We’re lucky that in today’s day and age, we have so many different options when it comes to correcting our teeth after tooth loss and other dental problems. Even when it comes to getting dentures, there are a variety of different options. One of these options is overdentures. Let’s look at what overdentures are and how they compare to regular dentures.

What are overdentures?

Overdentures can be fitted for patients who have lost some or all of their teeth. While regular dentures are placed over your gums and held in place by the wearer’s mouth and the suction against their gums, overdentures are fitted in conjunction with dental implants, which hold the dentures in place. Implants are fuzed with your jaw and then support the overdenture.

Overdentures can be either fixed or removable. Overdentures merely supported by your gums and dental implants can be removed by the wearer for comfort and to clean the dentures, while fixed overdentures can only be removed by your dentist.

What are the benefits of overdentures?

There are a number of benefits of using overdentures rather than traditional dentures. When we lose teeth, we start to suffer bone loss in the surrounding jaw area. With a dental implant positioned in the gum and fuzed with the jawbone, this bone loss is prevented or at least dramatically reduced. This means you maintain the shape and structure around your mouth.

any denture wearers also find overdentures more comfortable than regular dentures because they are better fixed in place. This means they shift less in the mouth, preventing discomfort and difficulties with speech and eating that can arise from this. This also means that you don’t need to use denture adhesive. Plus, with removable overdentures, you still get the benefit of being able to take them out to clean and to give your mouth a break from wearing dentures.

Are there any downsides?

Overdentures have lots of good points, but they might not be for everyone. In order to get dental implants in the first place, there needs to be enough healthy bone to fuze them to. This means that not everyone will be a candidate for overdentures if they have already suffered significant bone loss. Overdentures also take longer than regular dentures because you have to, first, have the implants fitted, go through the healing process, and then have your dentures molded and fitted.

Do you think you could benefit from overdentures? Get in touch with us for affordable dentures and dental care in and around Clemmons, Lewisville, Mocksville, Winston Salem, and Bermuda Run.