The Advantages of Dental Implants Over Dentures

Losing one or more teeth can be distressing, affecting your mouth’s functionality and overall appearance. Fortunately, advances in dental technology provide effective solutions for replacing missing teeth. Two of the most famous options are dental implants and traditional dentures. Both methods aim to restore a patient’s smile and ensure the ability to chew food safely, but they differ in terms of design, procedure, and long-term benefits.

However, dental implants have several advantages that set them apart from the competition. That is why the following overview of the advantages of dental implants over dentures would be informative for every reader.

What are Dental Implants?

Compared to dentures, dental implants offer a superior approach to managing teeth loss.
Dental implants can be described as small titanium ‘root form’ screws that are fixed in the jawbone by a periodontist or an oral surgeon to cure missing or failing teeth. Once the bone has healed, your general dentist or a specialist in these procedures will place crowns on top of the implants.

Dental implants provide a more permanent and reliable solution for tooth replacement, offering a secure foundation for dental crowns or bridges that closely mimic natural teeth in appearance and function. Unlike removable partial or complete dentures, implants deliver significantly higher retention, ensuring greater stability and support. This stability improves the ability to chew and speak comfortably and helps maintain jawbone structure, preventing the bone loss often associated with tooth loss.

What are Dentures?

A denture is a removable device that replaces missing teeth and the surrounding tissues. It is crafted to restore functionality and aesthetics while being easy to remove for cleaning and maintenance. Dentures are broadly categorized into two groups: full dentures, which replace all the teeth in an arch, and partial dentures, which are used when some natural teeth remain and act as anchors for the prosthesis.

Who Can Get a Dental Implant?

Dental implants are not as straightforward as people might think, and not everyone can get dental implants. Examples include obesity, smoking, chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and radiation therapy on the neck area, among others. These individuals need a detailed personal evaluation before one can recommend a dental implant to them. Thus, one has to see the dentist and find out whether an implant is a solution to the possibilities.

What Makes Dental Implants Better Than Dentures?

1. Natural Look and Feel
One of the greatest benefits is that dental implants resemble natural teeth more than any other prosthetic treatment. While dentures are just placed on the patient’s gum, dental implants are inserted in the patient’s jawbone. This integration with the bone guarantees an excellent anchorage bed for replacement teeth. Therefore, dental implants appear like real teeth, making them comfortable to chew, bite, and overall comfort.

2. Long-Term Durability
Dentures require occasional adjustments, relining, or replacement as they may wear out or become loose due to changes in the jaw’s shape. While dentures are compensating prostheses, dental implants are supposed to be the definitive substitute. Dental implants are designed for durability. With proper care and maintenance, they can last a lifetime.

3. Speech Clarity
Occasionally, dentures will cause slurring in speech or mumbling, while Dental Implants are permanently anchored and provide for natural, clear speech without the possibility of the dentures moving.

4. Maintenance of Health Jaws
When teeth are lost, they begin to see the jawbone gradually shrinking after some time because the bone is not stimulated. This bone resorption can lead to significant changes in the shape of the jaw, often resulting in dentures no longer fitting properly. With implant-supported teeth, the tooth roots are replaced and stimulate the bone beneath it, thus strengthening it. This aids in keeping up the facial contours and avoids the hallowed look that comes with missing teeth.

5. Accessibility and Low Maintenance Features
Dentures need special cleaning solutions, specific kinds of pastes for their adjustment, and a very thorough washing process. Dental implants are like natural teeth. Keeping the implants healthy requires only using a toothbrush and dental floss and visiting the dentist every six months. This convenience can also make your daily oral care quite easy and convenient.

6. Enhanced Self-Confidence
The confidence that results from dental implants must be considered. A natural, secure smile means being comfortable both at home and at work. Dental implants also restore self-confidence in expressing oneself through laughter and smiling.

7. No Discomfort
Some people have worries about their dentures as they may slip or are inclined to cause discomfort. These problems are not experienced at all with dental implants. You do not need to adjust them, as they are always in place.

8. Better Overall Oral Health
Implant-supported teeth do not necessitate shaving off the healthy teeth next to them as typical bridge solutions do. By preserving the natural structure of neighboring teeth, implants help maintain the mouth’s overall health.

Wrapping It Up

In conclusion, implants offer many advantages over dentures. This doesn’t mean they are right for everyone, but one should definitely look into them. If you were originally ashamed of your smile, implants will allow you to regain the smile and confidence natural teeth provide. You are welcome to contact us at Huffman Dental so that we can establish if dental implants are suitable for you.