Hybrid Dentures
Hybrid Dentures
If you've lost most or all of your teeth due to tooth decay or gum disease, then regular removable dentures are not the only solution. Implants can help you by supporting a more secure and stable prosthetic replacement for teeth. Implant placement can be a great option for denture stabilization. A thorough individual evaluation of your medical history, study models of your teeth and x-rays will help a dentist determine the options available for you. Among these, a special type of implant-supported prosthesis is a "hybrid denture," referred to as a hybrid because it combines the advantages of a fixed replacement with those of a removable denture. It is especially suitable for those who've lost a considerable amount of jawbone over time due to missing teeth.
A hybrid denture requires placing four or more implants in the jaw, depending on the jawbone size and shape. After the implants heal, they are connected to abutments (connectors) which can be screwed into a metal framework. The hybrid denture is fixed and does not require removal everyday like regular dentures because it is screw retained into the implants.
If you're a denture wearer who has always wanted fixed teeth but are not ready or a candidate for multiple individual implants for each missing tooth, hybrid dentures could be the answer for you.
Unlike removable dentures, hybrid dentures do not feel bulky. For the upper denture this can enable your restorative dentist to design a denture that leaves the roof of the mouth open. While this feels more natural, it also lets you enjoy the taste of your food more. Hybrid dentures also are much more stable and do not shift against the jaw ridge. They are firmly anchored into the implants. This stability also avoids the occasional soreness which can happen beneath dentures when foods like seeds get trapped below. Patients with hybrid dentures very often enjoy a wider variety of food more comfortably as compared to their old removable dentures.
As with any dental replacement, good oral hygiene is crucial to long term success and a hybrid denture is made to leave a space between the denture and the jawbone to enable you to clean easily underneath the denture without the need to remove it. Two times a year, it is recommended to visit your dentist for visits, to enable your hybrid denture be unscrewed and a professional cleaning done. Like your body, your hybrid denture would be subject to constant wear and tear and occasionally the need for adjustments or new components, screws and denture base may arise, and it is advisable to make all suggested recall dental visits to best enjoy its benefits!