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Implant Retained Overdentures
Home » Implant Retained Overdentures

A guide to dental implants for full-mouth tooth replacement: Makeover your smile and life!

Few oral conditions mar the smile’s appearance, like gaps where teeth used to be. Since the structure and health of your teeth are also vital for so many basic functions, tooth loss can have a tremendous, harmful effect on your overall health and well-being. Fortunately, VanderLaan Family Dentistry helps you to regain your confident appearance, comfortable and healthy function, and quality of life. Our team in Byron Center, Michigan, is trained and equipped with advanced technologies to safely and predictably design and place the gold standard in tooth replacement: prosthetics supported by dental implants.

About implant retained overdentures

Dental implants may retain or stabilize one prosthetic tooth, several prosthetic teeth, or a mouthful of replacement teeth (as an upper or lower denture(s)). After all, implants are placed in the jawbone and designed to replace the natural tooth root. Other forms of tooth replacement, such as conventional bridges and dentures, are only intended to replace the visible, white part of the tooth. They do not account for other portions of the tooth. Since the roots hold teeth in place, prosthetics made with implants are generally associated with utmost stability and natural and lasting function. Crowns, bridges, and dentures that are supported by implants also help to stop the destructive process of bone loss (resorption). 

The implants are made from biocompatible materials such as titanium, which means they are designed to join naturally to the surrounding bone. In other words, they become a part of the jaw. In addition to providing a secure foundation for the prosthetic teeth attached to them, dental implants keep the supportive bone in the jaw healthy and strong. The jawbone retains its strength due to its stimulation from the connected teeth. Every time you use your teeth to grind down or mash food, the force from that behavior is transmitted through the teeth to the roots encased in the jaw. To support the bony tissue in the jaw, it is essential to replace teeth quickly after they fall out or are removed. If teeth aren’t replaced promptly, the bone doesn’t have the stimulation it needs, and this tissue eventually deteriorates. Facial tissues no longer have adequate support to lay taut, resulting in saggy loose skin, pronounced folds, and a collapsed or prematurely “aged” appearance to the lower face. Plus, the resorption process hastens problems with chewing, speech, and other basic functions. 

Thanks to modern techniques and technologies, we can place a minimal number of implants to retain a maximal number of teeth! This approach further minimizes the costs, time, and demands on the body associated with treatment. And last but certainly not least, implant-supported dentures do not require ongoing relining, rebasing, adjustments, and replacement associated with conventional dentures. Again, our implant dentures keep the supportive tissues strong and retain their proper shape and fit. 

Such overdentures come in a variety of forms, including: 

  • Dentures that snap on and off of the implants by way of attachments (such as balls or bars connected to the implants)
  • Dentures that are locked or fixed in place to the implants (non-removable)
  • Partials that clip onto implants (for patients with some remaining healthy teeth)

To learn more about options to transform your smile and the rest of you, call (616) 288-2554 to schedule an appointment with our talented dentist, Dr. Matthew VanderLaan.

Dr. Matthew VanderLaan

Dr. Matthew VanderLaan is a highly skilled dentist with over 15 years of experience dedicated to personalized, patient-centered care. An alumnus of East Kentwood High School and the University of Michigan, he earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Having spent three years as a public health dentist, he established VanderLaan Family Dentistry in 2012. 

Dr. VanderLaan has pursued advanced training at the Pankey Institute, Kois Center, Dawson Academy, American Academy of Facial Esthetics, The Schuster Center, and is a Fellow of Implant Pathways. He is also trained in TMJ and pain management. As a member of the American and Michigan Dental Associations and West Michigan District Dental Society, he is committed to excellence and trustworthiness in dentistry.

Within his family practice, Dr. VanderLaan has been a civilian provider for disabled veterans of the United States Armed Forces.  Since 2014, He has partnered with the local VA and has had the pleasure of caring for individuals who have sacrificed their personal well-being for our Nation’s safety.  He considers it one of his greatest honors of being a dentist.

Outside of his dental practice, Dr. VanderLaan is an avid family man.  He enjoys his time with his wife of 17 years, Dana, as well as his four children (Brooke, 16, Jenna 15, AJ 11, and Nora 11).  As a family they enjoy the kid’s sports, music, involvement in their Church and Christian Faith community, and Michigan Football.  They also enjoy traveling and exploring the world together.  

Dana VanderLaan

Dana VanderLaan founded VanderLaan Family Dentistry with her husband, Dr. VanderLaan, in April of 2012.  She is versed in all administrative tasks and acts as the office manager.  Before her over 12 years of experience in the dental field, Dana graduated with a BSW from Saginaw Valley State University and an MSW from the University of Michigan, School of Social Work. Dana is a self starter, and was trained in dentistry completely on the job, and continues to learn new things about running an efficient, patient-centered dental office.

Along with her work at VFD, she is mom to her children (Brooke 16, Jenna 15, AJ 11 and Nora 11), and works tirelessly to make sure all of their needs are met, and devotes her time to being their #1 supporter.  She enjoys her family time, rooting on her kid’s at their various athletic events, school and church activities, traveling, walking and working out, gardening, and spending time at home.