Dentures That Do Not Cover the Upper Palate
Palateless dentures, also called palate-free dentures, involve prosthetics supported by devices like dental implants to provide patients with a better quality of life.
For example, implant-supported overdentures not only replace missing teeth and restore oral function and design, but they feature an open palate design, unlike traditional dentures, which cover the roof of the mouth and rely on suction to stay in place.
These special palateless dentures allow patients to feel more comfortable and confident with a restoration that feels natural.
These innovative dentures, supported by dental implants, provide better stability, retention, and chewing efficiency. Costs for this type of treatment begin at £7,000.
Better comfort and fewer embarrassing moments
One of the primary advantages of palateless dentures is the improved comfort they provide patients compared to traditional dentures.
These palateless dentures do not need to cover the palate, reducing the bulky discomfort often associated with common prostheses.
Patients across the board report a more natural sensation, leading to better taste perception, comfort, and improved speech.
Plus, they prevent embarrassing moments like dentures slipping out of place or coming loose.
Simply put, they look better
Palateless dentures are designed to closely resemble natural teeth and gums, giving patients a restored appearance and resulting in more confidence when smiling, speaking, and socialising. The open palate design with no visible plate coverage looks more realistic and avoids the stigma and inconvenience of traditional dentures.
Enhanced taste and sensation, plus better chewing
Palateless dentures allow for greater contact between the tongue and the palate, which can enhance your meal experience again with enhanced taste perception.
Traditional dentures, which cover the palate, interfere with the ability to fully taste and enjoy food, but this is long forgotten with palateless dentures, which allow patients to appreciate the flavours and textures of their favourite foods fully.
Not only this but the stability and retention provided by the dental implants means that patients can chew their food with a greater bite force and efficiency than they’re used to. This means that patients can comfortably eat a wider variety of tough or crunchy foods without fearing denture movement or discomfort.
Restored and confident speech
In addition to better eating, palateless dentures improve speech clarity and articulation compared to traditional dentures.
The open palate allows for better tongue movement and positioning, facilitating clearer speech. This means that patients can expect fewer speech difficulties and make fewer adjustments when wearing palateless dentures.
Better stability and retention
Dental implants provide a solid, stable foundation for the prosthesis as they’re surgically implanted into the jawbone. Patients can enjoy enhanced stability, preventing the denture from shifting, slippage, or dislodgement when speaking or chewing. Thus, patients can feel more confident about the fit.
Stronger oral and bone health
Dental implants are the only missing tooth restoration that supports and helps preserve the underlying bone and gum tissue by stimulating natural bone growth and preventing bone resorption.
Patients can avoid facial collapse and premature ageing associated with long-term denture wear. Palateless dentures also distribute the chewing forces more evenly across the jawbone, reducing the risk of bone depletion and helping patients maintain a strong and healthy oral foundation.