Dentures vs. Implants
Fortunately, for the millions of Americans struggling with tooth loss, there are many tooth replacement solutions available. Conventional dentures have always been a popular tooth replacement solution, mostly because they offer a quick and affordable fix to replacing several missing teeth. More recently, dental implants have become increasingly popular due to the stability and durability they offer over alternative solutions. Below the differences between traditional dentures and dental implants are described in more detail.
What are Traditional Dentures?
Traditional dentures are a prosthetic set of teeth that are designed to replace multiple missing teeth. Dentures offer a “one size fits all” fix to tooth replacement at a relatively low cost without an invasive dental procedure. Dentures can be worn on the upper gum, the lower gum, or both. Traditional dentures work by sitting on top of the gums with a flesh colored portion designed to fit snuggly to the gums to help hold the dentures in place. Unfortunately, without teeth in the jawbone to take up space, the mouth will start to shrink over time. This constant reshaping of the mouth leads to the need for traditional dentures to change too. To avoid shifting, slipping, and discomfort that can result from poor fit, traditional dentures will need to be continuously refitted to adjust to the changing shape of the mouth.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental Implants are metal posts that are placed in the jawbone during a surgical procedure. Once the implant is securely placed in the jaw, it is designed to act like the root of a new tooth, providing a stable foundation for a crown, bridge, or dentures to be attached. The number of dental implants needed will depend on the number of teeth missing and the treatment plan developed by your dentist.
Treatment Procedures
Traditional dentures and dental implants require very different treatment procedures. Here is a brief description of each procedure:
- Denture Treatment: Dentures are designed to be an easily removable prosthetic set of teeth and can be made as either full sets to replace all the teeth in the mouth or as a partial set to replace a few missing teeth. The designing of the dentures and planning of the treatment is the majority of the work that is required in a denture treatment. To design well-fitting dentures, your dentist will take an impression of the gums and any remaining teeth. Additionally, they will study your bite and the alignment of your upper and lower jaws to make sure the dentures they design will maintain a good fit during chewing and speech. A dental lab will develop your preliminary set of dentures based on your impression and measurements. Then your dentist will work to fit these dentures in your mouth and make any necessary adjustments. Commonly, dentures are designed and custom-made to fit securely in your mouth and look just like natural teeth.
- Implant Treatment: Before dental implants can be placed, the jawbone must be prepared for the implants. This is because the health of the jawbone is critical to the long-term success of implants. Once the jawbone is prepared, implant posts will be surgically placed in the bone. A several month healing period is required after this surgery to allow time for the implants to fuse to the bone. This fusing process is what ensures the long-term durability and success of the implants. Next, abutments are secured to the top of each post where crowns or dentures can be attached. The final step is to attach the artificial crowns, dentures, or bridge to the top of the implants.
Cost of Dentures vs. Implant Treatment
Another big difference between dentures and implants is the cost of the treatment plan. Initially, dental implants require a larger financial investment, more than dentures, bridges, and most other replacement options. On average, implant treatment may cost between $1,600 and $2,200 per implant. On the other hand, the average cost of a set of dentures for the upper or lower jaw is close to $1,600.
Benefits of Dentures and Dental Implants
Both traditional dentures and dental implants offer many benefits to patients. