When a patient is missing all of their teeth in the upper or lower jaw, they may benefit from a bar-retained overdenture which uses dental implants for support. This is an excellent treatment option which can provide amazing results.
Overdentures help to restore both the appearance and function of missing teeth. The overdenture effectively replaces the missing teeth and provides patients with improved function needed for eating and speaking. A key benefit of implant supported overdentures is that the give patients incredible stability which is combined with the convenience of being able to remove their dentures for cleaning and maintenance. The procedure will require patients to make multiple visits to the dentist to design the overdenture and place the implants.
Bar retained overdentures are a removable device which contains prosthetic teeth. The overdenture is mounted on a base created from pink resin create and fits perfectly over the gums. It contains clips on the base of the device which securely attach to metal bar which is connected to the dental implants. The implants act as artificial roots for the missing teeth and are surgically placed in the jaw bone.
Dental implants give patients an incredibly strong foundation for the dentures which gives them the ability to eat and speak without any issues. The implants also work to prevent shrinkage and resorption of the surrounding bone. The jaw bone relies on the continuous stimulation it received from chewing. When there is no stimulation, it can result in the loss of bone.
During the initial step of the process, the dentist will take an impression of the area being treated. The impression will be used to create a temporary set of dentures. Once the temporary dentures are ready, the dentist will take diagnostic images of the area. These images are used to create a strategic plan for the dental implant placement.
The next step of the process involves the placement of the dental implants. The dentist will use a special healing caps over the implant during the healing period. During the follow up visits, the dentist will check on how the area is healing. Once the area has completely healed, patients can procedure to the next phase of treatment. The temporary dentures will be worn during this time to ensure the patient is not without their teeth.
Once the implants are healed, the doctor will obtain new impressions of the mouth. The dentist will use impressions to create the support bar and final overdenture.
The dentist will evaluate the device to ensure it fits properly and to ensure there is good bite alignment of the bar and overdenture. In order to achieve a good fit and the desired results, multiple appointments for fittings may be required. Once all necessary adjustments are made, the support bar will be fixed into place. The overdenture will then be attached to the bar.
After all adjustments are complete, the bar retained overdenture is complete. The end result is a removable restoration which is designed for the individual patient. The goal of the overdenture is to replace the missing natural teeth, improve the patient’s appearance, and restoring the function of the teeth to allow for eating or speaking.