Whether you’ve lost one or several teeth, you should think about replacing them immediately to avoid serious oral complications that result from tooth loss. Fortunately, there are two main tooth replacement options designed to help you restore your youthful smile: dental implants and dentures. In this article, you’ll learn more about these two tooth replacement options, including their pros and cons.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are the small, titanium posts (screws) placed within your jawbone beneath your gum line to act as natural roots of your teeth. This type of tooth replacement is a surgical procedure that involves drilling your jawbone to insert the screws. The screws are then covered with dental crowns that resemble your natural teeth.
There are three main types of dental implants: a single dental implant, an implant-supported bridge, and an implant-retain denture. A single dental implant is an ideal choice when you are replacing one or two teeth, while an implant-supported bridge is suitable for replacing several teeth that are adjacent to each other. An implant-retain denture is perfect for replacing all your teeth.
Pros and Cons of Dental Implants
Pros
- Dental implants can last forever
- Implants resemble your natural teeth, thus restoring your natural smile
- Dental implants are the most affordable and cost-effective tooth replacement option
- Implants allow you to replace as many lost teeth as you need
Cons
- The process of replacing missing teeth with dental implants can be long and tedious, especially when you are replacing all your teeth
- The initial cost of getting dental implants can be higher than other teeth replacement options
- Dental implants will only work successfully if you have enough bone mass in your jawbone to support them
- Dental crowns can wear out over time
What Are Dentures?
Dentures are removable artificial teeth designed to replace missing teeth and adjacent tissue. There are two main types of dentures: partial dentures and full dentures. Partial dentures are suitable for replacing several missing teeth, while full dentures replace all your teeth. Unlike dental implants, dentures don’t require a surgical procedure to fix. The only procedure involved is the extraction of any remaining pieces of teeth and designing the dentures to ensure they match your jaw.
Pros and Cons of Dentures
Pros
- Dentures are aesthetically pleasing because they replace the entire row
- Dentures will work perfectly even if your jawbone is weak or receded
- Dentures are easy to maintain because they require a quick rinse after every meal
- Dentures are affordable and cost-effective
Cons
- Dentures can easily become loose or make a clicking noise when wearing or removing them
- They require several appointments because the process of getting dentures involves numerous procedures like extracting remaining teeth, molding dentures, and fitting them
- Dentures will eventually wear out and require a replacement
