Hybrid Denture vs. Regular Denture for Upper Back Teeth?

I am 60 years old and I just had five upper tooth extractions. I am looking to have a hybrid denture, instead of a regular denture. Is this possible for upper teeth and is the hybrid better than the regular upper denture?

2 Comments on Hybrid Denture vs. Regular Denture for Upper Back Teeth?

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Dr. David E. Azar
11/10/2015
First off if you are only missing five teeth and still have the rest of your upper teeth then a hybrid denture is probably not for you. In that case you have 2 likely solutions, either IMPLANT SUPPORTED FIXED BRIDGES or a REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURE. If, on the other hand, you are now missing ALL of your upper teeth then a HYBRID DENTURE or a “REGULAR” REMOVABLE FULL DENTURE are both options. “Hybrid dentures” are implant supported prostheses used when ALL the teeth in a jaw are missing. They can be used in either the upper or lower jaw. Hybrid dentures are connected to several implants and cannot be removed by the patient. Regular dentures, either PARTIAL or FULL, can be removed by the patient. Hybrids require several implants to support them, while “regular dentures” just rest on the gums and/or natural teeth. Generally prostheses that cannot be removed, like hybrid dentures, are more comfortable, and most patients prefer them, as they are more like having their own teeth. David E. Azar, DDS, FICOI, MgIDE
Dr. Cheryl Goren Robins
11/10/2015
I am unclear as to the actual question that you are asking and so I will define my answers in the hope that they will make sense to you. I will call a “Regular Denture” a denture that is similar to one that your grandparents may have worn. This type of denture is worn by people who have lost all of their teeth in one jaw (either the upper jaw or the lower jaw). It does not involve the presence of any dental implants and is not very stable over time. An “Implant Overdenture” is a denture that also replaces teeth in a jaw that no longer has any of its own teeth, however, the “overdenture” is a “regular denture” that has clips or snaps to give it more stability. The clips or snaps connect to implants that have been placed into the patient’s jaw bone. I am assuming that your “Hybrid Denture” is also known as a “Fixed Hybrid Implant Bridge.” It is more like having your own teeth because it does not come in and out of your mouth like the “regular denture” or the “overdenture.” More implants are usually needed, and the teeth that get placed on top of them are made with a combination of white for the teeth and pink for the missing gum and bone tissue. If you have enough remaining bone, then a final option is an “Implant Retained Fixed Bridge.” This is a bridge that is similar to bridges that are placed on natural teeth, but when the teeth are missing, dental implants are used to hold the bridge. An implant retained fixed bridge can be made for just a few teeth, or for an entire jaw. Hybrid bridges are usually seen when restoring an entire jaw. As for whether implants can be placed in the upper jaw, the answer is “Yes.” As to which option is best, it all depends on a variety of factors such as how much bone to support implants remains, where do the teeth need to be placed, do you show alot of gum tissue when you smile, cost, your medical health, etc. A well trained dentist should be better able to answer these questions for you as they are patient dependent considerations.

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