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Home » Hybrid Dentures: Benefits, Drawbacks, and FAQs

Hybrid Dentures: Benefits, Drawbacks, and FAQs

What Are Hybrid Dentures Made Of?

Hybrid dentures are a set of permanent dentures attached to your implants on the jawbone. They are commonly known as fixed implant dentures or fixed hybrid dentures. They replace the entire upper or lower set of teeth through implants.

Hybrid dentures can be made from different materials, including the following:

Titanium and Acrylic

This is the cheapest option. This option uses acrylic, like traditional dentures, but titanium posts support it. Acrylic can chip easily but can also be repaired by your dentist.

Smart Composite

This option combines acrylic and zirconia, making the dentures stronger than the acrylic ones. They are less likely to chip than acrylic and more lightweight than zirconia.

They can easily be polished and repaired.

Researchers also talk about Nano-filled Composite (NFC) material-reinforced hybrid dentures. These dentures are fabricated by CAD/CAM technique.

Ceramic nanoparticles and non-woven polymer fibers may also be incorporated with the acrylic substance to make stronger hybrid composite dentures.

Full Zirconia

Zirconia is the most attractive and durable material for any dental procedure. Zirconia dentures are just as good as natural teeth for biting and chewing. They offer a more comfortable feeling inside the mouth.

Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM)

PFM dentures are the most expensive but versatile out of the four options. They resemble natural teeth and last for decades without repair. However, they’re more likely to chip in comparison to zirconia dentures.

PFM replacement teeth are attached using only four implants.

They are an excellent tooth replacement option. If you want comfortable and natural-looking dentures, you may choose porcelain fused to metal (PFM).

How Are Hybrid Dentures Different From Traditional Dentures?

Traditional dentures are custom-made to fit your gums. They need denture adhesives or suction to hold your new teeth in place.

They also cover the full mouth, including the roof palette.

You must remove and clean them frequently before replacing them every few years.

Hybrid dentures fix your smile through implants and surgery. They are a prosthesis for patients who have lost a full set of teeth.

You may also choose them if you lack the bone density required for individual implants.

They are more secure and fixed because your dentist will attach them to your implants. You wouldn’t have to worry about your new teeth slipping out of your mouth.

Hybrid Implant Dentures vs. Regular Dental Implants

Both teeth replacement options involve dental implants to attach the dentures to the jawbone.

Bone density is an important factor in this process.

Regular dentures on implants require individual implants to replace each tooth. They are the best for you if you have lost only a few teeth.

On the other hand, hybrid dentures require only four dental implants on each jaw to secure your dentures. Thus they are called all-on-4. The process is faster, cheaper, and more comfortable for you.

What Are the Benefits of Hybrid Dentures?

1. Hybrid Dentures are as Good as Natural Teeth

Unlike traditional dentures, hybrid dentures use the existing bone and implant roots for the denture.

They give your mouth a natural look that allows optimal eating and speaking.

They’re also the most comfortable dentures available because they don’t come with the negatives of conventional dentures. You’ll be able to smile confidently with these dentures.

2. They are Stable and Durable Replacements

Hybrid dentures provide stability and durability thanks to their implants. The implants keep them in place.

3. Maintaining Hybrid Dentures is Easy

Unlike your regular dentures, hybrid dentures are implanted in the jawbone. You don’t need any adhesives to secure them. In addition, you don’t take them off at the end of the day.

The best way to maintain fixed hybrid dentures is to brush and floss them like your natural teeth.

Hybrid dentures have been linked to the following advantages:

  • Better esthetics
  • Superior taste perception
  • Unhindered phonetics

What Are the Drawbacks of Hybrid Dentures?

Hybrid dentures also have a few drawbacks that you need to consider before having the treatment procedure.

1. You need a dentist to remove them from your mouth

Hybrid dentures are a permanent solution to missing teeth. Only a dental professional can take them out of your mouth.

Food can get stuck around your dentures and gums if you don’t take care of your dentures properly. That may result in gum disease and other oral health hazards.

2. Cost and Appointments

Hybrid dentures are not cheap. You will have to spend over two thousand dollars on each implant. You need 4 to 6 implants on each jaw to secure your dentures. The total cost for a full mouth restoration will rise to thousands of dollars.

Besides, you will have to find an oral surgeon for implant surgery. Your dentist may not be an oral surgeon. That means more money going out of your pocket.

They can be expensive and considered a luxury, especially if you must undergo other dental treatments before getting them. However, you can see if your dentist offers any financing options.

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3. Failed Dental Implants

While it’s uncommon, you can experience problems with your entire jaw after the dental implant surgery. The surgery may fail. It is like many other dental treatments. There is always a chance that the treatment won’t work.

You need a highly-trained and trusted dental professional to conduct your surgical procedures. Learn as much as you can about your surgeon before committing to receive their service.

4. Food Impaction

Besides the above three disadvantages, hybrid dentures have also been linked to the following:

  • Food impaction
  • Speech problems
  • Difficulties in dealing with hygiene

They have also been connected to the following complications:

  • Complications during surgery
  • Implant loss
  • Loss of bone structure
  • Periimplantitis
  • Occasional loss of stability and anchorage.

A Patient’s Perspective

It is not very often that we hear from dental patients receiving the treatments. A 50-year-old female patient reported the following to her dentist following her treatment:

“I was exceedingly happy with the overall outcome of the treatment. I initially had some difficulty in removing the denture out, but I learned it soon. There are no pain and clicking sounds in my ears after the chewing efficiency improved with time, and I do not need more implants, as initially recommended by the dentists. Maintaining oral hygiene with this denture is easy, and I think the dentures will serve me for a long time.”

For reference, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Hybrid Dentures Comfortable to Wear?

Yes, they’re comfortable to wear, especially compared to traditional dentures. The end product is supposed to feel similar to your natural teeth, making it fit comfortably within your mouth.

How Long Do Hybrid Dentures Last?

With proper care, hybrid dentures can last up to 20 years. They are considered the more effective option than traditional dentures, which have a 5-8 years lifespan. Visit your dentist regularly to maintain proper dental hygiene.

Conclusion

Hybrid implant dentures are a great solution to replace a full set of missing teeth. They are strong, secure, and also easy to maintain. Besides, they also last longer.

Schedule a consultation with your dentist to learn if they are the right option for your mouth.

References:

Qamheya, A. et al. Full Mouth Oral Rehabilitation by Maxillary Implant Supported Hybrid Denture Employing a Fiber Reinforced Material Instead of Conventional PMMA. Case Reports in Dentistry. Vol. 2015. Article ID 841745.

Egilmez, F. et al. Implant-supported hybrid prosthesis: Conventional treatment method for borderline cases. European Journal of Dentistry. 2015 Jul-Sep; 9(3): 442–448.

Dheerajha, R. et al. Rehabilitation of completely edentulous patients with hybrid dentures. Case Report 8(1);19-24.

Alfarsi, M. et al. Four narrow dental implants and conventionally cast bar-supported removable hybrid acrylic complete denture as a therapeutic modality for terminal dentition. Case Reports. 11 November 2020.

Elmadani, A. Hybrid denture acrylic composites with nanozirconia and electrospun polystyrene fibers. Plos One. December 18, 2019.

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