Alpha Dental Group
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Quick Reference
Do I Need Overdentures?
An overdenture fits over your teeth after they have been specially prepared. From the outside, an overdenture looks the same as a regular denture. But under the denture, there is a difference. Some of your natural teeth are retained, and the overdenture fits over those teeth.
The bone in the jaw begins to recede when teeth are extracted. If some of the roots of the teeth are left in place, bone loss is slowed significantly. This can result in a more stable denture.
To prepare the teeth that support an overdenture, first your dentist will remove the portion of teeth above the gum line. Next, root canal treatment is performed on these teeth, and they may then be covered with small metal caps.
To begin the process of creating the overdenture, impressions of the mouth are taken. From these impressions, precise working models of the mouth are made, upon which the dentures are constructed. You will then select the best color and shape for your new teeth. When the denture is ready, teeth that won't be kept are extracted and the denture is placed.
Some temporary problems are a normal part of new denture adjustment. At first, the denture may tip when chewing. There may be an increase in salivation, and the overdenture may seem bulky and cause gagging. The tongue may feel crowded, and you might have some difficulty speaking. But as you adjust to the new denture, these problems will go away.