Are you considering getting an implant overdenture to replace your loose denture?
Do you know that there are two different styles of implant overdentures?
No? Well I’m glad you clicked on this video!
In this video I’m going to compare the two different types of implant overdentures
and tell you the pros and cons of each style.
And hopefully by the end of the video, you’ll have a better idea of which option is the best for you.
Hi Dental fans, I’m Dr. Rich, a general dentist with over twenty years of experience.
I’m, teaching you about dentistry and teeth so that you can have a very nice smile.
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In my other video “what is an overdenture” I described the two styles of overdentures that
are available. I’ll leave a link to that video up here and down in the description.
In this video I’m going to go more in depth and discuss the pros and
cons of each style of overdenture. The two different styles are implant
retained overdentures (which means the implants hold in the overdenture)
and implant supported overdentures (which means the implants hold up the overdenture).
I'm going to compare the two styles based on 4 categories,
Category 1 chewing function and comfort, Category 2 at home cleaning,
Category 3 maintenance and repair, and finally, Category 4 cost.
Category 1 chewing function and comfort. Since the implant supported overdenture
is held up by the implants and not by your gums, you can bite with more force than you can with an
implant retained overdenture. Also, it will not move around at all.
And because it’s supported by a metal bar, the denture part of it can be made much smaller. It
only needs to be big enough to cover the bar and seal to the gums so food doesn’t get under it.
The downside is you need enough implants to support the bar, usually at least four
implants. And some people need to have their jawbone shaved down so that there is enough
room for the metal bar under the overdenture. The implant retained overdenture, transmits biting
force to your gums like a regular denture does so you won’t be able to bite with as much force.
Now don’t get me wrong, you can chew much better than you can with a regular denture,
but there will always be a little give in an implant retained overdenture.
The overdenture also needs to be big enough to transfer the biting forces to your gums.
For an upper overdenture, I can remove the roof of the mouth part of the denture
but I can’t make it as small as I can make the implant supported overdenture.
On the plus side, since the implants are only holding the denture in, you don’t need as many
of them. Especially on your lower jaw. Most times 2 implants are enough to make a huge difference.
Also because the posts and snaps are fairly small, you most likely won’t need to have
your jawbone shaved down. Category 2 at home cleaning.
Since both types of overdentures are removable, you can clean them with a toothbrush and some
dish soap in your bathroom, then soak them overnight in some denture cleaner.
The difference is how you clean the implant parts in your mouth.
The implant retained overdenture only has these little gold posts
which stick up through your gums. Those are pretty easy to keep clean with a toothbrush.
The implant supported overdenture has a metal bar that is attached to your implants.
You have to clean the metal bar with a toothbrush and you have to use either super floss,
a floss threader, or an interproximal brush to clean underneath the metal bar. I’ll leave a link
here and down in the description to my how-to videos so you can see how to use super floss,
a floss threader, and an interproximal brush. You don’t have to worry about getting a cavity,
but you have to keep the area under the bar and around the implants clean to avoid gum disease
which could lead to implant failure. Category 3 maintenance and repair
In this category both types of overdentures will have similar issues over time.
The main issue is the plastic snaps that hold the overdentures will wear out and loosen up
over time. It is usually a simple job to replace the snaps. The implant retained overdenture is
more likely to need more frequent replacement of the snaps since it can move a tiny bit more
than the implant supported overdenture. The metal posts onto which the snaps
fit may need to be replaced if they wear out. Both types of overdenture may need to have denture
teeth repaired if they break off. And with either type of overdenture, when you go to brush them,
please spread a towel out on your bathroom counter and brush the denture over that.
I’ve seen too many cases of people dropping their dentures while they are cleaning them,
and they break off pieces of the denture when it hits the hard countertop, the sink, or the floor.
The implant retained overdenture will also need a reline after a few years when your jawbone
shrinks, just like a regular denture would. If after a few years you need to have a
new overdenture made, making a new implant retained overdenture is fairly straightforward.
Making a new implant supported overdenture is a bit more difficult and sometimes the metal
bar needs to be removed from the implants and sent to the lab so that they can use it to make
a new overdenture. Category 4 costs
An implant retained overdenture will be less expensive than an implant supported overdenture.
For one, you will need fewer implants. A lower implant retained overdenture
will work with just 2 implants, 4 would be better but not required.
An upper implant retained overdenture not covering the roof of the mouth needs 4 implants. So six
implants for the entire mouth is the minimum. An implant supported overdenture requires at
least 4 implants. Most dentists and oral surgeons will feel better with 5 implants
in case one implant fails in the future. So eight implants for the entire mouth is the minimum.
In my area, implants cost about two thousand dollars each. So the implant retained
overdenture is four to eight thousand dollars less expensive just due to the implant costs.
The overdenture cost is the same except the implant supported overdenture needs to have
a metal bar made that fits onto the implants in addition to the overdenture itself. This adds
about five thousand dollars to the cost. So an implant supported overdenture
costs about nine thousand dollars more than an implant retained overdenture.
So to sum things up,
In category 1 chewing function and comfort, the implant supported overdenture has the advantage.
In category 2 at home cleaning, the implant retained overdenture has the advantage.
Most people I treat don’t love the idea of having to floss again. Most have
lost their teeth due to not flossing well. Category 3 maintenance and repair is a tie,
with possibly implant retained overdentures needing more adjustments and snap changes
in the beginning, but implanted supported overdentures have a higher replacement cost
compared to an implant retained overdenture. In Category 4 costs, the implant retained
overdenture is much less expensive than an implant supported overdenture.
In my office, the most popular option for patients who are missing all their teeth is
a regular upper denture on top, and two implants and an implant retained overdenture on the bottom.
This combination provides great chewing function, and the cost is more economical.
The next most popular option is an implant retained overdenture on top with 4 implants.
This way the overdenture doesn’t cover the roof of your mouth. And that’s usually paired wiith a
lower implant retained overdenture on 2 implants.
So tell me, what kind of overdenture do you
have or would you like to have? Do you have any questions about overdentures?
Please leave me a comment below. Thanks very much for watching and see you soon.