Snap-On Dentures
Upper “Snap-On” Dentures
Common Problems Experienced with Standard Upper Dentures
• Gagging. This occurs when the palate of the denture extends to, or close to, the uvula at the back of the throat. The uvula is that fleshy part that dangles down when you look in to your mouth with a flashlight, and it is chock full of nerve endings that are extremely sensitive in some people. For the really sensitive ones, even an irritant the size of a hair can trigger severe gagging if it touches the trigger areas adjacent to this site. Since Snap-On Dentures can be made without a palate, this difficulty is reduced or eliminated. They are truly “U-shaped miracle workers” in situations like this.
● Difficulty tasting food. Although the majority of the taste receptors are on the tongue, research has shown that sealing off the palate can reduce the sense of taste significantly. With a certain percentage of the population reporting a more pronounced effect than others, the exact cause is unknown, but may stem from a decrease in saliva production which in turn reduces the number of taste particles reaching the tongue. U-Shaped, Snap-On Dentures remove the palate which eliminates the problem entirely.
Lower “Snap-On” Dentures
“How wonderful! My denture doesn’t slide around any more. Absolutely NO ”Buyers Remorse”!”
• Lower dentures have a much smaller surface area than upper dentures, resulting in less ability for the lower to mechanically adhere to and grip onto the available surface of the ridge.
• The presence of normal amounts of saliva, which can pool under a lower denture and cause sliding due to a hydroplaning effect.
For Those Who Cannot Tolerate Their Lower Denture: At Last, There IS a Solution
If you have adequate bone and good healing potential, the placement of 2 to 4 Implants and a lower “Snap-On” Denture is a great answer to the problems listed above. With a secured, stable denture there’s no more floating, no gagging and no more problems eating or talking. The confidence of knowing your teeth will stay in place until you’re ready to remove them is a total game-changer. Since the placement of Implants is a real surgical procedure, patients must be healthy enough to safely tolerate the surgery and have good healing potential to heal well afterward.
Although this approach costs more than standard dentures, almost universally folks who choose this route say they would do it again because of the increased comfort, stability and function.