Dental Implants are a more permanent solution to missing teeth. They are artificial tooth roots inserted into the jawbone, which help support replacement teeth, crowns, or bridges. Dentures may be an option for patients who want to replace all of their natural teeth at once and don’t have enough bone density to support implants. There are many differences between dental implants and dentures that can make your decision whether or not you should get them easier.
1. Implants can last up to 20 years whereas dentures need regular maintenance
Implants are composed of an alloy (a mixture of metals) that is compatible with living tissue. They can also mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. The artificial root part of the implant will fuse to your jawbone, just as a tooth root would have, only better because it’s permanent. Implants are more stable than dentures because they get fastened to the jawbone. This also means that implants can last much longer, up to 20 years or more. Dentures need to get replacement every 1-2 years because they are not permanently attached to your mouth and use suction against the gums. The bones in your face are being held together by muscles, and if these muscles lose tension, your dentures can become loose, causing them to move around. When this happens, it isn’t easy to speak and eat.
2. Implants looks Natural, while Dentures do not
Dentures are considered a removable replacement of missing teeth. They are placed in your mouth each day to help you chew, speak and smile again. Dentures consist of acrylic resin on top of a metal or plastic frame that fits without attachment to the jawbone. This means they can be removed for cleaning, but they will not help the jawbone remain strong. On the other hand, implants are screwed directly into your jawbone and fuse with it over time to form a strong base that supports replacement teeth attached to a dental crown or bridge. This means you won’t have to be without natural-looking teeth when you take out your dentures for cleaning.
3. Dentures Require Adhesives, While Implants Do Not
Dentures require adhesives to stay in your mouth. If you are missing teeth, they will shift around and need to be adjusted by hand or with the help of adhesives that are specifically made for dentures. On the other hand, dental implants are firmly attached to your jawbone by an artificial tooth root which provides something for the crown or bridge to hold onto. This means that there is no slippage of the replacement teeth, which means you won’t have to use adhesives with implants. Dentures can come loose and slip around, so applying a little glue will ensure they stay in place while you enjoy your meal.
4. Dentures Lead To Bone Atrophy, While Implants Prevent It
Dentures put an unnatural amount of stress on surrounding muscles in the face. It causes them to become arthritic and therefore loses their natural strength. Over time, these muscles can no longer hold your denture in place, leading to bone atrophy (weakening). Bone will begin to shrink away because it has lost its main source of support. On the other hand, implants are attached to the jawbone via screw or abutment, which will not allow your bone density to decrease. This also means you won’t have to worry about cleaning under your dentures as often since they will remain in place, allowing you easy access for brushing and flossing.
5. Dentures Limit the Number of Foods You Can Eat, While Implants Do Not
Proper chewing is essential to good digestion. If you can’t chew well, then your body won’t absorb all the nutrients it needs. As we age, our mouth doesn’t produce saliva, which helps digest food properly. Dentures do not allow this because they are complex and slippery, making it difficult for you to chew properly. The reality is dentures cannot imitate how your natural teeth function, enabling you to chew properly. This will limit how much food you can eat and the types of foods that are easily digestible. Implants allow you to have a complete bite because they attach to your jawbone just like natural teeth.
6. Dentures Cause Lousy Breath, And Implants Do Not
Proper chewing is the key to digestion and overall good oral health. As we age, our mouth doesn’t produce saliva, which helps us digest food properly. Dentures do not allow this because they are complex and slippery, making it difficult for you to chew your food correctly, leaving undigested particles in your mouth that cause bad breath and decay. The truth is that dentures cannot imitate the way your natural teeth function, which enables you to chew properly. When food particles do not get chewed appropriately, they become trapped in pockets around your gums and between your denture and gum line causing bad breath. On the other hand, Implants remain securely attached to the jawbone via screw or abutment. They will not slip around as you chew, allowing the proper digestion needed to maintain good oral health.
7. Dentures can cause emotional stress while implants do not
Dentures get for fashion purposes, but they do not improve or enhance your appearance like implants can. They are also difficult to speak with and can cause a lot of social discomforts. The truth is that dentures do not look or feel like natural teeth, which will make you feel self-conscious and uncomfortable around others. They are bulky, cumbersome, and will leave you frustrated by the limitations they can put on your life, including diet restrictions and speaking abilities. On the other hand, Implants make it possible for you to effortlessly speak and smile like you once did. The confidence you once had will return as implants function identically to natural teeth, making it difficult for others even to notice a difference between your natural teeth and the vital work done. With your newfound sense of confidence, what was once emotional stress will become a thing of the past.
