Will My Snap-On Denture Be Too Small?

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Snap-on denture diagram

Snap-on denture

I am concerned that my snap-on denture arch will be too small, not going back far enough in my mouth. My new denture doesn’t fit right. Can I get it lengthened, or should I get my dentist to fix it before it’s too late? I found a dentist whose presentation convinced me I would get good-quality affordable implant dentures because he would do the work in phases. I would get a denture first and implants within 6-10 months or as soon as I could afford them. It sounded good to me, but the new denture is too small. Won’t my snap-on denture be too small? With the new denture, I feel my upper and lower gums touching when I chew. When I open my mouth and look in the mirror, I can tell that the denture stops short of where my wisdom teeth were. This won’t get better just because I have dental implants, will it? – Thank you. Alysha from VA

Alysha,

Although a removable denture will not feel perfectly comfortable, a dentist can ensure it extends far enough to prevent you from chewing on your gums. If your new denture is too small and your dentist’s plan is to fit it with implants, your snap-on denture will not fit correctly.

How Far Back Should a Denture Extend?

A denture should extend just beyond the retromolar pad, your wisdom teeth’s former location. Accurate impressions of your mouth help a dentist and dental lab produce a denture that fits well without covering too much or too little of the retromolar pad. A denture that extends too far back upper and lower denture teeth to clash. However, when the denture arch is too short, you can feel chewing on your gums.

Denture impression tray (upper) and Dental impression tray (lower)Your dentist must take new impressions of your mouth using a stock impression tray for dentures. It will require more work from him and the dental lab. You can see from the photos on this page that the denture impression tray extends farther than the impression tray for teeth, registering the retromolar area and broader parts of the lower jaw. Ensuring that a denture extends back far enough improves denture fit and stability.

We cannot speculate on the details of your case, including how your dentist took impressions of your mouth or if he consciously decided to shorten the arch length. Still, you have the right to be satisfied with your current denture before planning to secure it with dental implants. Otherwise, getting affordable implant dentures can cost you a lot of time and money in the long term.

You may give your dentist a chance to resolve your concerns, or you can get a second opinion.

 

Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher sponsors this post. Read about his education and training, and learn what he does to provide some of the best dental care in Baton Rouge.

 

Is It Too Late for Implants for a Lower Denture?

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After wearing upper and lower dentures for 12 years, nothing worse to help them fit well. My lower denture floats whenever I eat or talk. It’s embarrassing and distracting to hear it click when I talk. I am thinking about implants for the dentures. Is it too late for me to get Implant dentures after 12 years of wearing removable ones? Thank you. Marty from Westlake, OH

 

Marty,

Thank you for contacting Dr. Brooksher’s office. After seeing many patients who are frustrated with dentures and want dental implants, we understand your frustrations.

Is It too Late for Implant Dentures?

Even if you have worn removable dentures for many years, it is still possible to get implant dentures. Although you have experienced bone shrinkage, which naturally occurs in areas of missing teeth, a skilled implant dentist may recommend ridge augmentation first.

What Is Ridge Augmentation?

Ridge augmentation is a surgical procedure to replace missing bone. Your implant dentist or oral surgeon will add bone grafting material in areas of bone shrinkage and cover it with a protective material. According to the 2020 article, Ridge Augmentation in Implant Dentistry, you can expect the following healing time after a bone graft:

  • Autogenous (your own) bone: Four to six months
  • Non-autogenous (donor or synthetic) bone: At least twelve months

Why Is Your Lower Denture So Loose?

A lower denture loosens faster than an upper denture because the lower denture rests on your gums and the bone beneath it. As the jawbone shrinks from lack of stimulation from tooth roots, pressure from the denture accelerates bone loss. In contrast, suction from your palate, or the roof of your mouth, helps retain the denture.

What Are Your Implant Denture Options?

