Over Dentures

What are over dentures?

A removable dental prosthesis that fits over a few remaining natural teeth, dental roots or dental implants is called an Overdenture. Overdentures utilize these supporting structures to enhance stability, retention and chewing efficiency and to help to preserve the jawbone while providing a complete denture.

They usually work well for those that have lost the majority of their teeth and have a healthy tooth root or those that are good candidates for dental implants.

How Do Overdentures Work?

An overdenture sits on the gums and is securely connected to the remaining tooth roots or dental implants with special connectors like locators, bars or ball attachments. These supports keep the denture in place as necessary when talking and chewing food, yet they can be taken out for cleaning.

Types of Overdentures

Implant-Supported Overdentures

Overdentures are secure on dental implants that are installed into the jawbone structure. They are stronger and are generally recommended when there is a total tooth loss.

Advantages:

• Excellent retention and stability
• Improved chewing ability
• Clearer speech which makes it easier to understand.
• Helps preserve jawbone
• Increased comfort and confidence

Tooth-Supported Overdentures

These overdentures are placed on the well-prepared natural tooth roots which are preserved (if needed) using root canal therapy.

Advantages:

• Saves the original roots of the tooth
• Helps maintain jawbone
• More secure than regular dentures.
• More often less expensive than implant supported options

Who is a good candidate?

People may be good candidates for overdentures if they:

• Have lost majority or all of teeth
• Have healthy remaining tooth roots
• Be sure to have enough bone for dental implants.
• Have poor-fitting traditional dentures or dentures that slip out of place.
• Want improved comfort and chewing ability

Benefits of Overdentures

• This produces more stability than with conventional dentures.
• Improved chewing efficiency
• Developed speech and confidence
• Gum irritation is decreased while you are more comfortable.
• Maintain jawbone and facial structure.
• Easier eating of a wider variety of foods
• Removable for convenient cleaning and maintenance

The Overdenture Procedure

• Detailed examination and X-rays or 3D imaging of teeth.
• Evaluation of existing teeth and/or jaw bone.
• Removal of non-reparable teeth as necessary.
• Preparing retained tooth roots and/or implant placement (for implant-supported overdentures).
• Healing period (usually a few weeks to months with implants).
• Impressions are made that are used to create the custom overdenture.
• Overdenture is fitted and adjusted for comfort and function.
• Proper fit and maintenance are ensured by regular follow-up visits.

Over denture implants

Overdenture implants are dental implants that hold a removable denture and offer much greater support, comfort and chewing power than a regular denture. Unlike traditional dentures which sit only on the gums, the overdenture is held securely in place by the implants which are embedded in the jawbone with the help of special attachments.

Patients who have lost all or most of their teeth and desire a removable but secure, prosthetic option to natural dentition will likely be a good candidate for an implant supported overdenture.

What Is An Implant-Supported Overdenture?

The treatment is a surgical embedding of dental implants in the jawbone. After the implant has healed and fused with the bone (known as osseointegration), parts are attached to the implants. These attachments allow the custom-made overdenture to be firmly attached while being removable for easy daily cleaning.

Types of Implant Overdentures

Locator-Retained Overdentures

The locator attachments are small connectors that can be made secure to the denture.

Benefits:

• Easy to insert and remove
• Excellent retention
• Lower maintenance cost
• Safe for the majority of patients

Bar-Retained Overdentures

A custom metal bar holds the implants in place and the denture attaches to the metal bar.

Benefits:

• Greater stability
• Even distribution of biting forces
• Perfect for patients who require the highest level of assistance.
• Applying to patients with insufficient bone support.

Temporary dentures over the counter

Temporary over-the-counter (OTC) dentures are ready-made or customizable dentures used to temporarily fill in one or more missing teeth. They are designed to be used for a short period of time until you get a professionally made denture, dental implant or bridge. OTC dentures are not individually fabricated to fit your mouth and are not intended for use every day.

There are several types of temporary dentures:

Boil-and-Bite Dentures

• These are softened in hot water and molded to fit in the mouth and on the teeth.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Highly available on the internet or in pharmacies
• Advantage over one size fits all garments!

Temporary Flipper Dentures

• They are designed to replace one or a few missing front teeth and are primarily for cosmetic reasons.

Pros:

• Improves appearance
• Lightweight
• Easy to remove

Do It Yourself Tooth Replacement Kits

• These kits contain materials which can be molded to form a temporary replacement tooth.

