Ultra Suction Denture System

Flap ran across this new denture system that has recently received FDA approval. Read about it here and here:

A New Zealand based company, Biomedics NZ Limited reports that it has obtained FDA approval for its Ultra Suctionâ„¢, complete denture stabilizer system.

Biomedics NZ reports that Ultra Suctionâ„¢ system comprises a tiny unidirectional device that is imbedded into a denture plate. As the denture wearer bites firmly, the air trapped between the gum and the denture is expelled through the device, via two air passages. The lower pressure obtained beneath the denture tends to exert a pull and helps secure the denture against the gum. Properly fitted dentures can increase wearing comfort, the ability to chew and therefore impact on the overall health of the patient.

An interesting concept, but in the USA, osseointegrated implants have a far greater impact and aid in the retention of jaw bone as well.

Perhaps this may help patients in the NHS oriented U.K and its colonial states where tooth loss is frequently more profound and accepted at earlier ages.

2 Comments

Raoul Bramis DDS

May 23, 2005 at 5:39 pm

Dental Implants are an ideal solution for patients who can afford them.

Unfortnately though, their success rate is not 100% and there is no money back gurantee if they fail,neither are they suitable for all patients because of health or financial problems.

In the USA: "34.6 million Americans 'were living in poverty last year.' And those figures are above the 2001 rates – sometimes substantially. For instance, the increase in the numbers in poverty was 1.7m, or 4.9%, while the number of families with someone who went hungry increased by 8.6% over 2001, which was in itself an incease of 13% over the figure for 2000." source: http://funferal.org/mt-archive/000412.html
Suggesting that; "Perhaps this may help patients in the NHS oriented U.K and its colonial states where tooth loss is frequently more profound and accepted at earlier ages." is insulting to the Millions of American citizens who cannot afford routine dentristry, let alone oseointegrated implants, not to mention the UK, which by the way does not have any 'colonial states' but does have members of an independent commonwealth of countries.

Don't you think it's better for more people to be able to find a solution for their problem dentures, rather than just a small minority who can afford $50,000 implants?

Raoul Bramis DDS

Flap

May 23, 2005 at 9:56 pm

Dear Raoul,

I think you are confusing statistics about American poverty, society and reality.

Since you are from New Zealand my question to you is have you ever been to the USA? And where do you get the $50,000.00 for dental implants? This fee is way too high. How about $1,200.00-$2,000 per site.

Also, the success rate of osseointegrated implants is in the middle to high 90th percentile – few fail (and if they do they can be replaced. Moreover, many more Americans are keeping all or the majority of their teeth – unlike the National Health Service oriented United Kingdom.

And, yes, New Zealand, like South Africa is a former colony of the United Kingdom as was the USA.

Dr, it is much better to prevent edentulism in the first place and when it does occur use the latest in dental technology to restore function and aesthetics.

Will this product help patients.

Perhaps.

But, keeping your teeth or restoring with dental implants is preferred and better.

Raoul Bramis DDS

May 23, 2005 at 5:39 pm

Dental Implants are an ideal solution for patients who can afford them.

Unfortnately though, their success rate is not 100% and there is no money back gurantee if they fail,neither are they suitable for all patients because of health or financial problems.

In the USA: "34.6 million Americans 'were living in poverty last year.' And those figures are above the 2001 rates – sometimes substantially. For instance, the increase in the numbers in poverty was 1.7m, or 4.9%, while the number of families with someone who went hungry increased by 8.6% over 2001, which was in itself an incease of 13% over the figure for 2000." source: http://funferal.org/mt-archive/000412.html
Suggesting that; "Perhaps this may help patients in the NHS oriented U.K and its colonial states where tooth loss is frequently more profound and accepted at earlier ages." is insulting to the Millions of American citizens who cannot afford routine dentristry, let alone oseointegrated implants, not to mention the UK, which by the way does not have any 'colonial states' but does have members of an independent commonwealth of countries.

Don't you think it's better for more people to be able to find a solution for their problem dentures, rather than just a small minority who can afford $50,000 implants?

Raoul Bramis DDS
Flap

May 23, 2005 at 9:56 pm

Dear Raoul,

I think you are confusing statistics about American poverty, society and reality.

Since you are from New Zealand my question to you is have you ever been to the USA? And where do you get the $50,000.00 for dental implants? This fee is way too high. How about $1,200.00-$2,000 per site.

Also, the success rate of osseointegrated implants is in the middle to high 90th percentile – few fail (and if they do they can be replaced. Moreover, many more Americans are keeping all or the majority of their teeth – unlike the National Health Service oriented United Kingdom.

And, yes, New Zealand, like South Africa is a former colony of the United Kingdom as was the USA.

Dr, it is much better to prevent edentulism in the first place and when it does occur use the latest in dental technology to restore function and aesthetics.

Will this product help patients.

Perhaps.

But, keeping your teeth or restoring with dental implants is preferred and better.