Oral Health and Dental Management

Benefits and Classification of Overdentures

Joel Ferreira^* Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, King’s College of Dental Institute, London, UK
^*Correspondence: Joel Ferreira, Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, King’s College of Dental Institute, London, UK, Email:

Received: 03-Jun-2022, Manuscript No. OHDM-22-16951; Editor assigned: 06-Jun-2022, Pre QC No. OHDM-22-16951(PQ); Reviewed: 20-Jun-2022, QC No. OHDM-22-16951; Revised: 27-Jun-2022, Manuscript No. OHDM-22-16951(R); Published: 04-Jul-2022, DOI: 10.35248/2247-2452.22.21.1005

Description

When a patient is missing entire upper or lower teeth, they have a number of alternatives for tooth replacement. Some of them prefer dentures that sit on the gums whereas others prefer dental implants or overdentures. Overdentures are ideal for people who seek more comfort and functionality. These detachable dentures are attached to the natural teeth or dental implants. Qverdentures are the combination of dentures and best of dental implants. It is one of the most practical measures used in preventive dentistry and gives the advantages of having a full set of tooth replacement that operate like natural teeth. There are several options available for restoring missing teeth, including dental implants, dentures, and bridges. Overdentures are further alternative that is supported by jaw implants. When compared to standard dentures, they provide a number of advantages that make them a necessary option and are of very economical. When people do not stimulate their jawbones, they lose muscle mass over a period of time, which has negative health and aesthetic consequences. Regular dentures do not allow for jawbone stimulation, which causes a sunken appearance in the face. Overdentures require four to six dental implants to be implanted into the jawbone, which gives support for the attached denture as well as stimulation for the jaw.

Benefits of Overdentures

Stability, ease of feeding, bone retention, natural appearance, lifespan, and cost-efficiency are all the benefits of overdentures. Traditional dentures are held in place by the gums, forming a seal. Overdentures, on the other hand, operate similar to implants. Permanent implants in the jaw keep overdentures firmly attached to the gums, which eliminate the need for extra adhesives. Basic dentures frequently cause irritation and are likely to burst out of the mouth. It’s easier to speak and eat when your overdentures are more stable. Traditional dentures are held in place with adhesive, which might make it difficult to eat hard foods at times. Overdentures are easier to keep in place and allow you to chew the food completely, which is necessary for proper digestion. Missing teeth cause bone loss in the jaw, and as a result bone matter diminishes. Overdentures require installation of titanium implant in the bone. This procedure (known as osseointegration) protects your facial structure by preventing bone deterioration. When chewing, basic dentures can increase bone loss by exerting force on the gums.

Overdentures also help in maintaining the natural appearance of your face by preventing bone loss. Sagging is caused by tooth and bone loss, which can change the curve of your face drastically. The overdentures are secured which prevents the embarrassment. Speech and sounds are more natural with more security. Over a time, regular dentures will need replacement and require new dentures as your jaw shifts to accommodate the new shape. Overdenture implants on the other hand are designed to last longer for years by taking a proper care and saving from the trouble of replacing dentures for every few years. Long-lasting wear also makes them more cost-effective in the long run. Traditional dentures need to be repaired or replaced on a regular basis, so purchasing a less expensive set of dentures also require regular replacement, which in turn increases the expenditure.

Classification of Overdentures

Depending on needs and budget, overdenture implants can be fixed or detachable. Both varieties are much more comfortable and aesthetic than standard dentures, and they help in the improvement of a person’s oral health by preventing future bone loss and supporting nutritional needs.

Implant-Supported Overdentures

This type of overdenture is supported by four or six implants in the mandibular and maxillary jawbones. They help to keep the existing bones from deteriorating further, as well as promote bone stability and give more youthful appearance.

Fixed Implant-Supported Overdenture

This overdenture resembles a removable one, but it is secured in place with screws and can’t be removed by the patient. A dentist is needed to gently unscrew and remove the prosthetic. For the edentulous patient, this is the best stable alternative. It is however, difficult to clean as it can only be removed by a dentist. Also as it requires four dental implants and uses screws as abutments, that is usually most expensive.

Bar Retained Implant-Supported Overdentures

This overdenture with bar-retained retention features a bar attached to the implants so that the denture can clip onto. The denture can clip on and off the implants as needed, yet it is more secure than a traditional denture. This overdenture is often removed only to clean and sleep.

Ball Retained Implant-Supported Overdentures

These overdentures are the fantastic option for the lower arch, where two or four implants are typically placed in the jawbone. In this case the abutment that joins the implant to the denture is ball-shaped. When compared to a regular denture, it provides more stability and improves the functionality. In addition to this it is easy to clean and replace the parts if necessary.

Overdenture Partials

This overdenture is required when only a few teeth were lost. It is usually removable just like a full denture, and has some disadvantages, such as exerting pressure on adjoining teeth.

This performs the same function as a complete implant-retained denture. It uses one or more implants to replace tooth roots. When compared to a standard partial denture, this gives more natural appearance.