Should I Get Dental Implants or Dentures?

Both dental implants and dentures are commonly used to replace missing teeth. But how do you know which option is the right one for you? Dr. Vijay Patel of Claremont Dental Institute discusses both Claremont, CA dental implants and dentures.

About Dentures

Dentures are most commonly used to replace an entire arch of missing teeth. They’re made up of a resin and metal base and teeth that are made of dental ceramic or plastic. Two of the biggest upsides of dentures are that you can get your final restoration faster and they cost less than dental implants up front.

While they cost less upfront, however, you can incur more costs with them in the future. When you’re missing teeth your jawbone starts to deteriorate. Dentures don’t do anything to help with this issue. Their fit will change as the jawbone deteriorates further, leading to gum irritation and pain. To prevent this, they’ll need to be readjusted or replaced.

Dentures give you back around 30-40% of your bite function. You’ll need to remove certain foods from your diet because your dentures aren’t able to chew them. While there have been many advances with dentures over time, they’re still a bit bulky. They don’t feel like natural teeth and it can take you a while to get used to them.

An adhesive is necessary to keep removable dentures in the mouth. They can slip or shift while talking or eating, depending on the circumstances. They also require more maintenance. In addition to needing adhesive, they’ll need to be removed and thoroughly cleaned and soaked at the end of each day.

Why Should I Get Dental Implants?

Dental implants are made up of three parts. First, a titanium post is placed in the jawbone. An abutment is attached to the post so that it connects with the final restoration. The final restoration is usually a dental crown, but implants are also capable of supporting a dental bridge or a fixed denture.

While implants cost more upfront, you shouldn’t have further charges with them in the future. Implants are the only tooth replacement option that also replaces the tooth root. This helps to prevent further jawbone deterioration and can sometimes reverse the impacts. The post fuses with the jawbone, giving implants stability.

Once the posts are placed in the jaw, they’ll take about 3-6 months to fully heal. It’s crucial to respect this process as it’s to fuse with the jawbone. Due to this healing process, you’ll get 100% of your bite function back. You don’t have to eliminate anything from your diet. You also don’t have to worry about adhesive or them slipping around during normal function.

Lastly, you’ll be able to follow a normal oral healthcare routine with implants. They both look and feel like your natural teeth, so you don’t have to get used to them. You’ll be able to simply brush, floss, and visit the dentist as normal.