Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Dental Implants or Implant Overdentures

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I’m a little confused. I can’t figure out the difference between dental implants and implant overdentures. Some people seem to use them interchangeably but I think they’re different. Can you help me? I need to replace a few teeth and don’t know which one to get.

Sandy M.

Dear Sandy,

Dental Implant Diagram

A dental implant is the fixture that is implanted into your jawbone to take the place of your tooth root. When the healing period is over, then it is topped with a porcelain crown to stand in for the visible part of your tooth.

Uses of Dental Implants

Dental implants can be used to replace a single tooth or multiple teeth. They’re also used to completely replace all your teeth. That’s where implant overdentures can come in handy.

Because these are the top of the line procedure for replacing your teeth and the procedure itself is very advanced and requires a great deal of post-doctoral training, it is the priciest of your options.

If you wanted to replace each and every tooth with a single dental implant, you’d end up costing yourself a fortune. Implant overdentures gives you the advantages of dental implants without having to place one at every tooth.

You can usually place four to six dental implants per arch and then anchor a set of dentures to them.

Advantages of Implant Overdentures

When your teeth are removed, your body begins to reabsorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in your body. This has the unfortunate result of causing your jawbone to shrink.

After a number of years, there isn’t enough jawbone left to retain dentures. This is known as facial collapse. The implants protect you from this because your body interprets the implants as teeth roots and leaves your jawbone intact and secure.

This blog is brought to you by Glenpool Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Why is My Face Shrinking?

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I’ve heard you can get smaller as you age, but lately, it seems like the lower half of my face is shrinking as well. I don’t know what’s going on. My dentures barely fit anymore. I’m afraid to go out in public because there’s no room for them and they slip out. Is this typical?

Avery

Dear Avery,

An illustration of the damage done by facial collapse using two pictures of a woman, one before and one after

Wearing Dentures for Too Long Causes Facial Collapse

What you’re suffering from is known as facial collapse. This occurs when you’ve been wearing dentures for a number of years. When you remove your teeth, your body realizes that you no longer have teeth roots in your jaw. Because our bodies are incredibly efficient (I mean what other pieces of equipment holds up for 80 years living mostly off burgers and fries?), it resorbs the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere, perceiving they’re no longer needed.

This is why your jaw is slowly shrinking. It’s also why your dentures no longer fit properly. Eventually, you will be unable to keep them in your mouth at all, leaving you a dental cripple stuck on a liquid diet. I’m concerned your dentist neither warned you about this nor recognized what was happening to you.

A Solution for Facial Collapse

There are two solutions for you. Both will include getting bone grafting done. This is where a surgeon builds back up the bone you’ve lost. After that, you can choose to have your dentures remade to fit the new structure. Just bear in mind, you’ll face the same issue of disintegration that your original dentures caused.

Another option is for you to replace your teeth with dental implants. This uses prosthetic tooth roots, usually made out of titanium, to help your body to know the bone is still necessary to hold in the new roots of your teeth. They have other benefits as well.

Advantages of Dental Implants

  • They are permanently secure. Once they’re placed, it’s like having healthy, natural teeth back. There’s no slipping. No sliding.
  • Your chewing capacity will increase dramatically.
  • They protect you from developing facial collapse.

The key is to communicate with your dentist and let him look and advise.

This blog is brought to you by Glenpool Dentist Dr. Noah Ryan.

Dentist Said My Face Will Collapse with Dentures

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I don’t know if my dentist is saying this just to scare me into dental implants, but thought I’d check just in case. I’m losing my teeth due to a lifetime of both problems that could and couldn’t be controlled. My dentist wanted me to get dental implants, but they cost a fortune. I was considering dentures, but he says they make your face collapse. Is he just trying to scare me into the more important procedure?

Troy M.

Dear Troy,

A dentist and patient

Has your dentist given you a reason to think he’s manipulated you in the past? If so, that would be an egregious breach of trust between a patient and caregiver. Whatever his character, in this case, he’s right. Though, when he talks about your face collapsing he doesn’t mean your whole face. He’s referring to your jawbone shrinking.

Once you remove all your teeth, your body reabsorbs the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere throughout your body. This causes your jawbone to shrink little by little. As that progresses, you’ll no longer be able to wear your dentures because they won’t fit.

Why Your Dentist Suggested Dental Implants

Implants, as their name implies, places a titanium implant into your jawbone. Then after your bone has reabsorbed around the implant and is stable, your dentist can place a porcelain crown on top. Now you’re talking about all your teeth, so you don’t want to pay for a one-to-one ratio dental implants to teeth, unless of course you are independently wealthy.

Generally, you would get implant supported dentures, which is a mixture of the two treatments. It anchors your dentures to your jaw. This prevents you from losing mass in your jawbone and keeps your dentures from slipping and sliding around. Obviously, the more dental implants the better.

Talk to your dentist about what would work best in your particular situation. However, if you don’t trust your dentist, you’d be better served looking for another dentist which you can. Be sure to check their reviews so you get some idea what you’re getting into.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Noah.