Replace All Upper Teeth
Situation: All Upper Teeth are Missing
- Functional problem chewing
- Esthetic problem with poor upper lip support and wrinkling of face due to loss of face height
- Continued bone loss and accelerated bone loss due to missing teeth
Treatment Options
Removable Complete Upper Denture
Advantages:
- Economical
- Replaces all of the lost teeth
- Tolerated by most people
Disadvantages:
- Becomes loose and falls down
- Need to use material to glue into place
- These materials may cause changes in tissue and are difficult to handel
- Low bite force with tendency to dislodge dentures
- Cannot taste food because taste buds in roof of mouth are covered
- Speech problems
- Gag reflex
- May fracture
- Not very stable
Dental Implant Supported Removable OverDenture
Advantages:
- Denture is stabilized with the use of dental implants
- Denture is removable for cleansing
- Stable denture supports profile and shape of face
- Better bite force
- Better speech with stable denture
- Feel better with stable denture that does not move around
Disadvantages:
- Denture may fracture
- A dental implant may fail
- Need for minor surgery to place the dental implants
- Sometimes the clips inside the denture come out and need to be replaced
Dental Implant Supported Fixed Denture
Advantages
- Fixed like real teeth
- Can be removed by dentist if there is a need
- Lasts a long time
- Predictable
- Best stability and retention
- Bone is stabilized by having dental implants
Disadvantages:
- Hygiene is a little more involved
- Prosthesis may fracture
- A dental implant may fail
- Need for minor surgery to do site preparation including bone grafting
