In talking with friends and relatives about dental appliances, you may have come across the term snap-in dentures or snap-on dentures. There are all kinds of different explanations about what these two are and how they work, so we'll try to clear up the mystery surrounding them in the content below. Both of these two denture types are in the category of implant-supported dentures, and both are actually traditional dentures that snap into place on top of dental implants.
These are both removable dentures which are shaped in the same way that a traditional denture would be, except that their designs feature a way to physically attach to a dental implant. That makes this a removable denture which has to be taken out of the mouth at night, in the same way that you would remove a conventional plate. At this point, you can place the denture in a cleaning solution, so that your mouth can rest all night long, and the denture itself can be cleaned. In the morning, you'll just have to brush it off and wash your mouth out with a washcloth to be ready for re-insertion. The name for this type of denture comes from the fact that it has a snapping motion when being installed or removed.
Difference between the two
The truth is, there is no real difference between snap-in dentures and snap-on dentures. Both of them feature special locators beneath the denture which have the ability of snapping on to a corresponding dental implant. The reason why some implant treatments are referred to a snap-on is because the denture is physically situated on top of the implants, and snaps into place there.
Other people might refer to this type of treatment as a snap-in denture, because the implant gets inserted inside the small locator beneath the denture. This means that either term is technically correct, and that both refer to the exact same procedure and device. Either one of these terms serves to effectively differentiate this type of dental appliance from conventional dentures, and from the more permanent installation of an all-on-four dental implant.
Benefits of snap-on dentures
One of the main reasons that many people choose snap-on dentures is that they completely eliminate the need for any kind of denture adhesive or paste which serves to keep the denture in place. The dental implants beneath the denture will keep the appliance firmly in place all throughout the day. That means you won't have to worry about any kind of rocking or rubbing, and you won't have sore spots which could conceivably become infected.
You'll be able to speak more clearly, because your dentures aren't moving around, and it will be easier for you to eat all the foods you love to eat from your regular diet. There will be less maintenance necessary to take care of your snap-on dentures, and they will be much more comfortable in your mouth than traditional dentures. Anyone who has ever worn dentures before knows that it's necessary to have an effective seal between the gums and the dental appliance itself.
If that seal isn't quite right, your dentures can be moving all over the place during the day. That's why it's such a great idea to include dental implants to stabilize your dentures and keep them firmly in place. If you're someone who has experienced resorption, or bone shrinkage due to tooth loss, it can be a little more challenging to install a traditional denture.
Because you have such a narrow bone ridge, it becomes difficult to achieve an effective seal for the dental appliance to rest comfortably on top of your gum tissue. All these are great reasons why many people have chosen to have snap-on dentures installed, and to achieve a greater level of confidence which they could never have hoped for with traditional dentures.
Snap-ons compared to all-on-4 implants
There's one huge difference between snap-on dentures and all-on-four implats, that being the fact that snap-on's must be removed each night. All-on-four implants are intended to remain in place indefinitely, and can only be removed if your dentist has a compelling reason for doing so. Anyone who is seeking replacement of an entire arch of teeth on a permanent basis, would probably be better off choosing all-on-four implants. This is a dental appliance that will be slimmer than a set of full dentures, while still replacing all the teeth of that arch at once.
Once you have all-on-four dental implants installed, you can bite, chew, and smile the same as if you had all your natural teeth in place. You won't ever have to take anything in or out of your mouth, and you can care for your all-on-four implants just as if they were your normal teeth. They also do not rest against the roof of your mouth or your gum tissue, because the shape of all-on-four implants follows the natural curvature of the interior part of your mouth. If you're trying to decide between snap-on dentures and all-on-four implants, you should know that snap-on dentures are much less expensive, but they are also a less permanent solution than are all-on-four implants.
Retrofitting dentures into snap-ons
If you already have conventional dentures, and you're thinking about converting them into snap-ons, there is a procedure whereby this can be accomplished. It's not always possible, but you should consult with your dentist to see it can be done in your case. Retrofitted implant dentures are those where your dentist will take your existing dentures and install locators on the bottom part of your denture.
Those locators will be used to pair up with dental implants in your mouth, and that will permit the snapping into place of your dentures. The main point which decides whether or not your dentures can be retrofitted is how new your dentures are, and how well they fit. Typically, older dentures cannot be retrofitted into snap-on dentures, but if you have a newer set of dentures, you just may be able to undergo the conversion, and have a more solid denture put in place. Contact Zircteeth to know more.