Snap in Dentures
Snap in dentures are a wonderful treatment option for patients who are missing their teeth and are looking for a more stable, long-term solution than conventional dentures. To provide you with greater stability and support, a screw or dental implant is placed into your jawbone, which will hold your snap-in denture in place. In most cases, two or four implants will be placed to support your replacement teeth, however as many as ten may be inserted. Once these implants are properly positioned, the osseointegration process will begin, whereby the titanium post fuses with your jawbone over a period of several months. Once this is complete, your snap-in dentures can be placed. This snap-in denture can either be fixed in place permanently or it may be removable to allow for better cleaning.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Snap-in Dentures
During your initial evaluation, we will discuss what treatment options are available to you and provide our professional recommendation for which treatment option is best suited to your specific needs. When deciding whether snap-in dentures are the best treatment option for you, consider the benefits and the drawbacks of the procedure.
Benefits of snap-in dentures include:
- Much greater stability compared to conventional dentures
- Less likely to become loose while you are speaking
- Improves your ability to chew and eat stickier and harder foods
- Snap-in dentures are much more comfortable than conventional dentures
- Snap-in dentures do not provide friction on the gums, the way conventional dentures do.
- Look and feel more natural than conventional dentures
- Preserves your jawbone and prevents additional jawbone loss from occurring.
Drawbacks of snap-in dentures include:
- Requires implant surgery, which carries a small risk of complications
- The surgery will require a local anesthetic at a minimum
- More expensive than conventional dentures
- May not be covered by your insurance
- A bone graft may be required before the implant is placed depending on your level of gum or tooth decay
- More severe cases will require a longer healing period
- Attachments can loosen and require tightening
- Snap-in dentures will eventually need to be replaced
Cost of snap-in dentures
There are several factors that will impact the total cost of your snap-in dentures, such as how many implants are necessary, the location of your missing teeth, whether dental sedation is used and if so what kind, and whether you also require preliminary procedures, such as a sinus lift, bone graft, tooth extraction, or treatment of periodontal disease.
At Coastal Jaw Surgery, we understand that the cost of receiving treatment is a concern for many of our patients, which is why we will do everything we can to accommodate your personal budget while still providing you with the highest quality care possible. We are also committed to being upfront and clear about what your anticipated costs for getting dental implants will be and working with your insurance provider (if applicable) to ensure that you maximize your benefits to the fullest!
Snap-in Dentures Procedure
The first step to the snap-in denture process is scheduling your free consultation, during which we will evaluate your oral health, determine if any preparatory procedures are required before placement of your implant, and discuss what treatment options are available to you.
Diagnostic tests will also be taken to determine whether a bone graft is necessary and to determine the optimal placement of your implants.
If it is determined that snap-in dentures are the right treatment option for you, a follow-up appointment will be scheduled. The first thing we will do at this appointment is make sure you are as calm and comfortable as possible. A local anesthetic will be administered, and we also offer a comprehensive offering of dental sedation, which includes oral sedation, nitrous oxide, and IV sedation, which may be a good option for patients who are scheduled for longer, more intensive procedures or for patients who have significant dental anxiety.
As soon as you are comfortable, we will drill small holes into your jawbone and place the required number of implants into these holes. Once properly positioned, it will take anywhere from two to six months for these implants and the bone to fully bond together. Once this bond is complete, it will be strong enough to act as an anchor for your snap-in dentures. Depending on the type of system used, a second surgery to uncover the implants and attach extensions may be necessary, unless the system already has extensions. Finally, full dentures that have been customized for your specific mouth will be attached to the connecting device, after which the snap-in denture procedure will be complete.
Caring for Your Snap-in Dentures
Once your snap-in denture procedure is complete, we will schedule a follow-up appointment to ensure your new dentures fit correctly and are healing properly. During this healing period, it is important that you closely follow after care instructions that have been provided. This may include antibiotic treatment and sticking to a modified soft-food diet for some time. Ice therapy and prescription or over-the-counter medication may also be taken to help manage discomfort and swelling.
After this follow-up visit, we strongly encourage our patients to schedule regular periodontal maintenance, at least every six months or with even greater frequency for patients who are more susceptible to periodontal disease. Scheduling these appointments will ensure that we can monitor the status of your snap-in dentures and that you will continue to enjoy good periodontal health.
Contact Us Today!
If you have additional questions about snap-in dentures or you would like to schedule a free consultation to see which treatment option may be right for you, please contact us today. Doing so may be the first step towards restoring you back to a full smile and restored functionality and improving your overall quality of life. Our offices are located in New Port Richey, Palm Harbor, Spring Hill, Tampa, and Trinity. To schedule a consultation or learn more about our clinic and services, contact us today at (800) NEW-LOOK or fill out an online form at https://coastaljaw.com/appointment-request/
We look forward to providing you with the care you need in a safe and comfortable environment!