Snap-on denture diagram

Snap-on denture

Two to six dental implants can secure a denture. After reviewing your medical and dental histories, a skilled implant dentist will take a 3-D cone-beam CT scan to measure your bone volume. Your oral health and bone quality affect how many implants you need to support a denture. Options may include the following:

  • Snap-on removable denture – Your denture can snap onto two to four dental implants. A snap-on denture is among the most affordable dental implant options.
  • Clip-on removable denture – A denture base can clip onto a bar supported by dental implants.
  • Screw-on fixed denture – A denture will screw your denture onto implants.

We recommend consulting with a dentist who has completed advanced implant training. After an exam and 3-D CT scan, the dentist will explain your options.

 

Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher sponsors this post. Dr. Brooksher is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

Which Implant Dentures Are the Most Affordable?

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I am unhappy with my denture, so I spent the past few weeks researching my options. I am interested in overdentures but would like to know which ones are more affordable. Is it worth going with the least expensive type? I’ve worn complete dentures since 2002, and most people think I am 10 years older than my age. Besides that, my dentures are so loose that I skip most social functions because I can’t enjoy them like I used to. What should I ask for when I have a consultation with a dentist? – Thanks. Gabe from CO

Gabe,

Thank you for your question.

Which Implant Overdentures Are the Most Affordable?

The most affordable implant overdentures are removable and require at least two dental implants to retain your denture. A snap-on denture is a popular option that improves your experience with dentures.

What Is a Snap-On Denture?

Snap-on denture diagram

Snap-on denture

A snap-on denture is a removable implant denture. The denture base has two to four grooves that snap onto dental implants. Although you can get a snap-on denture with just two implants, more implants will increase denture stability.

Snap-On Denture Advantages

You will notice these benefits from your implant-retained denture:

  • Feels more natural
  • Makes it easier to eat and speak with your denture
  • Stimulates your jawbone to prevent further shrinkage

A snap-on denture will outlast and outperform a complete removable denture. A June 2017 article in the Journal of Prosthodontics reviewed 25 studies that compared removable full dentures with implant-retained dentures. Studies show that implant-retained dentures significantly improve chewing function and quality of life.

Snap-On Denture Disadvantages

The disadvantages below compare a snap-on denture to a fixed implant denture:

It does not fit, feel, or function as well as a non-removable denture

  • . You must remove the denture to clean it.
  • You must remove the denture overnight while you sleep.

How Much Is a Snap-On Denture?

The average cost of one snap-on denture (upper or lower) with two dental implants in the U.S. is $10,000 – $15,000, but each patient’s case is unique. Your cost will depend on your needs, which may include several factors, such as these:

  • Your dentist’s fees for x-rays and a 3-D CT scan, which is essential for accurate implant placement
  • Bone grafting procedure
  • Bone grafting materials
  • Dental implant surgery
  • Dental implant parts
  • Wear temporary dentures while your implants heal
  • Custom denture
  • Follow-up visits

Also, costs vary depending on where you live in the U.S., how many implants you receive, and the denture you choose.

Fixed Implant Overdentures

Fixed implant overdentures are non-removable implant-supported dentures and cost more than implant-retained dentures. You will wear a temporary denture while your jawbone and implants fuse. Afterward, your dentist will screw the denture onto the implants.

Schedule Consultations for Snap-On Dentures

We recommend scheduling consultations with at least two dentists with post-graduate training in dental implants.

  • Bring a list of questions you want to ask.
  • Ask each dentist about their experience with cases like yours.
  • Ask to see patients’ before-and-after pictures of snap-on dentures.

Compare your options and the costs, but please do not let cost alone be the reason for selecting a dentist. You deserve high-quality implant dentures regardless of which option you choose.

Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher sponsors this post. Dr. Brooksher is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

My snap-on denture bone graft failed

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I agreed to two dental implants for a lower snap-on denture. My dentist said my jawbone had shrunk from having all my teeth missing for 15 years, so he needed to do bone grafting. We waited two months, and then during my second follow-up appointment, my dentist said that the bone graft failed. I am disappointed that I must start the process all over. I know my dentist has placed implants for at least a hundred patients. Although I didn’t think about it before, I wonder if he is not is good with bone grafting. Although I like my dentist, I hate the thought of another bone graft failure. I don’t know what to ask you, but I’m nervous and want some insight into the issue. – Thank you. Isaac from TN

Hello, Isaac,

Thank you for contacting our office.

