Snap-On or Fixed Implant Dentures? How We Restore Your Smile
If you're replacing a full arch of teeth with dental implants, you'll hear about two designs: a snap-on overdenture you can take out, and fixed teeth that stay in. Dr. Thomas R. Lambert, DMD, MAGD, restores both at our Bethlehem dental office. This guide explains how the two differ, who does which part of the work, and what to ask at your consultation, so you walk in already knowing your options.
What's the difference between snap-on and fixed implant dentures?
A snap-on implant overdenture clips onto a few implants and comes out when you want it to. A fixed implant denture is screwed onto the implants and stays in your mouth. Both use implants to hold a full upper or lower arch of teeth steady. The ADA lists implant-supported overdentures among the denture options patients can choose from ( ADA MouthHealthy on dentures), so this isn't an unusual question to bring to a consultation.
Dental implants are posts placed in the jawbone that anchor replacement teeth, and when more than one tooth is being replaced, a bridge or denture is made to fit your mouth and your implants ( ADA MouthHealthy on implants). You can read more about dental implants at Always About Smiles, including single and multiple tooth implants.
- Snap-on overdenture: supported by your gums and the implants together. It snaps in and out, so you can take it out to clean it.
- Fixed implant denture: screwed in over the implants. It stays in place day and night.
With the snap-on design, the denture fits over the implants with "special little plastic snap-ons so the denture comes in and out," as Dr. Lambert describes it. At our office, snap-on overdentures are about as common as fixed implant work. Dr. Lambert's view of the snap-on route: "It's a nice viable option."
Who places the implants, and who restores them?
The implants are placed by the oral surgery team we work with, and Dr. Lambert designs and delivers the teeth that attach to them. The teeth are the part you see, chew with and smile with every day, and that's the part he builds.
After the implants go in, the bone grows around them during a healing period that can take up to several months ( ADA MouthHealthy). Once you've healed, Dr. Lambert fits your overdenture or your fixed teeth. It's his favorite moment in the process. In his words: "when the implant denture fits, that's when I get my reward."
Which implant denture is easier to keep clean?
A snap-on overdenture is usually easier to keep clean, because you take it out and clean it in your hands. Yet it offers the stability, retention and security of staying in place when you need it: for speaking, chewing, laughing, or just smiling when you're with friends or family.
The ADA recommends rinsing a denture before brushing it, brushing it with a soft-bristled brush and a non-abrasive cleanser, and storing it in water when you're not wearing it so it doesn't warp ( ADA MouthHealthy on dentures).
Fixed implant teeth stay in your mouth, so you care for them in place. If you're weighing the two, ask us to walk you through the daily routine for each before you decide.
Why do Bethlehem patients choose Dr. Lambert for implant dentures?
Patients choose Always About Smiles because Dr. Lambert explains every option before anything starts, and the dentist who plans your new teeth is the one who delivers them. He puts it simply: "I don't sell dentistry. I educate the patient. I think there's nothing stronger than an educated patient."
Dr. Lambert holds Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry, and our practice has cared for local families since 1988.
How do I know which implant denture is right for me?
The right choice depends on your mouth, your health, and whether you'd rather take your teeth out to clean them or keep them in place. A consultation with Dr. Lambert is how you find out which design fits you.
Your health history matters here. Chronic illnesses such as diabetes can interfere with healing after implant surgery, and tobacco use can slow healing too ( ADA MouthHealthy), so tell us about both at your first visit.
At that visit, Dr. Lambert reviews your dental and medical history, does an oral cancer screening, and takes any x-rays you need. Then he talks you through both designs. If you already have an implant plan from another office, you can bring your x-rays and records for a complimentary second opinion, and he'll review everything and answer your questions directly.
Ready to talk through snap-on and fixed implant dentures? Call us at (610) 868-9928 or request an appointment online. We answer the phone Monday through Thursday, 8:30 to 5:00, and you'll find us at 2299 Brodhead Road, Suite E, in Bethlehem, PA.
Published by Always About Smiles.
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