Implants vs. Dentures
Lincoln Park, NJ
 Dental implants and dentures are options to replace missing teeth. Each offers different advantages. The choice between dental implants and dentures depends on oral health, lifestyle, and personal preferences. The deciding factor is often cost. Dental implants have a higher cost in the beginning. However, they are a very long lasting solution that require fewer appointments, adjustments, and other costs over time. Dentures are lower cost up front, but dentures often grow uncomfortable and require adjustments, and must be replaced much more frequently. But both options provide different benefits.
Dental Implants Pros and Cons
Dental implants are an effective and long lasting solution for missing teeth. They are titanium posts surgically embedded into the jawbone. These act as artificial tooth roots and stimulate bone growth in the jaw. Over time, the bone fuses with the implant through a process called osseointegration, and this creates a secure foundation for a denture or crown.
One advantage of dental implants is their ability to mimic the natural tooth structure. This provides a more natural appearance, and implants function just like natural teeth. This stability and support allows patients to chew and speak with confidence. In addition, the stimulation of bone growth in the jaw prevents changes in facial structure due to tooth loss. And they are cleaned with the brushing and flossing habits that patients already have.
However, dental implants do have drawbacks, there is a higher initial cost and a surgical procedure to consider. The process requires multiple appointments from the initial implant placement until the final placement of crowns or dentures. Implants are not for everyone, especially patients with compromised bone density, or certain medical conditions.
 Dentures Pros and Cons
Dentures have been the traditional and reliable option for tooth replacement for decades. These removable prosthetics are artificial teeth attached to a gum-colored base. Dentures come as partials that replace a few missing teeth, or full dentures that replace an entire arch of teeth.
The key advantages of dentures are their affordability, and fast placement. The process starts with taking impressions, then fabricating the dentures, and finally, fitting them to the patient's gums.
However, dentures come with some challenges as well. They do not provide the stability that dental implants do. Patients with dentures will find some foods challenging to chew, and dentures sometimes slip when speaking or eating. In addition, uncomfortable dentures require periodic adjustments, and patients must learn how to maintain them properly.
Choosing Between Dental Implants and Dentures
The decision between dental implants and dentures depends on the individual patient. Factors such as oral health, budget, lifestyle, and personal preferences all affect the choice between the two. Those seeking a long term, natural looking, and functional solution would choose dental implants. Patients who prefer a cost effective solution, or want to avoid surgery, find dentures more appealing.
There is also a combination of both options. Implant supported dentures offer the security of implants, but are minimally invasive. The strategically placed implants secure the dentures with just a few implants - usually four or six. This provides a completely secured denture with as little surgery as possible. |
