Should I choose Dental Implants or Dentures?
If you are missing an entire row of teeth, you will need to choose between a traditional denture and an implant secured denture to replace those teeth. Having teeth is vital to living a normal, healthy life so this decision is important. While both options will aid you in this, there are many things that must be considered when choosing between the two. Greenway Dental Care is a dentist office located in Fayetteville, AR that offers both solutions for patients who are missing one or both rows of teeth.
Traditional Dentures
Dentures have been used for many years as a replacement for missing teeth. A denture is basically a row of fake teeth that are fused to base. A base is typically made of acrylic that is similar in color to gum tissue. This will help it blend in once placed in your mouth. A denture will rest on the gums and rely on suction to hold it in place. They are removable and should be taken out nightly for cleaning and to give your gums a rest.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are fixtures that are placed in the jaw bone and used to secure a denture when a row of teeth is missing. This fixture is made of titanium, an extremely strong metal that is capable of fusing with human bone. They come in many shapes and sizes so they can be implanted in various locations along with arch. Up to eight implants can be used to secure a denture.
Dental Implants vs Dentures
Cost
The cost of a traditional denture is much less compared to denture implants. The difference can be up to tens of thousands of dollars.
Treatment time
Traditional dentures can designed, fabricated, and fitted in less than a month. The process will only involve a few trips to our Fayetteville, AR dentist office. A dental implant secured denture on the other hand can take up to year to complete. The process involves many dental visits, several months of healing time, and at least one surgery.
Fit
Dentures can feel very bulky in your mouth. The fake teeth are fused to a base that will take some time to get used to. You will have to adjust how you eat, speak, laugh, and smile. A denture implant however is very similar to natural teeth. It does not require the use of a bulky base. It will simply replace the teeth and a small amount of gum tissue so the fake teeth blend in naturally. They are very comfortable and have a high compliance rate with patients.
Function
Denture implants will allow you to chew many foods that must be avoided for denture wearers. Since they are held in place with implants that have essentially become one with the bone, they are very stable and durable. Dentures are only held in place with suction or adhesive therefore are not stable enough to operate like natural teeth. Many hard to chew foods have to be avoided which includes many healthy foods.
Stability
Simply put, implant secured dentures will not shift once they are put in place on the implants. Traditional dentures, on the other hand are known to shift and slip around in the mouth. This can make eating, speaking, and smiling difficult. It can even lead to embarrassing situations when the denture falls out.
Bone Loss
When teeth go missing, so do the roots that prevent bone deterioration in the jaw. Traditional denture wearers will slowly suffer from bone loss over the years which change their facial appearance. These changes can make a person appear older than they really are. When dental implants are used to secure a denture, they will actually replace the teeth roots. This provides stimulation for the jaw bone and prevents bone deterioration.
Learn More About Traditional Dentures and Denture Implants
Book a consultation today with Dr. Richard Keech at Greenway Dental Care in Fayetteville, AR to discuss the pros and cons of both dentures and dental implants. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.