SNAP-IN DENTURES
LET'S GET YOU SNAPPED IN!
Snap-in dentures are a tremendous upgrade to traditional dentures.
Whether you already have dentures and want them to stay in better, or still have most of your natural teeth and want to learn more, this page will help give you a better understanding of how "snap-in" dentures work.
WHAT IS A SNAP IN DENTURE?
A snap-in denture uses dental implants to secure your denture in your mouth. Unlike traditional (non-implant) dentures which are tough to keep in place (even with lots of denture glue), snap-in dentures are much more stable and don't require the messy glue.
While traditional dentures typically look nice and are the most cost-effective way to replace bad or missing teeth, they can leave a lot to be desired in terms of overall function, stability, and chewing ability. Snap-in dentures improve you ability to chew, speak, and use your teeth the way you want, and to eat the foods you have missed for so long.
SNAP IN DENTURE TIMELINE
Your new patient appointment
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During your initial consultation, your first stop will be at our imaging suite, where we will take any necessary X-rays.
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One of our lovely assistants will then bring you to one of our consultation rooms to determine what your goals are for your smile and work to better understand your story. At this point, we can also answer any questions you may have about any part of the process.
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Next, you will meet Dr. Rod. As a team, with you included in the decision-making process, we will determine some treatment options that are ideal to your budget and situation. It is one of our key principles at Texoma Dentures & Implants that no patient is the same. We each have different budgets and unique situations, and for that reason we make a serious effort to customize our treatment plans to you.
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Once we have determined some options, and explained the process for getting you there, we will provide you with the cost of your customized treatment options. If you have insurance and accurately provided us with your insurance information ahead of time, we will also be able to give you an estimate of how much your insurance will cover.
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Once all of your questions are answered, the next step is getting you scheduled for your big day.
Your big day
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On this day, you will usually come in the morning to design your smile with Dr. Rod. At this time, we will take some impressions, and you and Dr. Rod will discuss your new smile. Together with our highly-trained lab team, we will design your new smile. If you have pictures of what your teeth used to look like, or what you would like them to look like, please bring them! We will also choose the shade of your teeth and gums to make it fully custom to you!
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After we're done, your prescriptions are digitally sent to your pharmacy, and you will have a break for a few hours while we are making your new teeth in our lab. We ask that you pick up your prescriptions during this break and bring them all back with you.
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Later that same day, you will come back (with all of your prescriptions picked up) for your procedure. Once we are done, your dentures will go in immediately afterwards, and we will review post-operative instructions with you and your driver.
On the first night, we ask that you try your best to wear your new teeth all night. The main purpose is to control any swelling, so that your denture will fit as well as it can afterwards, and also to protect your gums as you start to heal.
The next day
Dr. Rod will normally see you the day after your procedure, (or on Monday if your extractions were on Friday), for a follow-up. It is not uncommon to have some sore spots from the denture that need to be adjusted. It is important to understand that healing is a process, and it doesn't happen overnight. Patients that follow Dr. Rod's instructions are often surprised to experience less pain than they expected, and one of the most common phrases we hear is "I thought it was going to be much worse."
Softliners (during your healing period)
It takes approximately 5-6 months for your gums to completely heal. During your healing process, your gums and bone are adapting, and as they settle in, it can cause your denture to not fit as well. For that reason, every immediate denture includes a series of three soft-cushioned liners, or softliners, that are placed along the inside of your denture during your healing process to help fill any gaps and help your denture be as comfortable and fit as well as it possibly can until your healing is complete. The first soft liner is placed at approximately 2 weeks, the next is 6 weeks later, and the last is 8 weeks after that.
Second Procedure
After 5-6 months of healing, Dr. Rod will expose your implants and place the small "buttons" (abutments) on top of your implants. The gums will heal around them before the final Snap-In dentures are made.
Final Reline (Usually 2 weeks later)
Once your gums are completely healed, we take a brand new impression of your mouth, and completely reline your denture to fit your new snaps. This appointment is a two-part appointment, and your dentures will be ready to snap-in the same afternoon! This is also when your palate will be removed from your upper snap-in denture!