Comparing Dental Implants and Dentures: Which is the Best Option for You?

Dental Implants Vs Dentures

Nobody needs to live with a less than perfect smile anymore. With the development of good quality and durable replacement options over the last few years, no one should have to either.

There are a number of options to replace missing teeth, but the most common and popular are Dentures or Implants. Dentures and Implants essentially serve the same purpose, by:

• enabling you chew foods you might otherwise not be able to eat

• Supporting your facial muscles

• improving speech

• increasing self-esteem and reducing self-consciousness by giving you a beautiful smile!

It is important to discuss your options with your dentist as both Dentures & Implants have advantages and disadvantages, and your suitability to each option as well.

Implants	Dentures
A fixed solution that can be compared in strength and performance to natural teeth	A removable solution that may need to be secured with adhesive. Can move around a bit and sometimes irritate your gums if they do not fit correctly.
Can last 15-20 years if properly maintained and looked after.	Generally recommended to be replaced every 5-8 years.
Requires healthy bone and gums	Can be placed even with severe bone loss
Aesthetically they look like natural teeth, many people cannot tell they are not your own teeth	Depending on how well they are made, a denture specialist can make beautiful natural looking dentures and no one needs to be any the wiser!
Because they are integrated into your jaw bone, they do not feel out of place in your mouth and do not affect the other teeth or soft tissues	They can take a while to get used to, soreness, irritation and bulkiness are often the main complaints from denture wearers. But they do settle down within a few months.
Implants require a (small) surgical procedure and can take around 3-8 months from start to new tooth.	With Dentures you can have a gleaming new set of teeth in as little as 6 weeks.
It is possible to have a temporary tooth placed at the time of the implant, so you never have to go another day with a gap in your smile.	You can have a temporary denture to wear for the few weeks it takes for your new teeth to be made.
Oral Hygiene care is the same as your own teeth, brushing twice a day and flossing in between.	You will need to remove your dentures after eating and brush away any debris, and clean them thoroughly when you brush any remaining teeth.
You will be able to eat any foods you want to without fear of breaking teeth or them coming out.	You may have to avoid sticky or crunchy foods that could pull the dentures out or break teeth off of them, alternatively you may have to remove them to eat.

What’s the verdict?

Although dentures are an acceptable replacement option for missing teeth, the permanence and natural look of dental implants make them a great choice. Dental implants may be an investment worth making seeing as, if properly looked after, they may only ever need the occasional adjustment or very rarely, replacement. If however, you prefer a less invasive treatment maybe a denture is the way forward for you. 

It’s important that you consult carefully with your dentist before making a decision. Look carefully at all of your options to replace your missing teeth and consider your priorities, what do you want the prosthetics to accomplish for you? Here at Gateway Dental we want you to make your final decision with confidence.