Loose or painful teeth are usually caused by advanced periodontal disease. If many of your teeth have become loose or painful, it may be too late for us to savethem. In such a situation, removing some of your teeth and replacing them with an overdenture may be the best way to avoid infection and restore health to your mouth.

What is an overdenture?

From the outside, an overdenture looks just like a regular denture.
With a regular denture, when all of your teeth are removed, it causes the bone in your jaw to recede.

However, when we place an overdenture, we are able to retain some of your natural teeth, using them to anchor the denture. By leaving some of the roots of the teeth in place, we can significantly lessen bone loss and provide you with a more stable denture.

The Procedure

To prepare the teeth that will support your overdenture, we first remove the portions of the teeth that extend above the gumline. Next, we perform root canal treatment on these teeth to remove any trace of infection. We may also cover them with small metal caps for added protection.

To begin the process of making an overdenture, we take impressions and use them to make precise working models of your mouth; the denture is made on these models. We'll work with you to select the best color and shape for your new teeth.

Adjusting your overdenture

Some temporary problems are a normal part of adjusting to new dentures. At first, it may seem bulky or tip when you chew. You may notice increased salivary flow. Your tongue may feel crowded, and you may gag a little or have difficulty speaking. Remember, these problems are a normal part of the adjustment process, and they are temporary. As you get used to your new denture, you'll be eating and speaking with confidence, and you'll be on your way to restored oral health.

Alternatives to Overdentures

Some of the alternatives to an overdenture are:

-An immediate denture
-Implants
-Partial dentures
-Delaying treatment

Delaying Treatment

Unless you're in a lot of pain, you might decide to leave your teeth as they are, at least for now. But delaying treatment can be a risky alternative. If your teeth and gums are infected, they will never heal on their own. They'll just keep getting worse. Infections of the teeth and gums can lead to further tooth loss and can drag down your body's immune system, affecting your entire body.

Choosing Overdentures

Whenever teeth are removed, the bone in your jaw begins to recede. If we leave some of the roots of the teeth in place and place an overdenture, we can slow bone loss significantly and give you a more stable denture.