Dentures and dental implants are two of the most common tooth replacement treatment options. However, most dentists agree that dental implants are functionally and aesthetically superior.
Read on to see four important ways that dentures compare to dental implants.
1) Comfort
When you consider the days of wooden, ivory and bone dentures, you can see that dentures have come a long way since. However, despite the relatively low cost, there are still many challenges that come along with wearing dentures. Even with the pastes and creams intended to hold them in place, dentures still slip and move around, causing embarrassment and discomfort while eating and speaking. Ultimately, denture use can lead to gum irritation and sores in many patients.
Alternatively, dental implants provide a comfortable solution. Implanted directly into jawbone, they will not slip or pinch and never move when you eat or speak, eliminating irritation and sores. In fact, once they are fully healed, you won’t feel them and most people won’t even be able to tell them apart from your natural teeth.
2) Function
Dentures only provide a temporary façade of teeth. Although they may provide basic function, they have serious long term reprocussions to jaw health. Moreover, because they are not permanently attached, bite strength becomes weakened, jaw muscle atrophies and bone starts to deteriorate.
Secured firmly into the gum or and jaw, implants last a lifetime and restore complete bite function. At the same time, because jaw muscles are used normally again for chewing, biting and speaking, muscle and bone loss are reversed and prevented.
3) Appearance
Everyone knows someone who has suffered from the loss of multiple teeth and the sort of damage it does to facial appearance. Gradually, the face becomes more and more sunken as the jaw muscle and bone begins to melt away. Premature wrinkles begin forming around the mouth and the patient looks far older than there chronological age.
Another visual problem with missing teeth and denture use is that the teeth around the empty spaces begin to shift into the open spaces. Teeth used as anchors for partial dentures can also become damaged, creating a crooked and jumbled mess of remaining teeth.
Dental implants plug the holes created by missing teeth and prevent further damage to surrounding teeth. And when the bite is restored, the jaw muscle becomes healthy again and the sunken appearance is eliminated.
4) Cost
While it is true that dentures initially provide a more affordable solution than dental implants, users need to consider the long term costs. Dentures require fixatives, cleaning solutions and replacement every 5 to 10 years. Users also have to deal with other disadvantages like slippage, discomfort and even pain.
In contrast, implants are durable, comfortable and can last a lifetime if cared for properly. Dental implants also require far less maintenance than dentures and do not require special cleaning. Basically, they look and function just like natural teeth and you care for them as you would your natural teeth. Certainly you can’t put a price on greater comfort, appearance and convenience!
Come See Us For Dental Implants Today
Contemporary Dental Arts is proud of our history of providing exceptional dental services for patients that live in the San Jose, CA area and beyond. We do offer dentures and dental bridges, but these are no longer the preferred tooth replacement treatments. In the past, discomfort, problems eating or complicated dental hygiene rountines were just consequences that needed to be endured. Today, dental implants offer a natural-looking and permanent option that can restore a confident and healthy smile. Check out the rest of our website to learn more about the dental implant process, benefits and financing options. Then let Dr. Cooper use his skills and experience to craft beautiful dental implants for your missing or damaged teeth. Call us to schedule your no-obligation consultation today!