the jawbone to act as artificial tooth roots.
How Do Snap-On Dentures Work?
To understand how snap-on dentures work, you must know about dental implants. Technically, it would help if you underwent dental implant placement at South Hill Dental. First, a dentist will examine your oral cavity and determine if it is in good standing for dental implants. If so, you can receive the implants into your jawbone. The number of implants the surgeon installs will depend on your specific preference, the number of lost teeth, and the condition of your jawbone.
After the implant placement, you must undergo a healing period of between 3 and 6 months. This period allows the implants to integrate with the jawbone through osseointegration. Only when receiving immediate restorations in a nearby dental clinic will you skip this healing period between treatments?
After full integration with the jawbone, the dentist will attach abutments to the implants. They are small connectors that protrude above the gums, becoming the attachment point for the snap-on dentures.
Meanwhile, the dentist takes impressions of your gums and implant abutments to create a custom-made denture that will fit securely over the abutments. Once the snap-on attachment is ready, it attaches to the abutments using the snaps securely and snugly to provide stability and prevent the denture from moving or slipping during everyday activities like eating and speaking.
Who Needs Snap-On Dentures?
Snap-on dentures are generally recommended for patients who have lost most or all of their natural teeth, requiring a complete set of dentures. Some specific cases where snap-on dentures may be beneficial are:
- Edentulous patients – if you have lost all your teeth in the upper or lower arch or both. Without any adjacent teeth in your jawbone, among the best tooth replacement method to explore is snap-on dentures.
- Denture stability issues – when the conventional removable dentures are unstable or slip during speaking or eating, you can opt for snap-on dentures that offer increased stability and retention.
- Bone loss or resorption – if you have been without teeth for a long time, the jawbone gradually deteriorates due to lack of stimulation. The result is a sunken facial appearance and compromised denture fit. Snap-on dentures preserve the jawbone by stimulating bone growth and preventing further resorption.
- Reduced chewing efficiency – you lose a significant portion of biting and chewing functionality when you lose natural teeth. With the dentures anchored to dental implants, you can enjoy a more secure and comfortable biting experience than traditional dentures.
- Enhanced speech – whether toothless or with traditional removable dentures, you may experience some speech difficulties. With traditional dentures, the difficulties are mainly during the initial adjustment phase. Being more stable, Snap-on dentures can improve speech clarity and confidence by minimizing denture movement and the associated clicking or slippage.
- Comfort and confidence – when getting snap-on dentures, you do not always need denture adhesives, which can be messy and sometimes ineffective. Instead, the dentures can function like natural teeth, which by extension is a form of the jawbone and gum care by optimizing comfort.
Are Snap-On Dentures Worthwhile?
Snap-on dentures offer several advantages over other removable dentures, including the following:
- Improved stability and lower risk of denture movement or dislodgement since the dental implants securely anchor the dentures
- Increased chewing efficiency and general oral function make eating a wider variety of foods easier. Snap-on dentures are by far close to natural teeth than removable ones.
- Enhanced comfort – since implants are securely anchored in the mouth instead of relying solely on suction or adhesive to stay in place. This way, you never have to worry about an embarrassing scene when your dentures slip off or move out of place.
- They preserve bone health – preventing bone loss, fostering regeneration, and preserving the jaw’s natural structure.