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Actual Dental Implant Patient
Different Options to Give You a Brand New Smile
When you need to replace missing teeth, seeing an implant dentist at Davie Designer Dental is the best place to start. We are frequently asked if treatments like Snap-On Dentures are better than Full Arch Dental Implants, or vice versa.
To best answer the question, it’s important to understand the difference between stabilized overdentures and how the full arch treatment works.
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The Biggest Differences Between Snap-On Dentures vs Full Arch Dental Implants
Timeline
With Fixed Full Arch teeth, you have a new smile in as little as 1 day. Although you will still have a healing period, people are back to eating delicious foods sooner! With Snap on dentures, you have to wear temps that aren't snapped in until 4 months later. You will still have teeth! But they won't be attached until the implants have had time to fuse with the bone.
Esthetics
Thanks to digital smile design, 3D printing, and the expertise of our designers, Fixed Full Arch teeth have the most beautiful and natural look/feel to them. We are able to customize them with the full spectrum of shades, and our patients can't say enough about how much they love them. Snap-On teeth are also made beautifully, but you are limited to less shade choices, and dentures regardless of how they are attached will still be dentures.
Cost
Snap-on dentures are extremely affordable, there are great 2-4 implant packages available. Thanks to new technology with 3D printing and digital scanning, Fixed Full Arch teeth are also dropping in cost significantly and there are multiple options available to fit any budget.
Bite forces
functionality
With Fixed Full Arch Teeth, we will be able to restore your bite and bring your functionality back as nature intended. You will actually be able to bite into an apple! With Snap-on dentures, you have tons of functionality, but you are still limited to avoiding some foods due to the nature of the “snaps” built into the denture.
Longevity
Implants have a very long and favorable prognosis, but with the constant snapping in/pulling out of the Snap-On dentures, components will wear and tear and there is maintenance involved. With Fixed permanent teeth, there is very little maintenance of the components. How you maintain your teeth will affect how long your implants will last. The final teeth are also made of different material, and typically the Fixed Full Arch teeth will last longer and have less chance of wearing out.
Taste
Having done hundreds of these cases, our patients love the ability to taste their foods again because the roof of their mouth isn't covered and they are able to fully chew properly. Although we hear this sometimes with our Snap-On teeth, the Fixed Full Arch teeth are the way to go for the best taste!
What Are Snap-On Dentures?
Snap-On Dentures look and feel like traditional, removable dentures. However, there are 2-4 locators on the underside of your “plate” which attach on top of implant abutments. Snap-On Dentures are essentially dentures that snap in place. There’s some minor movement, but by and large your dentures stay put and are very functional.
When you wear a Snap-On Denture, you’ll need to remove the denture at night when you go to sleep. The routine care and maintenance are exactly like what you would expect with a traditional denture. Soak it in a cleansing solution overnight, brush it clean the next morning, and wipe your mouth with a washcloth before putting it back in.
Snap-On Dentures are great for Davie patients who want to stabilize their existing dentures and may not be a candidate for Full Arch Dental Implants, or have extensive bone loss in their jaws. Depending on your mouth, our implant dentists can strategically place anywhere from 2-4 implants for security. A new denture is created to fit on top of them, or your current denture is modified so that it snaps in place.
What is the Full Arch Dental Implant Treatment?
Today’s dental implants are extremely durable. In fact, they can support more weight than natural teeth. At Davie Designer Dental, we can use as few as four implants to support a full-arch prosthesis that mimics the appearance of an extended dental bridge.
Bridges are permanent restorations attached to teeth or implants, supporting pontic (false) crowns in the areas of missing teeth. When set on four implants, the Full Arch hybrid denture spans across the gums from one side of your mouth to the other.
The biggest difference between a Full Arch appliance and an overdenture is the way that it’s shaped. As a permanent appliance, you never have to take it out. Plus, Full Arch Dental Implant treatments don’t cover the roof of your mouth.
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Which is More Durable?
Using implants to support your denture helps prevent the bone in your mouth from shrinking over time. Shrinking changes the shape of your oral anatomy, thus affecting the way your denture fits. When you add implants, your jaw is stronger. That’s one reason why getting dental implant therapy is a predictable and long-lasting treatment!
Conventional dentures don’t have as strong of biting and chewing capabilities as natural teeth or dental implants. When you set implants under your existing denture, they help keep it in place. However, it does not add much reinforcement in regard to biting and chewing. Foods will still need to be softer and cut up into smaller pieces in order to eat them comfortably.
Full Arch Dental Implants are like chewing with natural teeth again. Each design is crafted from durable materials that mimic natural tooth shape and appearance. Since they are permanently attached to your mouth, you don’t have to worry about things moving around while you’re eating.
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Which is More Comfortable?
There are several different factors that impact the comfort of a denture or implant treatment. Some of the ones to consider include:
Rubbing, Chafing, and Sore Spots
Both Snap-On Dentures and Full Arch Dental Implants help to eliminate the source of sore spots. Since the denture doesn’t use your gums for a seal, there’s no risk of it rubbing up against them. Not only is rubbing painful, but it’s also a common source of infection for denture wearers, leading to more health issues, and inevitably more costs, down the line.
Speech
Wearing a removable Snap-On Denture can change the way you talk. Since there’s still an acrylic “plate” across the roof of your mouth, you’ll have to work on making specific speech sounds without slurring or sounding different. But with Full Arch Dental Implants, the shape follows the contour of your bite, meaning your tongue and lips won’t have to re-learn how to talk differently.
Eating
Full Arch Dental Implants offer significant advantages over Snap-On Dentures when it comes time to eat. Since these hybrid denture/bridge designs do not cover the roof of your mouth, you get to enjoy the natural tastes of your meals and chew easier. Anything you would have eaten before losing your teeth (or wearing dentures) is no longer off-limits!
Confidence
There’s something to be said about the way your smile makes you feel. With a Full Arch Dental Implant Treatment, you can feel comfortable in your own skin. There’s no taking out an appliance when you go to bed at night or having to worry about the way you look when you’re laughing in front of your friends. Everything is as it should be. You won’t have to worry about any awkward situations!
Facial Profile
Dentures can change the way you look. With implants, you’re naturally supporting the bone in your mouth, which consequently affects your facial profile. Full Arch Dental Implants give you the fullness that counteracts “sunken-in” features seen in tooth loss. Rather, your cheeks and lips are supported to add more youth back to your face.
Which One Is Right for You?
If you qualify for dental implant treatment, our Davie implant dentists offer a variety of treatment options for you to consider. When it comes to replacing all of your teeth as quickly as possible, Full Arch Dental Implants or a Snap-On Denture are the top two choices. However, Full Arch Dental Implants present obvious advantages because the design mimics your natural smile as closely as possible.
Davie Designer Dental offers flexible financing options so that you can get started on your smile journey today. Our free consultation will give you all of the information you need to make an educated decision about our Davie Dental Implant treatments.
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