Dental implants and dentures are both popular forms of replacing missing teeth. But which one is the right choice for you? Dr. Drew Shulman, a dentist in Northeast Philadelphia, discusses the benefits and drawbacks of both.
About Removable Dentures
Traditional dentures are made of a resin and metal base, with plastic or dental ceramic teeth. They’re typically used to replace an entire arch of missing teeth. To keep them in place, some sort of adhesive has to be used. Since they’re removable, it’s crucial that you take them out at night and make sure they’re thoroughly cleaned.
The perks of dentures are that their price is lower upfront and you’re able to get the restoration quickly. However, you may incur additional costs down the line. Dentures can’t prevent your jawbone from continuing to deteriorate. This means that they need to be adjusted or replaced down the line as they start to fit differently. Ill-fitting dentures can irritate your gums and become uncomfortable.
Dentures give you back only about 40% of your bite function back. You’ll have to eliminate certain foods from your diet as you won’t be able to consume them with dentures. They can be bulky and feel awkward. A learning curve is usually experienced as they don’t feel like natural teeth. They have a tendency to slip around and may move and shift while eating or speaking.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Dr. Shulman does recommend dental implants as the choice option for replacing missing teeth. Implants are made up of three different parts. First, the titanium implant post is what’s placed in your jawbone. An abutment is then put on top of the post to connect the final restoration. Usually, the final restoration is a crown, but they can also support a dental bridge or fixed denture.
There’s a reason why they’re often considered the gold standard for tooth replacement. They’re the only form that replaces the tooth root. They can help prevent further jawbone deterioration and even reverse the effects that have already happened. The implant posts fuse with the jawbone, prompting jawbone regeneration.
Because they’re fused with the jawbone, they’re the most stable form of tooth replacement. You won’t have to eliminate any foods from your diet because you’ll get back 100% of your bite function. Slipping or shifting aren’t things you’ll have to worry about either. You can eat, speak, and perform any other activities with ease.
The downsides to dental implants are that they have a higher cost upfront and take longer to get. However, with the higher upfront cost, you don’t have to worry about any other costs down the line. They won’t move or shift and are designed to be a permanent restoration.
They take longer because you have to heal for 3-6 months after the posts are placed in the jawbone. This healing time is crucial to make sure that the posts are fusing with the jawbone, giving you the stability that you’re looking for when choosing dental implants.
Dental Implants From Your Northeast Philadelphia Dentist
Are dental implants the right choice to replace your missing teeth? Call us or schedule a consultation online to learn more.