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Quick cosmetic improvement

Why choose dental implants over dentures?

Dental Implants Are Often Preferred due to:

Superior Stability

• The implants are fixed securely in place by being most firmly secured to the jawbone. They don't slide, shift or move during speech or meals unlike regular dentures.

Better Chewing Ability

• With implants you can enjoy all your other foods without discomfort, especially apples, nuts and steak and regain a large portion of your biting power.

Preserves Jawbone

• If teeth are lost, the jaw bone will slowly resorb due to a lack of stimulation from the tooth roots. During chewing motion, the dental implant stimulates the bone and thus helps to prevent bone loss and maintain the facial structure.

Natural Appearance

• The implant-supported crowns are also custom-made so that they match the colour, shape and size of your natural teeth to give your smile a seamless appearance.

Improved Comfort

• Since the implant is a part of the jaw bone, it removes many of the common issues that can occur with dentures: gum irritation, pressure points and movement.

Clearer Speech

• Sometimes loose dentures can cause changes in speech. Dental implants are stable and don't cause any problems with speech.

Long-Term Durability

If the teeth are cared for correctly and regular dental check-ups are performed:

• The life expectancy of dental implants ranges from 20 years or more with many lasting a lifetime.
• Due to normal wear, the crowns on implants may require replacement after 10-15 years.

No Need for Adhesives

• With traditional dentures, often denture adhesives are used to achieve secure fitment. This is not the case with dental implants as they are fixed securely into the jaw.

Protects Adjacent Teeth

• Dental implants do not need to be supported by grinding down adjacent healthy teeth like conventional bridges.

Greater Confidence

• Many people find implants very secure and natural, so that they can smile, laugh, eat and speak with confidence.

Can you put dentures over teeth?

Yes, dentures can sometimes be fitted over natural teeth however; this will depend on the condition of the remaining teeth and the nature of the denture to be fitted. Maintaining sound teeth can enhance the stability, comfort and function of a denture in many situations.

Can dentures fit over existing teeth?

Yes, in some cases dentures can be placed over existing teeth but this depends on the condition of the remaining teeth as well as type of denture. In many situations, dentists want to keep these healthy teeth as they offer better support, improved chewing functions and help to maintain the jaw bone.

Conclusion

An Overdenture that is designed appropriately provides the best possible combination of comfort, stability and function for those with multiple missing teeth. Overdentures offer improved retention, improved chewing and improved speech in comparison to conventional dentures with or without natural roots or dental implants. They also assist to maintain jaw bone structure, face appearance and increase confidence in normal activities. An overdenture can be a long-lasting and reliable treatment offering a positive result in terms of oral hygiene and quality of life if it is maintained properly, cared for by regular check-ups and performed by a professional. With proper consultation from your dentist, the use of the proper type of overdenture results in lasting comfort and a natural looking smile.

Over Denture in India GetWellGo

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

• Complete transparency
• Fair costs.
• 24-hour availability.
• Medical E-visas
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• Help in choosing the Best clinics in India for Over Denture.
• Expert dentists with proven results in success. 
• Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
• Language Support
• Travel and Accommodation Services
• Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
• Local SIM Cards
• Currency Exchange
• Arranging Patient’s local food

FAQ

Are overdentures removable?

• Yes. The majority of overdentures are removable and can be removed every day to clean and maintain the denture but will stay in place when you are wearing it.

Are overdentures comfortable?

• Yes. Over dentures typically are more comfortable and stable than traditional dentures as they are held in place by the roots of remaining teeth or implants which causes less gum irritation or slipping.

With an overdenture, can I eat normally?

• Yes. In addition to offering improved chewing efficiency over conventional dentures, overdentures are more comfortable to eat with a greater range of food though very hard or sticky food should be eaten with caution.

What is the lifespan of an overdenture?

• A well cared overdenture will usually last for 5-10 years. Overdentures supported by a dental implant can last for 20 years or more and can last a lifetime when good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups are maintained.

What do I need to do for an overdenture?

• Take out and clean your overdenture every day, brush gums and any other teeth or implant attachments, soak your overdenture in a recommended cleaning solution and keep regular check-ups with your dentist for maintenance and adjustments.

Is it worth it to get overdentures?

• Yes, for many patients. While more expensive than traditional dentures, overdentures provide better stability, comfort, chewing function, preservation of jaw bone and satisfaction and are a good investment for oral health.