What are Snap-In Dentures?
Snap-In Dentures are exactly what they sound like—they snap in! Instead of using adhesives and suction to keep them in place, Snap-In Dentures easily connect to 2 to 6 dental implants inserted into your jaw. They snap into place with locator abutments that extend off the implants. The dental prosthetics have rubber washers that easily connect and lock when the abutments are pushed into place.
Once the dental appliances snap into place, they won’t go anywhere while you eat, smile, speak, or go about your day. They will feel so secure that once you get used to them, you won’t even think twice about biting into corn on the cob, steak, apples, or anything else that requires careful chewing. At the end of the day, you will carefully remove and let soak overnight like traditional dental prosthetics.
Benefits of Snap-In Dentures
When you get Snap-In Dentures, you can look forward to several benefits:
- More stability
- Easier to eat with
- No speech problems
- Can taste more food
- Prevent bone resorption
- Maintain youthful appearance
- Feels natural
- Improved confidence
- Stronger bite
- All-day comfort
When you get this dental prosthetics, you can say goodbye to all the problems with traditional dental appliances. These benefits can have a huge impact on your overall quality of life.
Am I a Good Candidate?
Most patients are good candidates for Snap-In Dentures. We strongly recommend them to patients who need a tooth replacement solution and those who are unhappy with their current dental replacements. To determine whether or not you’re a good candidate for the procedure, Dr. Strober will conduct a comprehensive dental exam. He will ensure your gums are in good health and see if your jaw has sufficient bone to hold the implants.
If, for any reason, you are not a good candidate, we will present you with treatments that will help you become a good candidate, such as gum disease treatment or a bone graft. We will also recommend alternative options. To find out if Snap-In Dentures are right for you, please contact our dental office at (760) 832-7915 to book a consultation.
Comparing Snap-In and Traditional Dentures
Snap-In Dentures offer many advantages over traditional artificial teeth.
Compared to traditional oral prosthesis, Snap-In Dentures are:
- More secure
- More comfortable
- Better for eating
- Better for speaking
- Healthier for your jaw
Traditional tooth replacements depend on suction between your gums and the denture to hold them in place. This is a relatively weak force, and it depends on your Rancho Mirage dentist achieving an outstanding denture fit. Denture adhesives can help, but traditional tooth replacements aren’t very secure, even at their best. Snap-In Dentures hold tight.
Being secure improves the function of Snap-In Dentures. Part of the force of biting and chewing goes to the implants, which makes them more comfortable. They also aren’t sliding all around your mouth, which can be painful.
Security and directing force into the jawbone make Snap-In Dentures work more like natural teeth. They let you bite and chew more normally and are secure so you can speak clearly.
Dental implants also make Snap-In Dentures better for your jaw. When you lose your teeth, your body removes the jawbone used to support them. Implants play the role of teeth, so your body doesn’t remove all the bone.
Traditional mouth prosthetics have only two advantages over Snap-In Dentures:
- Less expensive
- No surgery required
Traditional oral prosthesis are an affordable tooth replacement option. They are less expensive than Snap-In Dentures. Also, you can get dental prosthetics in Palm Desert without surgery. Snap-In Dentures require minor surgery to place dental implants.
Comparing Snap-In Dentures and the Denture Fountain of Youth®
The Denture Fountain of Youth®, also known as FOY® Dentures, represents a tremendous leap forward regarding denture technology. Utilizing the latest science, FOY® Dentures have a different fitting process from traditional tooth replacements. This helps them achieve a better fit, making them more comfortable and secure than traditional dentures. However, they are similar to traditional prosthetics in other ways.
Compared to FOY® Dentures, Snap-In Dentures are:
- More secure
- Better for eating
- Healthier for your jaw
Although FOY® Dentures achieve a tremendous fit, they still sit on the gums, making them less secure than these removable dentition. Dental implants give Snap-In Dentures a slight edge when it comes to eating. Plus, dental implants stimulate your jawbone to retain more bone.