We understand your concern and hesitation. Although many dentists have implant training and place implants frequently, fewer dentists have lots of bone grafting experience.

It is good that your dentist is upfront with you and did not try to place your implants anyway. Any implant denture—including a snap-on denture—requires good bone support. Otherwise, both the graft and implant will fail.

What to Do After Bone Graft Failure

Diagram of a snap-on denture. The denture is hovering above the jawbone that has two dental implants in it.

Healthy bone grafting will help secure your affordable implant denture

If you have experienced bone graft failure and are hesitant about letting your dentist try again, consider these options:

  • Talk to your dentist about your concerns – It may be easier to decide what to do if you ask your dentist how much bone grafting experience he has acquired over the years. You can also ask if your dentist knows what caused the bone grafting failure and what he will to do prevent it from recurring.
  • Ask for a referral – You can ask your dentist to refer you to a periodontist (implant specialist) or an oral surgeon for grafting and implant placement.
  • Get a second opinion – You can get a second opinion from a dentist with advanced implantology training who regularly performs bone grafting procedures.

Each time you experience bone graft failure, you must wait for the grafting sites to heal before another attempt. Weigh the pros and cons and do what you think is best for your oral health. Best wishes for a resolution and being able to enjoy your new implant denture.

Steven Brooksher, DDS is a cosmetic and implant dentist in Baton Rouge, LA. Read about his credentials and visit his smile gallery. It will help you determine what to look for in a dentist in your area.

 

Are All-on-4 Implants Really My Only Option?

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Last month, I had a consultation with a dentist about stabilizing my dentures. They don’t have to be perfectly stable, but I do not want them sliding around anymore. The dentist recommends all on 4 implants. When he told me the cost, I told him that is way out of my budget, and I will have to explore my options. He quickly said that there are no other options because I’ve worn dentures too long. He said that his rate is among the best I will find. Is it possible that all on 4 could be the only way a patient could qualify for implant dentures? If so, I will forget about getting implants and accept my dentures as they are. Thank you. – Brett from TN

Brett,

Thank you for contacting our office.

You mentioned that you had a consultation with this dentist. Based on your description, it seems that you did not have an exam, CT scan, or any x-ray for the dentist to decide that All-on-4 implants are your only option. And that is puzzling. Be careful with this dentist.

If you have worn dentures for many years, you have some jawbone shrinkage. But an implant dentist can build up the bone with grafting to ensure the implants have plenty of support.

What Type of Implant Dentures Can You Receive?

The American Academy of Implant Dentistry clearly explains the types of dental implants available. But a dentist can define your treatment options only after these steps:

  • Reviewing your medical and dental histories
  • Examining your teeth and gums
  • Reviewing a CT scan

Affordable Implant Dentures

Diagram of snap-on dentures. Dental implants are in the lower jawbone, and a denture with attachments in the base is hovering above the gumline.

A snap-on denture is an affordable alternative to All-on-4

A snap-on denture or a denture retained with mini-implants is more affordable than the All-on-4 technique. Those affordable options use as few as two dental implants. Although more implants will improve a denture’s stability, your treatment costs will increase.

And not every patient qualifies for All-on-4. We recommend that you look for an implant dentist with extensive post-graduate training and schedule an appointment for an exam. The dentist will explain your treatment options. A conscientious dentist will discuss the pros and cons of each option but will not insist that you receive a specific type of treatment—or any treatment at all.

 

Steven Brooksher, DDS, is a  Baton Rouge cosmetic  dentist and Fellow of International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Read about his credentials and visit his smile gallery. It will help you determine what to look for in a dentist in your area.