Implant Overdenture

Unlike traditional regular dentures (complete set of teeth) which rest on the gums,Implant overdenture are specialized type of regular denture (full set of teeth) that is hold & retain inside the mouth very securely & firmly by dental implant & various attachment system exclusively made for people who are missing all of their teeth in one or both jaws or for people who are wearing regular denture that is slippery, loose & uncomfortable. Here the denture can easily removable by the patient. Two, three, or four implants are adequate for a removable overdenture. The more implants, the better the retention and stability (grip) of the denture. Implant overdentures with four implants are the most common option. Minimum number of implant required is two. Know more about implant overdenture at 3D Dental implant clinic, Kolkata by eminent Prosthodontist Dr. Harendra Shahi.

Regular Denture (vs) Implant Overdenture

Millions of people around the world have complete missing teeth in one or both the jaws & are wearing complete denture or regular denture (full set of teeth). Many of them struggle to keep their regular dentures secure, particularly in the lower jaw. These regular denture usually loose or fall down during talking, smiling, coughing & sneezing. This regular denture also causes gag sensation in few people; cover the full upper palate – an obstruction to get food taste. People also have to struggle during eating- unable to chew the fibrous & solid food of their choice & many more difficulties with the regular denture. If you have these problems, you already know about the embarrassment of slipping dentures, not being able to eat the foods that you love and the ineffectiveness of denture adhesives.
Fortunately, there is a way to make your denture work the way it was intended & you expect. Dental implants offer a way to keep dentures in place and allow you to go about your daily life with confidence provided it has been done by its specialist. Although a regular denture with or without dental implant can be done by a general dentist but doing the same work by a specialist (Prosthodontist & Implantologist) will definitely create a difference.
Consult Dr. Harendra Shahi, MDS – Prosthodontist & Implantologist exclusive specialist in replacement of missing tooth by different modern methods including dental implant at 3D Dental Implant clinic.

Is it Right For Me?

Dental implant-supported overdentures may be the right option for you if:

  • You are using loose, slippery ,uncomfortable dentures and want to improve its support and retention (grip like natural teeth )
  • You want to improve chewing your favorite food
  • You don’t mind having teeth that are removable
  • You have significant bone loss from use of dentures
  • You need extraction of your remaining teeth and don’t want to use a conventional denture
  • You want to preserve your jaw bone from further damage
  • You don’t mind more denture flange extension covering the gum tissue and your palate
  • You have limited budget

How Does It Work?

The implants provide the support to the overlying dentures by special connectors known as locator abutments. The implants support the abutments which fit into their corresponding housing within base of the denture. The type of housing chosen by the dentist provides various degrees of friction and hence various levels of denture stability and and retention.

Two dental implants provide mainly retention and prevention of vertical displacement. That means the denture can stay down quite well. However the denture can still rotate during chewing.

Three or four dental implants provide enhanced 3-dimensional stability offering both anti-displacement and anti-rotation benefits. Hence, you can eat food much more comfortably and not worry about denture displacement.

Treatment Stages and Process

The treatment is known as implant supported or retain overdenture. The treatment sequence is:

  1. The expertise Prosthodontist completes clinical evaluation of your upper & lower jaw as well as your old existing denture if you have. (Visit – 1)
  2. Then a specialized 3D x-ray of the jaw required to be done (CBCT-cone beam CT) to assess quality and quantity of bone and to fabricate the final treatment planning.
  3. The Prosthodontist then uses the CBCT for a 3-dimensional computer assisted planning in the computer model of patient’s jaw bone.
  4. The Prosthodontist places the dental implants according to the available jaw bone and requirement of denture. The implants are allowed to heal for 3-4 months. Patient continues using the transitional denture or old denture in the interim. (Visit – 2)
  5. The Prosthodontist then takes final impressions and fabricates the final overdenture with housing that fits into the implant abutments. The bite is adjusted and the overdenture is checked for overall comfort, function, and aesthetics.

Advantages of Overdentures

Implant Overdentures offer a variety of advantages as compared to regular dentures. While some of these advantages are purely cosmetic, all of these can affect your quality of life, making you happier and healthier.

Eat the foods you love

When regular dentures are loose or secured with adhesives, the hard and chewy foods you love are often difficult to eat. Implant overdentures are more stable & firmly secure inside your mouth like natural teeth and allow you to chew food of your choice more thoroughly, helping your stomach break down food more efficiently & absorb more nutrients for health.


Regain Your Self Confidence

Implant overdenture seats more securely & firmly inside your mouth than regular denture there by eliminates unnecessary movement of denture during chewing & talking. This also eliminates the instances of gum soreness & you also don’t have to worry about embarrassing dislodgement of denture on social occasion. An implant-retained overdenture can help stop the deterioration of your natural facial contours by halting the resorption (shrinkage) that naturally occurs in areas where your natural teeth have been lost.


No More Adhesives

Adhesives for denture retention, while convenient for some, do not truly secure your dentures to your gum. Regular dentures that are held-in with adhesives can easily dislodge, affect the taste of the foods you eat and can be very messy. Because the retention and stability is un-matched with implant-retained overdentures, you’ll no longer need the added cost, mess and hassle of adhesives to keep your dentures in place.


Improve Your Quality of Life

Implant-retained overdentures secure your teeth in your mouth and can reduce or eliminate movement, improve the aesthetics of your smile, improve chewing functions, improve speech and have a positive impact on your physical and psychological health.


Prevent Bone Loss

Unlike conventional dentures, implant-retained overdentures use a medical-grade titanium implant that integrates to living bone. This process, called osseointegration, helps preserve your jaw bone – slowing or even stopping the bone resorption (shrinkage) that is common in edentulous patients. In contrast, conventional dentures can actually accelerate bone loss due to constant force on the gums during chewing.