If you are transitioning from failing teeth to dental implants or if you are a denture wearer but are not happy with the fit and feel of your dentures, you probably want to know your options for fixed dentures on dental implants. These type of restorations are teeth that can function like natural teeth and greatly improve your quality of life. But which material is best for you and your situation?
Fixed-removable option
Many patients who are currently wearing dentures and have been for years, enjoy the fact that they can remove their teeth at night to clean them and make sure their oral health is optimal. For these patients who have grown used to removing something from their mouth, the “fixed-removable” option with implant dentures is a good one. They stay in your mouth when you want them to, but they also can be removed when you want them to come out for cleaning or maintenance.
1. Overdenture
The over denture option is when a few implants are placed in one or both jaws and a traditional denture is made over the top of them that will snap on to the implants. The denture is made out of acrylic and denture teeth and sometimes can incorporate a metal bar as a support structure.
Pros:
- Easy to remove for cleaning
- Less expensive option
- Less implants placed in jaw
- Easier to hide esthetic problems such as severe bone and tissue loss
Cons:
- Removable which some patients don’t like
- Can chip over time like natural teeth
- Acrylic can stain if abrasives are used to clean
- Maintenance is required twice per year to replace the attachments connected to the implants
- May still move or rock a little bit in the mouth
2.Deutsch Removable Bridge
The Deutsch removable bridge is a great option for patients who enjoy removing their teeth to clean. It uses high technology to get a very snug fit to the implants in the jaw. Patients say that it is like having fixed teeth until you want to take them out. The teeth will never come out until you want them to. Like the overdenture option, it is made of acrylic with a reinforced metal bar for support.
Pros:
- Easy to remove for cleaning
- Fewer implants can be placed in the jaw
- Easier to hide esthetic problems such as severe bone and tissue loss
- Less maintenance compared to other fixed-removable options
- Great for patients who have poorly placed implants from a past history
Cons:
- Removable which some patients don’t like
- Can chip over time like natural teeth
- Acrylic can stain if abrasives are used to clean
- More costly due to higher lab bills
Fixed Implant Options
1. Hybrid Restoration
The hybrid restoration is the most widely used fixed option around the world. It consists of a metal bar that is wrapped with acrylic and denture teeth. Patients love this option because they have teeth that are fixed and will not come out during chewing or speaking. There is also the option of “teeth in a day” where fixed teeth can be placed in one day after a few planning and data collection appointments.
Pros:
- Fixed option that looks and feels like natural teeth
- Less costly than Zirconia permanent dentures
- Can go from loose fitting dentures or failing teeth to fixed beautiful teeth in one day! (After proper diagnosis and planning stages)
Cons:
- More difficult to clean than removable options
- Can chip over time like natural teeth
- Acrylic can stain if abrasives are used to clean
- Maintenance is required every 6 months to 1 year to remove and clean the restoration
- More implants need to be placed to retain a fixed restoration (4-6 implants per jaw)
2. Full Contour Zirconia
Full Contour Zirconia is a great option for patients who want something fixed in their mouth that is very strong! Zirconia is a white material which means that no metal is required in the restoration. Zirconia will not stain and will not chip like acrylic options.
Pros:
- Fixed option that looks and feels like natural teeth
- Will not stain over time
- Can go from loose fitting dentures or failing teeth to fixed beautiful teeth in one day! (After proper diagnosis and planning stages)
- Will not chip or break
Cons:
- More difficult to clean than removable options
- Maintenance is required every 6 months to 1 year to remove and clean the restoration
- More implants need to be placed to retain a fixed restoration (4-6 implants per jaw)
- More costly due to materials and lab fees
- Zirconia restorations lack translucency like natural teeth so the restoration can look opaque if not done by a skilled dental technician
3. Full Contour Zirconia with Custom Porcelain work
Full Contour Zirconia bridges with Custom porcelain work are the Ferarri of dental implant restorations. They require a highly skilled laboratory technician as part of the team. This restoration is for those patients that need some of the strongest materials AND the best esthetics.
Pros:
- Fixed option that looks and feels like natural teeth
- Will not stain over time
- Can go from loose fitting dentures or failing teeth to fixed beautiful teeth in one day! (After proper diagnosis and planning stages)
- Less likely to chip or break
- Highly esthetic realistic teeth and gums
Cons:
- More difficult to clean
- Maintenance is required every 6 months to 1 year to remove and clean the restoration
- More implants need to be placed to retain a fixed restoration (4-6 implants per jaw)
- More costly due to materials and lab fees
Conclusion
Whether you have failing teeth and know you want to get dental implants or you are a denture wearer that is unhappy or embarrassed with your situation, there are always options that can help you chew, smile, and enjoy life. With the material choices shown above, you and your implant dentist can decide which material is best for you and your specific situation.
I have an upper removable denture and contemplating permanent solution. I am afraid of pain during the procedure. Will I be anesthetized or just novacain injections? I want to be put under.
Hi Lora,
You can definitely be put to sleep so that you aren’t aware of anything going on. This is what a lot of my patients prefer to do during larger procedures like permanent dentures. Once you are put to sleep, we also will use local anesthetic (“novacaine”) to make sure you are nice and comfortable.
Dr. Kyle Stanley
Dr Stanley I just had zirconia hybrid upper implant on titanium posts about a month ago put in now I’ve got terrible burning in my mouth tongue lips pallet Horrible my dentist says it’s not from implant or posts but why the burning ? when I was wearing my temp acrylic denture while bone was growing around my T Posts I didn’t have any burning now since I’ve got my final zorcinia teeth in my mouth is in fire what could it be then ? Help I don’t want to eat the 20k I’ve spent she’s willing to give me back my money but I really want perm implants what do suggest thanks Tori
Hi Tori,
I’m sorry to hear that you are having a problem. It sounds like you have burning mouth syndrome which could be linked to a number of things. Since your implants are titanium and your restoration are zirconia, I don’t think you are having a reaction to the titanium. I’ve had patients that have had true acrylic allergy before but since you had a temporary restoration for many things this also seems unlikely. Burning mouth syndrome can be due to recent dental work or invasion of tongue space or pressure on muscles in the mouth. Postmenopausal women are more likely to have this. The true way of testing if it has something to do with the new zirconia restorations would be to remove them and place you back in temporaries and see if it goes away. It sounds like you are in good hands with a dentist who is compassionate and understanding and your implants are stable so I would say to try the temporaries again to see if the problem goes away. I wish you the best!
-Dr. Kyle Stanley
Currently, my dentist claims he needs to rebuild all of my lower crowns and bridges to raise my overbite, along with my bridges. This is very costly around $30,000. Speaking to another dentist in Costa Rica they want to add two implants which are my molars. The implants are (Zirconia non-metal dental implants) for half the cost and rebuild my crowns also. Not sure which direction I should go
Hello Kevin,
I think it is always best to try and keep your natural teeth whenever possible unless they are badly diseased, causing a problem with your bite, or unable to be restored. If the question is to have bridges or implants you have to weigh the pros and cons. Do not always go for the cheaper of treatments simply because of the cost. Please do your research and go to the doctor that makes you feel comfortable and you feel is charging a fair price for the expertise, time, and materials chosen. I wish you luck with your treatment.
Dr. Stanley