“I hate wearing adhesive with my dentures!” is what I hear most from many of my denture wearing patients. A well-fitted denture should not need adhesive. However, if there is insufficient bone, particularly on the mandible, other means are necessary to increase retention. Dental adhesives, over time, can become costly and maintenance of the existing denture and gums can be difficult with adhesives. There are scenarios where using adhesives still does not improve the quality of the retention or eating. Converting an existing denture into an overdenture is quick, convenient, and can improve the quality of life for many denture wearers.
How do dentures stay in? There are two physical factors, “retention” and “support”, and one main mechanical factor, “stability”, that lead to prosthesis success. Let’s focus on the physical factors. Retention is categorized as the resistance to removal in the opposite direction a prosthesis is inserted and support refers to the resistance of the denture against movement toward the tissue. In other words, retention is needed to keep the denture from falling out and support provides a place for a denture to sit. Upper dentures have the horizontal portion of the hard palate to provide suction/retention, the bony ridge to provide support. The lower dentures rely strictly on the bony ridge and the back of the ridge for both retention and support.
As we start losing teeth to disease, the jaw bone shrinks. Why? Our jaw is engineered to support teeth and occlusal/biting forces. Once teeth are gone, the jaw bone resorbs. Resorption can be slowed down if there are forces on the bone to stimulate the bone. Which is why many patients, if they were not severely periodontally compromised, that wear dentures immediately losing their teeth can maintain the bone ridge height longer compared to those who go without teeth for several years. Historically, the lower dentures have been the most difficult to stay in.
Dental implants are a great option for denture wearing patients. There are so many options. What are dental implants? Dental implants are titanium screws used to replace roots of teeth. For dentures, the most conservative approach is the use of locator attachments on the implants that aid as buttons for dentures to snap into. Typically on top, the patient would need four to six implants and on the bottom two to four. This type of denture is referred to as an “overdenture.” Overdentures still need to be removed daily for the patients to maintain hygiene, but provides the patients with dentures retentive enough to eat most things they were unable to eat without the implants. If the current dentures are still in good condition, we can convert the current dentures into an overdenture by retrofitting them to the implants. This tends to be the most economical option for denture wearers who are looking to ditch the adhesives. For some patients that are looking for a more fixed option with their dentures, implants can be used to support a denture that is permanently screwed into the patient’s mouth, this procedure is known as an “All on four” procedure. Whether the dentures are fixed in mouth with implants or snapped in with locators, the upper denture would not need the palate closed anymore and that can improve the quality of taste and comfort for the patient. To learn more, give us a call for a free consultation.