8. Dentures Can Be Challenging To Keep Clean, While Implants Are Easier
Although dentures can indeed be easily removable for brushing, flossing, and rinsing, the truth is they are difficult to keep clean. Since they are bulky, it becomes more complicated to access all the areas in your mouth, especially the back molars. If not cleaned properly, food particles can become trapped around your gum line, which causes bad breath and decay. This is because proper oral hygiene isn’t possible with dentures since they are bulky, making it hard to brush, floss or rinse effectively. On the other hand, implants are securely attached to the jawbone via screw or abutment, making it easy to keep clean. Proper brushing, flossing, and rinsing can be performed with ease around the entire gum line, eliminating food particles before they become trapped.
9. Dentures Can Affect Your Oral Health, While Implants Do Not
Dentures only provide a substitute solution that doesn’t keep your jawbone as strong as it should be, leading to further dental problems down the line. One example is the bone loss that occurs when the jawbone deteriorates over time, leading to further damage like decay, pain, and even TMJ. Dentures also allow you to eat whatever food is presented without regard for proper chewing, leading to more tooth decay and gum disease. The truth is that if implants are not taken care of properly, they can cause dental problems as well, but implants do not affect your oral health as dentures can.
10. Dentures Cannot Be Used To Replace All Missing Teeth, While Implants Can
Dentures replace the function of lost or missing natural teeth, while implants can completely restore your smile. With that said, you should always consult your dentist to see what type of restoration is best for you. When replacing more than one tooth with implants, it’s common to use a fixed bridge attached to the implant posts to replace multiple lost teeth. This occurs by using crowns on top of the implant posts attached to artificial teeth inside your mouth, making it look like regular teeth.
Some people try to compare dentures with implants, but that’s not possible since they are very different in how they function and work for you. So remember that implants can replace your teeth while dentures are not and that implants restore your smile while dentures only provide a substitute solution.
11. Dentures Require A Lot Of Time And Patience, While Implants Do Not
Dentures require a lot of extra time since it’s harder to maintain oral hygiene around them. This makes it very difficult for you to eat, drink or even speak without being self-conscious about your teeth. Dentures take a much longer time to get accustomed to when compared with implants since they don’t feel like natural teeth. For this reason, it can take more than two weeks for you to get used to them and start feeling self-confident again. Implants are made individually, which means they are custom fit making your treatment easier. Getting used to implants will only take a matter of days, but you will feel like your teeth never fell out.
12. Dentures Can Be Easily Removed, While Implants Cannot
Dentures can be easily removed by simply taking them out of your mouth, while implants cannot. With that said, implant placement requires surgery which means your dentist must make an incision in your gum to place the post in the jawbone where it’s screwed in place. After surgery, you will experience a few days of swelling and pain, which may make it very difficult to eat or even drink until the pain subsides. For this reason, implants take a little longer than dentures to get used to and feel comfortable with. Remember that you will remove your dentures anytime you want, while implants cannot be removed since they are permanently attached to the jawbone, just like natural teeth.
13. Dentures are much cheaper than implants
Dentures are a temporary solution that can easily be replaced with the right dental insurance. On the other hand, implants are permanent since they attach securely to your jawbone, which means you will need to pay for them with no guarantee for coverage and replacement. Remember that dental implants cost more than dentures, and the cost will depend on the type of implant procedure you need to do. At the same time, if you want to replace single lost teeth, it’s common to use a fixed bridge which saves money over traditional implant restoration methods.
14. Dentures Require A Healthy Jawbone To Be Placed While Implants Do Not
Dentures can only be placed on the jawbone if it’s strong and healthy, which means you must avoid smoking and maintain your oral health by brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist every six months. If not, your implants cannot get a replacement either since this will damage your jawbone even more. On the other hand, implants can get placed even if your jawbone is weak since they bond securely to the bone without causing any damage. This makes the implants ideal for everyone regardless of age and health condition since they will provide a permanent solution that lasts a lifetime.
If you are missing one or more natural teeth, then implants are the best solution for you since they will restore your smile completely. A dental bridge can be used to replace more than one tooth, which means it’s cheaper compared to the entire implant restoration. Another option is pre-prosthetic dentures, a removable appliance that holds artificial teeth in place, making them more affordable than dental implants. Although implants are expensive, they are still the best solution for you since they function just like natural teeth and restore your smile completely.