Valencia Dentures and Overdentures

Conventional Denture Versus Overdenture

If you’re missing teeth, modern dentistry offers more options than ever before for replacing them. With so many options for new teeth, it can be confusing to know the important differences between your options. The edentulous mouth is still treated by dentures, however, there are modern ways to replace the missing teeth with aids of two or four implants to snap to the conventional dentures called “overdentures”.

Here’s the difference between conventional dentures and overdentures so you can make an informed choice in your care. Traditional dentures are artificial teeth mounted in an acrylic base that looks like gums. Dentures are held in place by adhesives, natural suction, or a combination of both. Overdentures are very similar in a way to conventional dentures in a way to use the same acrylic teeth; however, the denture is secured in your mouth by clipping or screwing onto titanium dental implants that have been placed in your jawbone. Because they clip onto a solid foundation in the form of dental implants, overdentures are known to have better retention and stability.

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Benefits of the overdentures

One of the biggest benefits of the overdentures is to have more joyable experience while having food. By placing a minimum of four implants on the upper jaw can remove the acrylic palatal expansion which your tongue can feel the roof of the mouth again. Conventional dentures can affect your ability to taste by covering your palate (roof of your mouth), where some of your taste buds are actually located. Ability to speak normal also enhances with secure overdentures. Your speech in general will be clearer, especially the letters “s” and “f” which can sometimes be muffled or lisped with conventional dentures that cover your palate.

In terms of your oral health, overdentures have the benefit of preventing bone loss. Overdentures transfer the force of your bite from you false teeth, through the dental implants, and into the bone of your jaw. Receiving this sensation from the implants tells your jaw to keep creating new bone, preventing the bone structure under your overdentures from shrinking away.
This shrinking of bone, called “resorption”, tends to happen in conventional dentures because there is no solid structure between the denture and the bone that tells the bone it’s still being used to bite. Jaw bone resorption is what causes traditional dentures to eventually stop fitting well and require adjustment, and can lead your cheeks looking more sunken and aged as your bone structure shrinks.

One potential advantage of conventional dentures is that they are more affordable initially than overdentures, because they do not involve the surgical placement of implants. However, over the long run, the adjustments or replacements associated with conventional dentures may add up. Overdentures are much less likely to have these problems, so the initial investment could eventually save you money in the future.