Dental Implants vs. Dentures
Both dentures and dental implants are popular options to replace missing teeth, but which is the right choice for you?
Dentures Overview
Dentures are usually a partial or full set of false teeth and are made from porcelain, acrylic, or cast metal. They fit into the space where teeth have been lost to give patients a full smile. To make dentures, dentists will create impressions of your teeth and jaw. The molds are sent away to technicians to create dentures that are fitted to a patient’s mouth.
New dentures may feel awkward for a few weeks until the patient becomes accustomed to them. They may also feel loose, but that will change as the muscles in the face and cheeks adapt to help keep the dentures in place. It’s not uncommon for patients to experience minor irritation, soreness, or increased saliva production during the first few weeks. As the mouth becomes accustomed to the denture, any issues should go away on their own.
Even with dentures, patients should still be brushing their gums, tongue, and roof of mouth regularly with a soft bristled brush. This helps stimulate circulation in gum tissue and remove any built-up plaque.
Dental Implants Overview
A dental implant is a metal post surgically affixed to a patient’s jawbone which acts as a tooth root for replacement teeth. Once fused with the jawbone, they provide a stable foundation for artificial teeth and if cared for, can last a lifetime.
The stability of dental implants allows patients to speak and eat normally without having to worry about their teeth slipping and sliding around in their mouth. The secure fit allows for individual crowns, dentures, and bridges to feel more natural than conventional dentures or bridges. In fact, dental implants are designed to feel identical to real teeth.
Implants are a great option for people who are missing one or more teeth. When individual teeth are missing, a single crown can be fitted atop the implant. If a patient has two or more teeth, a denture or bridge can be affixed to the implant, replacing multiple teeth with only a few implants.
Dental implant surgery is a minimally invasive procedure with very few, if any, side effects. While the jawbone takes a few months to fully secure itself to the implant, patients are largely unaware of the natural process that is occurring under their gums.
Dentures or Dental Implant?
For overall gum and jaw health, dental implants are a superior choice to dentures. Implants are stable and secure inside the mouth, unlike dentures which tend to slip and slide around. Implants are the best option next to healthy and natural teeth since because they mimic the form and function of natural teeth.
Because they are strong and stable, they look and feel natural even through functions such as talking or chewing. Dental implants are built to last, and with proper care, may provide a lifelong solution for patients with missing teeth.
While implants may be more expensive up front, they are well worth it in the long run. They provide a patient with a natural looking and feeling replacement set of teeth, while stimulating the jawbone to prevent against deterioration and changing facial shape. Dentures, while less expensive than implants, are also less effective and can worsen the dental health of a patient over time. They require meticulous cleaning, feel fake and unnatural, require creams or adhesives to stay in place, and can worsen jawbone deterioration due to lack of stimulation.
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