I haven’t been to the dentist in close to 20 years. As a result, my teeth are an absolute wreck and I need to get dentures. The problem is that I have one of the worst gag reflexes known to man and dentures require an upper plate. I even gag when trying to brush my teeth, which is why my teeth are such a mess. A friend of mine said there is a way to get dentures that don’t need a plate. Have you heard of those?
Camilla
Dear Camilla,
Implant Overdentures
I am sorry about your gag reflex. That sounds a bit miserable. The good news is your friend is correct. It is possible to get dentures without needing a dental plate. You do that by getting implant supported dentures, also called implant overdentures. These use between four to six dental implants per arch and then anchor your dentures to them. In addition to being completely secure, you will also find you can eat anything you want. Even the best fitting removable dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. This is not something you will have to worry about with implant overdentures.
The downside is two-fold. Dental implants are more expensive. They also require surgery in order to place the implants firmly in your jawbone. Patients find that the pros far outweigh the cons.
If you are on a tight budget and cannot afford six dental implants, you can get snap-on dentures. These only require two implants on the bottom arch. For the top arch you will need more.
I suggest you talk to a dentist who offers dental implants and have a consultation with him or her to see what options are best for your situation and budget.
This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.