Snap In Dentures
No matter the reason you are missing your teeth, you may want to talk to the dentist about ways to improve your denture wearing experience. Traditional dentures can slide out place, rub gums until they leave sores, and require additional adhesive to stay in place. The dentist may be able to offer you snap-in dentures as an alternative to your current dentures and a longer term solution to tooth replacement.
The dentist will place multiple dental implants in your mouth at strategic locations where your dentures will connect to them and have implants to stabilize them. In most cases, the dentist will place two to four implants in each jaw but there are possibilities that depending on your individual case the dentist will place up to 10 implants in each jaw. The dentures can be attached to the dental implant in more than one method so you may have an implant retained or implant supported denture. There are a few variables so your denture may be able to be removed by you at home regularly or it may only be removed by the dentist during appointments if necessary. The dental implant has a screw shaped post with an attachment on top to connect to the dentures.
Snap-in denture benefits
As compared to traditional dentures, the snap in dentures have significant improvements. Here are a few:
- The stability of snap in dentures is improved greatly so they are less likely to loosen when you are eating or talking.
- The improved ability to chew your food allows people to eat hard and sticky foods avoided while wearing traditional dentures.
- The improve fit and comfort of snap-in dentures because they are unlikely to unevenly rub on your gums and cause friction on your gums at all
- The improved appearance over traditional dentures and more natural look
- The preservation of the jaw bone density and prevention of future bone loss.
Snap-in dentures cons
While the snap in dentures offer a combination of affordability and the newest technology, they are not without drawbacks. Here are a few to consider before finalizing your plan:
Surgery is required. It does have a low risk rate, but any surgery can leave you open to infection
The cost is higher for snap in dentures as compared to conventional dentures.
You may need a bone graft or gum tissue graft before you can move forward with the implant surgery. The extra step will add more time to the process from start to finish.
The dentures will eventually break down or the attachments on the dental implant to connect to the dentures can loosen over time
Cost of snap-in dentures
Not all insurance policies will cover snap-in dentures, so you will need to be familiar with the cost for the entire process so you know how to plan for it in your budget. The dentist will be able to give you a more specific quote based on your needs and individual case. On the low end, for two implants you can plan on spending $6,000 on average for the procedure and the snap in dentures. The price will change based on the number of implants and the specific complexities of your case.
How to care for snap-in dentures
No matter how you want to replace your missing teeth, it is important to get the most out of your investment and properly care for your dentures. If your version of snap in dentures is not screwed in place, you will need to brush your gums after you take out your dentures and before you put them in. The dentures themselves will need to be rinsed and cleaned with a nonabrasive cleaner. When you take your dentures out, they should be placed in water in a safe place so they are ready for the next time.
Fixed dentures vs. removable snap-in dentures
Depending on the treatment plan you finalized with the dentist, you may have snap-in dentures that are attached into place or you may have dentures that are removable. The key differences between fixed implant-supported dentures and removable dentures are:
- Import supported dentures or removable dentures need to be removed every evening to be cleaned. Fixed dentures have a special cleaning process as they stay in your mouth until the dentist removes them.
- Removable snap in dentures are more prone to slipping around in your mouth as compared to fixed dentures.
- Fixed dentures have a higher price tag, more implants, or additional attachment bars for securing the dentures in place.
Snap-in dentures procedure
The procedure for dental implants and dental implant supported dentures is not a quick one from beginning to end but the results are life changes so they are worth it.
First the dentist places the implant posts into the jaw bone. The post will fuse with the jawbone as it heals which can take two to six months. This is a strong base of the snap in dentures.
Next, the dentist may need to perform a second surgery to uncover the tops of the implants to attach an abutment. This is where the snap in dentures will connect with the implants. The dentist may use temporary healing caps to prevent the gums from healing over the implants and abutments. Some implants have abutments attached already so this step may be skipped.
Finally, the dentist may be to use your current dentures to create the snap in dentures, but you may need a new set to achieve the best look and feel.
At the end of the day, each person is different so your snap in denture procedure may look different from the steps listed.
Takeaway
Snap in dentures can give people a more permanent option that combines the cost effective dentures and the modern advances of dental implants. Before you know it, you will be confidently eating, talking, and smiling with your new snap in dentures. Depending on your personal case, the process could take two to six months to allow for healing so it will not be a quick fix to your missing teeth.