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The perfect click with dentures.
Denture wearers rely heavily on their dentures in order to do the most basic activity that any person should be doing and that is to eat. Besides eating, other activities such as talking, or even smiling, depends a lot on a good pair of dentures.
Unfortunately, wearing dentures may have some drawbacks, as well as inconveniences. The introduction of dental implants has given denture wearers an alternative to traditional dentures. It makes wearing dentures much more comfortable and it gives denture wearers a much needed confidence boost as well.
What are dental implants?
In order to understand what snap-on dentures are, one has to have an idea about what a dental implant is. Dental implants are screwlike structures that are inserted into the bone of the mouth where teeth were once located.
These implants are made of two parts: the implant body and the implant abutment. The implant body is the portion of the implant that is embedded within bone. The implant abutment is the part of the implant that can be seen on the surface of the gums.
These implants are usually inserted in place of missing teeth and are used to hold crowns, bridges or snap-on dentures.
What are snap-on dentures?
What are the advantages of using snap-on dentures?
Retention
This is the primary advantage of having to use snap-on dentures. Ordinary dentures, especially full dentures, rely on bone mass and height, as well as saliva for retention. This is especially true for full dentures which have to be perfectly fit to oral tissues so a vacuum is formed in order for the dentures to “stick” to the mouth.
Loss of teeth, along with constant chewing, lead to loss of bone mass. This results in problem with retention. Patients who have loose-fitting dentures end up with problems when it comes to chewing and even speech.
Since snap-on dentures are made to attach to the implant abutment, denture wearers, especially those with full dentures, can be assured of properly fitting dentures and resume their normal lifestyle with much ease.
Aesthetics
Partial dentures usually rely on metal or resin clasps for retention. Depending on the denture design, some of these clasps may be visible inside the patient’s mouth.
Since the attachments for snap-in dentures are located under the dentures, they are very well hidden resulting in a smile that is free from any unpleasant show of metal or resin.
Is there any disadvantage to the use of snap-in dentures?
Cost
Recent years have shown the development of yet another system of tooth alignment, You may have heard of the term Invisalign, Fastbraces or Smile Direct. These are all systems that fall under teeth aligners.
These systems are quite good for correcting mild to moderate malpositioning of teeth that are not caused by malocclusions involving abnormal growth of either the upper or lower jaw.
The use of teeth aligners is highly case selective. Not all malocclusions can be addressed by the use of these systems.
Again, to know if you can qualify for the use of these appliances, it would be best to consult with your dentist so you can get his recommendations.
Denture replacement
There are cases where the fit between the denture attachment and implant abutment loosens after a number of years. In this case, you may need to have the denture replaced or repaired to fit in new attachments.
Click-in dentures provide a good option for denture wearers who find wearing conventional dentures to be inconvenient. They do eliminate many problems that denture wearers usually encounter.
For individuals who have decreased bone height due to years of tooth loss, or for those with systemic diseases resulting in decreased salivary flow, a combination of implants and snap-in dentures is a perfect alternative to ordinary dentures. As a dental treatment, it will definitely make life more comfortable for them by making a simple routine, like eating, more enjoyable and pleasant.
Tandheelkundig Centrum Steenbergen
Grote Kerkstraat 34
4651 BB Steenbergen
0167 – 563 780
info@tandheelkundigcentrumsteenbergen.nl
