For patients who are missing one or both arches of teeth, more and more dentists are recommending dental implants as the best option to restore smiles. Fuller Dental in Burlington, NC, offers customized solutions to their patients who are missing all of their teeth.
Traditional, removable dentures and teeth implants both offer plenty of pros and cons that should be considered when deciding which treatment option will work best for you. While both options will restore your smile, denture implants offer many more benefits to enhance your comfort and quality of life.
One of our highly trained dentists at Fuller Dental will examine your mouth and oral health to determine if you are a candidate for implants.
Dental Implants vs. Dentures
Listed below are the pros and cons of dental implants vs. dentures to help you decide which option is best for you.
Dental Implants
Pros
- The dentist will surgically insert the implants into the jaw bone, creating a fixed, permanent base for the dental restoration.
- Implant rods are made of titanium, a metal that is well-accepted by the human body. The rods will fuse with the surrounding bone, creating a durable anchor for the restoration.
- There are little to no eating restrictions with denture implants.
- The implants not only support a denture, but they also act as tooth roots. This will preserve the jaw bone and prevent bone loss.
- Denture implants function, feel, and look like natural teeth. They are the next best thing to your real teeth and offer a better quality of life overall.
- They can last a lifetime if you care for your restorations properly and practice good oral hygiene.
Cons
- Will cost a lot more money to fabricate and place. The process involves at least one surgery and more materials.
- The entire implant process will take at least five months to complete. If you need treatment before implant surgery, the process will take longer.
Dentures
Pros
- Dentures will cost significantly less to fabricate and place than dental implants.
- Fabricating the dentures will only take about four visits and three to six weeks.
Cons
- Dentures are not as stable as implants. They can move around in your mouth or even fall out while speaking.
- You must avoid certain foods while wearing dentures because they only offer a 30-40% normal chewing function.
- Dentures are bulky, and some people feel uncomfortable because they occupy a lot of space in their mouths. Most people will be able to notice you are wearing them.
- For some people, the material they are made out of is uncomfortable.
- Getting used to how they feel and function in your mouth will probably take time.
- The jaw bone will slowly deteriorate over time because the dentures simply rest the gums, providing little stimulation for the bone.
- They require adhesive to stay in place for some people.
- Your gums and jaw structure will change with age. Because of this, you will need to re-align, re-base, and eventually replace your denture.
Many patients who switched from removable dentures to dental implants have experienced these life-changing benefits. Despite denture implants costing more and requiring a more extensive treatment process, they are the next best option for natural teeth.
To learn more, you can schedule an appointment online or call our Burlington, NC dentist office at (336) 290-7401.