Implants vs Dentures for a More Confident Smile

There are many reasons that people lose their teeth as they age, but the one unifying factor is that each person looks for a solution with no hassle. For some people, they have found that dentures are a great option, but for others, they are a constant pain. Implants have become a major procedure for fixing teeth problems. If you are looking for the best option for your situation, let us help you decide.

Dentures

The most common dental solution for massive tooth loss through most of the 1900s was dentures. These are fake teeth that you can take out and put back in. The biggest problems with dentures for patients have been

• Fit: Fitting dentures for a mouth takes careful measurements to make sure they fit the gums right. If the dentures are too big, they are hard to wear and if they are too small, they pinch and cause pain. The fit is more difficult to get and can change over time.
• Comfort: Comfort becomes an issue with the fit of the dentures, but also how securely they are placed. From strips to creams, there are many products on the market to help dentures stay secure.
• Confidence: When the fit and comfort are not precise, dentures make chewing and talking difficult. It’s hard to feel confident when you’re constantly in pain or worried your teeth could fall out of your mouth during any conversation.

Dentures are less expensive and the only option for some patients. Too much bone loss, smoking, and a few other characteristics can disqualify patients because they don’t have enough bone and healthy tissue for dental implants, which require a titanium screw to be fused for the tooth to attach. While dentures have made a lot of improvements in the last ten years, conventional denture options include implants to improve the device.

Implants

Dental implants are available in different forms; a single tooth, a row of several teeth, or a full arch on the top or bottom. The titanium screw is placed in one appointment and then left to heal for a few months. Once healing is complete, you come back into the office and have the tooth or teeth placed. One screw is used per tooth when done as a single space, but with multiple teeth, less screws are used.

The main benefits of implants are that they are

• Permanent
• Secure
• Feel and look real

Implants are great replacements and don’t require any extra special care. Instead of removing teeth to brush, floss, and soak the dentures, you just brush and floss like you would regular teeth. The lack of messy and insecure adhesives mean you can feel more confident in every situation. Many patients appreciate not having to worry about going out to eat with family, limiting themselves to softer foods, or stressing about having conversations.

If you have missing teeth and want to know your options, we’d love to talk to you. We pride ourselves on creating beautiful smiles our patients can feel confident showing. Make an appointment today to see what we can do for you.