OVERDENTURES - PART 2

Overdentures emphasizes on preservation of natural tooth/teeth in order to reduce rate of resorption, preserves bone, preserves proprioception and enhance retention and stability of prosthesis. Factors which are critical in patient selection for overdentures are - i). possibility of fixed or removable prosthesis, ii). periodontal status of abutment teeth, III). caries, iv). endodontic therapy, v). age of the patient, vi). location of the abutment, vii). cost of treatment. Types of Overdentures designs - Non coping overdentures, Telescopic overdentures and Attachment fixation overdentures. Attachments can be extracoronal and intracoronal. Factors which influence attachment selection - i). a mount of interocclusal space, ii). desired crown- root ratio, iii). type of coping, iv). number of teeth present, v). amount of bone support, vi). location of Abutments, vii). location of stronger abutment, viii). maintenance problems, ix). cost, x). tooth or tooth- tissue supported overdentures.