Benefits of Dental Implants vs. Dentures
Deciding on the right tooth replacement option can be a difficult decision. Dentures have been a reliable and safe replacement option for centuries. But dental implants are quickly supplanting dentures as a more attractive alternative. Why? Let’s take a look at the benefits implants offer vis-à-vis dentures.
Dentures and Dental Implants: What’s the Difference?
Dentures are removable prosthetic devices that replace missing or damaged teeth and surrounding tissues of the oral cavity.“Complete” dentures replace the full arc of natural teeth. “Partial” dentures replace only some missing teeth. Dentures are custom-made from impressions taken of your mouth.
Dental implants are metal fixtures that an oral surgeon places in your jawbone. Closely resembling a screw, the surgeon mounts custom-made artificial teeth (“crowns”) atop them once they’re in place. Implants and crowns can replace all or individual missing teeth.
The Advantage of Dental Implants
While dentures are still the best option for some, implants offer several significant benefits, including:
Comfort. Because implants are secured to the jaw, they bond with the bone and eventually become a part of it. This firm attachment means that the replacement teeth won’t slip, move around or fit poorly, as some dentures do. For most people, implants feel like natural teeth.
Naturalness. Implants are closer in appearance and usage to natural teeth. As they are located in your jawbone, they help preserve your normal facial structure, unlike dentures, which might change the shape of your face. You can also care for them much as you would natural teeth, unlike dentures which you remove for cleaning and use special creams and adhesives.
Chewing ability. Implants also allow for near-normal chewing capacity, and you can feel free to eat most of your favorite foods. Dentures often make certain foods, such as crusty bread, fresh fruits, meat, and peanut butter, challenging to eat.
Longevity. Dental implants can last 30-40 years with proper care. Dentures usually break or become loose within eight years or less.
If you have any questions about your eligibility for dental implants, speak with your dentist or oral surgeon.
