Dental Implants vs. Dentures
While dental implants last longer and help prevent bone loss in the jaw, dentures are the more affordable choice for many of our patients. If you’re interested in replacing teeth, we recommend that you schedule an appointment with one of our Grand Rapids dentists. During your consultation, they’ll be able to help you explore your tooth replacement options.
Here’s what you need to know when choosing between dental implants and dentures.
Bone Loss
Once your body detects a missing tooth, it starts to absorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere. That’s why our dentists will often recommend a dental implant if you’ve recently lost a tooth.
A dental implant is a prosthetic tooth root made of a titanium alloy. Like a tooth root, it exerts pressure on the jawbone so that it stays healthy and doesn’t deteriorate over time. This is different from dentures that merely sit on top of your gums.
If jawbone deterioration isn’t caught early, it can eventually lead to facial collapse. Once this happens, your dentures won’t fit as well and will feel uncomfortable. Your face shape will also change, giving you more of a sunken profile.
The good news is that dental implants prevent jawbone deterioration from happening in the first place. That way, you can maintain healthy jawbone tissue for life!
Lifespan
Dental implants can last decades with good care. This means that you’ll need to practice good oral hygiene at home by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day. That way, you’ll be able to remove plaque on your teeth and gums. In comparison, dentures may last between 5 and 10 years with proper care.
Comfort and Appearance
Unlike dentures, dental implants will never slip when you eat, talk, or laugh. This will give you a much better sense of confidence as you move about your life.
In comparison, patients who wear dentures may need to occasionally correct slipping dentures while out in the public. This is done by gently biting down and swallowing to discreetly move the dentures back in place.
If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of , ask our dentists if you’re a . Dental implants are embedded in the jawbone, which gives you the ultimate security while eating, chewing, and smiling.
Candidates
To be a candidate for dental implants, you’ll need to have sufficient bone density in your jawbone. Otherwise, there won’t be enough bone to keep the dental implant stabilized. Candidates for dental implants must also have healthy immune systems so they can safely undergo the surgery to get the titanium posts embedded in their jaws.
With dentures, on the other hand, you don’t have to meet any special requirements. Anyone who has experienced tooth loss can be a candidate for full or partial dentures.
Care Instructions
When you’re not wearing your dentures, you’ll need to submerge them in a glass of water or denture cleaner. Otherwise, your dentures will dry out, crack, and warp. It’s also important that you brush your dentures and gums twice a day to remove plaque buildup. Always remove your dentures at night so your gums have a chance to rest.
Unlike dentures, dental implants don’t require special care. Simply take care of your dental implants as you would your natural teeth. This means brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once daily to remove plaque.
The better your oral health, the longer your implants are likely to last. With good care, dental implants have been known to last a lifetime.
Request an Appointment with Us
Our dentists in Grand Rapids, Michigan, can help you determine what option is best for replacing missing teeth. To request an appointment, call Advance Dental at (616) 956-9183. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.
This blog post has been updated.