In terms of speaking, the two types of dental appliances are comparable. FOY® Dentures are secure enough that you shouldn’t experience difficulty speaking, as are Snap-In Dentures.
Compared to this dental appliance, FOY® Dentures offer these benefits:
- More attractive
- More comfortable
- No need for surgery
FOY® Dentures utilize the latest technology and techniques in cosmetic dentistry. They are very attractive. In addition, they can rejuvenate your facial appearance to help you look younger, which Snap-In Dentures can only do to a limited degree. Plus, FOY® Dentures are more comfortable. They balance bite forces wonderfully, while Snap-In Dentures can sometimes pressure the gums. FOY® Dentures don’t use dental implants, so there’s no need for surgery.
However, it’s important to understand that FOY® Dentures can be adapted to snap onto dental implants, allowing them to offer all the benefits of Snap-In Dentures.
Procedure Overview
If you’re a good candidate for Snap-In Dentures and ready to start the procedure, our first step is to place the dental implants. Some patients may only require 2 dental implants to secure the removable dentitions, while others may need up to 6. Dr. Strober will recommend the right number of implants for you to ensure you achieve long-lasting results. Dr. Strober will take a CBCT scan to plan your implant placement. After mapping out your implant placement, he will apply a local anesthetic to the placement site. Once you’re numb, he will surgically insert the implants.
For the next 4 to 6 months, osseointegration will occur. In other words, your jaw bone will grow around the implants to hold them in place. During this time, you will wear a set of temporary artificial teeth. Then, once you’re healed enough, we will take impressions to create your permanent pair of Snap-In Dentures. When they return from the lab, we will show you how to insert and remove them and review care instructions.
Caring For Snap-In Dentures
When you have Snap-In Dentures, you need to take the proper steps to maintain good oral health, prevent implant failure, and help your tooth replacements last as long as possible. Here are some care tips that will help:
Insertion
By properly inserting your Snap-In Dentures, you can prevent them from becoming warped, breaking, or wearing out prematurely. To insert the Snap-In Dentures, carefully place them in your mouth and wiggle it back and forth until you feel the rubber washers align with the dental implants. Then, carefully push the appliance into place along the arch. You should hear a snap when the two pieces engage correctly. To ensure they’re secure, give them a gentle tug. If anything feels off, it means they aren’t placed properly.
We encourage you not to pop the dental prosthetics in your mouth and bite down once you find the right position. This can lead to warping and may damage the denture—especially because the denture is made of acrylic, which isn’t durable if you’re too forceful.
Cleaning Instructions
Keeping your prosthetics and implants clean is one of the best ways to prevent bad breath and gum disease and help them last as long as possible. To clean them, remove and brush them with a denture brush and unscented antibacterial soap and water at the end of the day. Make sure to gently scrub the rubber washers too.
Once you’re done cleaning, place them in a cup of water overnight. Then, gently brush your gums and tongue using a soft-bristle toothbrush and toothpaste to remove any remaining bacteria from your mouth. Using a water flosser around the implant site is also important to keep the area clean. This will help keep your breath fresh and your gum disease-free. In the morning, brush your gums and tongue again before placing your oral prosthesis back in your mouth.
In addition to daily cleaning, we recommend letting your dental appliances soak overnight in a denture-cleaning solution once or twice weekly. This will help remove any remaining bacteria you might have missed when brushing them.
Maintenance
Snap-In Dentures aren’t a set-it-and-forget-it type of procedure. They will require maintenance and adjustments throughout the year to ensure they function properly. We will need to replace the rubber o-rings every few months and professionally clean the prosthetics. We will also check your dental implants to ensure they are healthy and functioning properly. Dr. Strober will inform you how frequently you should visit our office for maintenance.
Book a Consultation For Snap-In Dentures in Rancho Mirage Today
If you’re interested in potentially replacing your missing teeth with Snap-In Dentures in Rancho Mirage, Dr. Strober will answer all your questions and let you know if you’re a good candidate for the procedure. Please contact Country Club Dentistry to book an appointment by calling (760) 832-7915 today.
