Have you lost teeth recently? If so, you have multiple options to restore your smile. Our Grand Rapids, MI, dentists may recommend dental implants or dentures, depending on your situation.
Here’s how the two methods of tooth replacement compare as well as what might make you better suited for one procedure over the other.
What Are Dentures?
Removable dentures are oral appliances made to look and function like natural teeth. Depending on the extent of tooth loss, our local denture dentists may recommend a full or partial option.
While full dentures replace an entire arch of teeth, partial dentures only replace a few teeth. We can help you explore different types of available, including partial, complete, and immediate dentures.
Dentures sit on top of your gums and must be removed before you go to sleep so your gums have a chance to recover. When you’re not wearing your dentures, they’ll need to be submerged in a glass of water or denture cleanser so they don’t dry out, crack, or warp.
Benefits:
- Generally less expensive than dental implants.
- No oral surgery is required for fitting dentures.
- A faster process from tooth removal to having a full set of teeth.
Drawbacks:
- Can slip and shift during eating or speaking. Adhesives or adjustments from our dentists can help alleviate this issue.
- More time needs to be taken to fully adjust to wearing a full set.
- Lack of tooth root stimulation can lead to jawbone deterioration over time.
- Requires regular cleaning and might need fit adjustments or replacements over the years.
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a prosthetic tooth root, typically made of titanium, that is placed in your jaw to later support a dental crown. Many patients appreciate that single-tooth dental implants look and function just like the real thing. This means you’ll be able to continue eating your favorite foods after dental implant surgery without worrying about slipping dentures.
Take care of your dental implants like you would your natural teeth. That means brushing for two minutes twice a day, flossing daily, and continuing to visit our Grand Rapids, MI, dental office for a routine teeth cleaning every 6 months.
Benefits:
- Can last a lifetime with proper care, making them a good long-term investment.
- Act like natural teeth, offering more stability and comfort.
- Stimulate the jawbone, preventing bone loss and maintaining facial structure.
Drawbacks:
- Can be more expensive upfront compared to dentures.
- Requires surgery for placement and possibly dental bone grafting, meaning a longer initial recovery period.
- Not everyone is a candidate; it depends on jawbone density and overall health.
What Are All-on-4® Implants?
For those looking for a middle ground, implant-supported dentures offer a hybrid solution. Attached to the jaw using 4 strategically placed dental implants, this option combines the stability of implants with the removable convenience of dentures.
Benefits:
- Less likely to slip than traditional dentures, thanks to implant support.
- Implants provide natural stimulation to the jawbone.
- Can be made to be removable (snap-in dentures) or fixed in place.
Drawbacks:
- More expensive than traditional dentures due to the need for implants.
- Requires surgery for dental implant placement.
The All-on-4 dental implant procedure is suitable for patients who desire more stability than traditional dentures can offer but at a lower cost and with less surgical involvement than 6-8 individual dental implants.
Dentures vs. Dental Implants: Pros and Cons
While dentures are more affordable than dental implants, they don’t solve the problem of jawbone deterioration. As soon as your body detects a missing tooth, it will start to absorb the minerals in your jaw to use elsewhere.
Once this happens, the area of the jaw where the tooth root used to be will weaken and deteriorate. Teeth adjacent to the gap will also start to tilt toward the open space. Eventually, you may experience facial collapse, which alters the shape of your face and makes it difficult to wear dentures.
The best way to prevent further tooth loss and jawbone deterioration is to ask our dentists if you’re a candidate for the dental implant procedure. In general, our dental implant dentists recommend this option whenever possible so patients can avoid long-term health issues caused by missing teeth.
Factors that can influence whether implants or dentures are chosen include:
- Commitment to oral hygiene
- Medical conditions that may interfere with proper healing
- Number of teeth missing
- Habits like smoking or use of other tobacco products
Be sure to also consider your diet, social activities, maintenance commitment, and how you want your teeth to look and feel. Dental implants might offer the most natural experience, but the initial cost and surgery are significant things to keep in mind. Dentures provide a quick and cost-effective solution but might not meet the needs of an active lifestyle.
Who Is a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Healthy gum tissue and sufficient bone density in your jaw are necessary to be considered a good candidate for dental implants. This is because there has to be enough jawbone tissue to support the titanium dental implant in a natural process called .
It is worth noting, however, that dental bone grafting is an option if more support is needed in the area of the jaw set to receive the implant.
Our dentists can help you determine if you’re a likely candidate for the procedure during a dental implant consultation. Even if dental implants aren’t right for you, we can help you explore otherpopular tooth replacement options.
Schedule a Dental Implant Consultation
Our family dentists in Grand Rapids, MI, offer both dentures and dental implants to restore patients’ smiles. Call Precision Family Dental today at (616) 949-1570, or contact us online to request an appointment.
This blog post has been updated.