Snap-In Dentures
Whether it is due to age, injury or needing to have your teeth pulled, you may find yourself at some point with missing teeth. When this happens, you’ll want to consider your replacement options. One popular option for replacing teeth (especially rows of teeth) is dentures. If you decide to go with dentures for your tooth or teeth replacement, you’ll need to choose which type of dentures will be right to meet your needs. One excellent option is snap-in dentures.
What Are Snap-In Dentures?
Snap-in dentures are a form of dentures that involve the placement of screws in the jawbone that are used to hold the dentures in place. As the name implies, the dentures snap into place, and attach to the screws placed in the jawbone. This differs from traditional dentures in that they are held in place by more than just your gums and saliva.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Snap-In Dentures?
There are a variety of different advantages and disadvantages that come with snap-in dentures. Below are some of the advantages of snap-in dentures:
- Comfort. Many patients find snap-in dentures to be more comfortable than traditional dentures. Part of this is due to them having a better fit, while the other part is a lower amount of friction.
- Chewing. Snap-in dentures provide a lot of strength and security. Because of this, patients find that it is easier to eat their favorite foods than it is with more traditional dentures.
- Stability. Snap-in dentures are designed specifically to stay in place. Because of this, patients find them to be easier to keep in place throughout the day.
- Jawbone Integrity. It is important to have a tooth or teeth replacement when teeth fall out to maintain the integrity of the jawbone. The jawbone can deteriorate over time without a replacement in place. Snap-in dentures help to maintain the integrity of the jawbone.
- No Migration. If teeth are missing and they aren’t replaced, over time the surrounding teeth will likely migrate. This leads to a whole host of issues, including the impacting of other teeth and the inability to provide proper daily oral care. This means more serious dental health issues, which means spending a lot of money. Snap-in dentures help to avoid any migration—avoiding damage that would otherwise be caused to a patient’s teeth or gums.
While there are some strong advantages that come with snap-in dentures, there are also some disadvantages that you’ll want to consider before making your decision. Below are some of the disadvantages to snap-in dentures:
- Cost. Snap-in dentures are a more expensive choice than other replacement options. Because of this, cost may be a factor when making the decision whether or not to go with snap-in dentures. Whether snap-in dentures are chosen or not, some sort of replacement needs to be placed or a patient may suffer more damage to their teeth, gums and jawbone.
- Implant Complications. While complications with implant procedures are rare, it is still a consideration. With any surgical procedure there comes certain risks.
- Bone Graft. There are times when implants are not an option without a bone graft. This adds more cost to the procedure, as well as a longer healing period.
- Upkeep. Snap-in dentures require maintenance over time. While this may simply mean tightening, it is still something that a patient should consider before choosing snap-in dentures.
Snap-In Dentures Placement Procedure
The placement of snap-in dentures takes time—as it involves the placement of implants. After your dentist has confirmed that you are a good candidate for snap-in dentures, you’ll schedule a visit to have the implants placed into your jawbone. After the implants have been placed, you’ll need to wait a period of around two to six months for the implants to fuse with the jawbone. Sometimes a second surgery will be required to access the implants.
Once the implants are ready, the dentures are placed. They are connected with a device that helps to keep them secure.
While this is the general process for placement of snap-in dentures, patients may find that their process varies.
Caring for Your Dentures
Once you have your dentures placed, it’s important to take care of not only your dentures, but your overall oral health. You must continue to brush and rinse as you did before. Make sure you brush your gums thoroughly to avoid any infections. When you aren’t wearing your snap-in dentures, keep them clean and place them in clean water until you are ready to wear them again.
If you still have natural teeth on the top or bottom of your mouth, make sure to properly brush and floss them. Maintaining the integrity of your remaining teeth will help you to avoid having another row of snap-in dentures placed!
Are Snap-In Dentures Right for Me?
Before deciding on whether or not you should go with snap-in dentures, you’ll first want to set an appointment with your dentist to see if snap-in dentures are an option for you. From there, you’ll want to consider if snap-in dentures are the right option to meet your needs.
Insurance coverage is definitely something you’ll want to take into account before choosing snap-in dentures. Some dental plans cover snap-in dentures, while others do not. Implants may cost upwards of $6,000, so insurance may be a deciding factor between whether or not you get snap-in dentures.
If your insurance does not cover snap-in dentures and you don’t have the money immediately available, you may want to consider different loan options—especially if you have good credit.
Another replacement that you may want to discuss with your dentist is fixed dentures. While these types of dentures may be a bit more expensive, they also come with their own unique advantages.
Whatever replacement option you decide to go with, make sure you begin the procedure sooner than later to ensure ongoing oral health.