This article is sponsored by Queen Anne Hilltop Dental
If you were to ask a dentist what procedure they perform that is their least successful terms of patient satisfaction you will get a universal and quick response: dentures. That is if the dentist makes them at all (many just send these patients away).
It’s a procedure often doomed to failure: a dentist can do everything right but cannot make dentures feel like teeth to the patient. The patients, of course, are also frustrated. The dentures move around, causing sore spots, difficulties in talking and eating. Many patients use “gooey” denture adhesives and still are unsatisfied. Some don’t even wear them at all. It’s a no win for everyone. Luckily, we live in a modern age and a modern solution has been successful for many people: “Snap in” Dentures. In under two hours a patient can have “mini” implants placed in their jaw that lock into their existing denture. It’s much like a button on your jacket: the dentures snaps in by pushing on it and snaps out by pulling on it.
The ease of the procedure is what surprises most patients. Patients do not need to be sedated. They receive local numbing around the area. The implants are placed without pain. The denture is adjusted to work with the implants. Because of the ease, the cost for the procedure is surprisingly reasonable.
The patient walks out with a vastly improved experience. Most are eating foods the same day that they hadn’t eaten for years. Few require any pain medication afterwards. It’s also worth noting that this procedure is generally non-invasive and can be done at nearly any age, and any health condition. The mini implants are smaller than traditional implants and can be used in many patients who don’t have enough jaw bone for traditional implants.
In the upper mouth the Snap in denture gives the dentist the ability to remove the palatal seal from the denture. This allows the patient to speak without their tongue hitting the denture. It also allows the patient to taste foods they couldn’t before (much of our taste actually comes from our palate).
Mini implants can also be added to partial dentures, improving function as well. They also allow the dentist to remove the metal clasps that look unsightly. The results speak for themselves. A recent scientific survey by 3M Espe had patients rate their dentures before and after the procedure on a scale of 1 -10. “Retention” scores jumped from 1.7 to 9.6. “Comfort” went from 2.2 to 9.4 and “Chewing” improved from 2.3 to 9.3. The bottom line is patients were very pleased and it significantly changed their lives.
Snap in dentures are a modern day solution for an age old problem. They are an elegant approach and are relatively easy and pain free. It’s no wonder both patients AND dentists are happy about that. Contact a dentist who performs the procedure for more information
Article written by Dr. Max Bloeser, a dentist in Seattle, who places both regular and mini implants. He has received additional training in both procedures. His office is Queen Anne Hilltop Dental (www.qahilltop.com) and can be reached at 206.295.2853.
Disclaimer: This procedure cannot be done universally and may not be possible for all patients or have the same results as mentioned above. Please see a dentist that performs the procedure for further information.
