Comparing Dental Implants & Dentures
In the past, people only had one option to replace all or almost all of their missing teeth: dentures. Dentists use full dentures to replace an entire row of teeth, and partial dentures to replace a few missing teeth.
Thankfully, a new option is now available. Dental implants are now the top choice to replace missing or damaged teeth! Cosmetic & Advanced Dentistry in Baltimore offers dentures and dental implants to our patients in the Baltimore, MD area. Our team of dental professionals complete the surgical and restorative phases of your dental implant procedure in our Owings Mills dental practice. Dr. Andrey Doroshenko has extensive training and experience in Prosthodontics. He offers exceptional results for tooth replacement with implants.
If you have an entire row of missing teeth, making the right decision on what to replace them with might be overwhelming. Below, we have laid out a comparison of the two options to help you make an informed decision about which solution is best for you.
What are dental implants?
A dental implant is a titanium post that an oral surgeon places into your jawbone. The surgeon will place about four to eight implants to support a denture, depending on the location and number of teeth missing. After allowing the implants to heal and fuse with the bone, about three to six months, your dentist will secure the new denture to the implant posts. This method of replacing missing teeth has many benefits when compared to traditional dentures, such as:
- Improved chewing ability
- Improved speech
- Jawbone support
- Reduce facial sagging
- Easier eating
- Reduced risk for oral cancer
- Improved sense of taste
What is a denture?
A denture is a set of false teeth linked together and traditionally the only option for people missing most or all of their teeth. They are fabricated in a dental lab using impressions of your mouth taken by your dentist in Baltimore. Dentures are made up of a base that is typically made of acrylic resin and metal that will rest on your gums.
The teeth portion is attached to the base and typically made from various types of resin or porcelain but can differ depending on quality, color, and size.
Dental Implants vs Dentures
The Cost
The main reason most people shy away from choosing dental implants is the cost. Dentures cost significantly less than dental implants in the beginning. The thing that most people do not realize is that dentures require a lot of maintenance and you will eventually need to replace them. That cost adds up over time! While dental implants do cost more upfront, they hold much better value over time.
Jawbone
Once a tooth goes missing, that loss of the tooth root will immediately cause the bone to begin to deteriorate. Dental implants replace the tooth root and stimulates the jaw bone to prevent bone loss. They are currently the only replacement option that does this. Bone loss in your jaw is what makes a person’s face look sunken and appear much older in age. Implants will help maintain your facial structure and youthful appearance.
Stability
Even though dentures have come a long way in terms of stability, they will still most likely begin to shift and slip around in your mouth at some point. However, dental implants do not shift and move around since the dentist surgically secures the dental implants to the jaw bone. Dental implants will not slip around in your mouth or fall out when you are eating or speaking!
Eating
Dental implants function just like your natural teeth. They deliver a 100% eating function that allows you to eat a well-balanced, healthy diet. Dentures give you a lower chewing ability. You will need to avoid certain hard or sticky foods while wearing traditional dentures.
The Process
With dentures, your treatment time will take up to three weeks. This is a significantly shorter time frame versus the four to eight months it will take to get dental implants. Implants require oral surgery and a long healing period.
Appearance
Dentures tend to look bulky and noticeable. Implants are the closest thing to your real teeth. They will hold your facial structure as well as provide proper support for your cheeks and lips.
Dental implants are clearly the better option to replace missing teeth due to all the benefits and the effects they will have on your quality of life. Teeth implants can be costly, but the positives mostly outweigh the negatives. Implants last for over a decade and look just like natural teeth.
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