Difference Between Implant Retained Overdenture and Implant Supported Overdenture?
Traditional removable dentures can cause all sorts of uncomfortable issues, but many people gravitate toward them when they’re looking for a quick, affordable way to replace one or both rows of missing natural teeth. Most of the time, these patients would be far happier with implant retained or implant supported overdentures. While traditional dentures are prone to slipping, causing painful sores and interfering with the ability to eat comfortably and speak clearly, overdentures that are held in place by dental implants combine the convenience and affordability of dentures with the stability and health benefits of dental implants. These overdentures can be removable or permanent, relying on fewer dental implants to replace multiple missing teeth comfortably and sturdily.
Dental implants are small cylinders that are surgically implanted into the jaws, where they serve as substitute tooth roots and can support a variety of different dental prosthetics. Implant retained dentures are snapped onto a permanent, implant-supported device, allowing the denture to be removed by the patient. Implant supported dentures, on the other hand, are permanently affixed to dental implants and can only be removed by a dental professional. Both treatment options dramatically improve the function and comfort of dentures, and, because dental implants stimulate the health and growth of the jawbone, both options also help protect against the natural bone deterioration that’s common in people missing entire rows of teeth.
One notable difference between these two types of dentures is in the type of maintenance they require. Implant supported dentures remain permanently in the mouth and are cleaned just like the natural teeth, while implant retained dentures need to be removed for cleaning and also for sleeping. Implant retained dentures tend to cost a bit less than implant supported dentures, and the procedure for placing them may require fewer implants and therefore be considered less invasive. Some patients are therefore willing to overlook the inconveniences of maintaining implant retained dentures, opting for a more affordable and less invasive and time-consuming procedure.
Because implant retained overdentures can be held in place by as few as two implants per row of teeth, their cost is often only slightly higher than the cost of traditional dentures, though the stability they provide is exponentially greater. Because these dentures are held in place by dental implants and don’t depend on an acrylic base, the patient’s tongue can move freely and their palate remains exposed, enhancing the ability to taste and enjoy a variety of foods. Even when implant retained dentures rely on more than two implants, they can dramatically increase patient comfort and quality of life, and overdentures supported by even as many as four dental implants can be equally stable and comfortable whether they’re retained or permanently supported by dental implants.
While they may require more of an investment, however, implant supported dentures tend to be more stable and durable than their implant retained counterparts, better withstanding the forces of biting and chewing and allowing patients to enjoy a wide range of foods without worrying about dislodging their dentures. It all comes down to patient preference. Even though implant retained overdentures and implant supported overdentures each have pros and cons, both are highly successful options for replacing one or both rows of missing natural teeth, and both methods provide high levels of satisfaction.