Overdentures

When it is not possible to restore a patients dentition in a fixed manner we turn to the use of overdentures or over partial dentures depending on the number of teeth missing for a very strong and satisfactory result. A minimum of 2 impalnts is required in the lower jaw and four implants in the upper jaw. Of course the more implants you are able to place the stronger the final result. Dentistry is and art and a science but Dr Kirshen has always expresssd the sentiment that a case must be engineered correctly to withstand the strong muscular forces of function especially in patients who clench or grind their teeth.

This is certainly true in implant dentistry and overdentures. The quality of the patient’s bone and the volume available to receive an implant determines the number. Dr Kirshen is always cognizant of a patients financial situation and will endeavour to design a treatment plan that will meet their expectations and achieve the desired result. Locator abutments are used to retain the dentures over the top of the implants. They are cost effective and very retentive to the point where if a patient has some arthritic conditions it can actually be hard to take the denture out of the mouth. We have various levels of retention to handle such situations. In our armementarium we also use bars and locks to help retain overdentures.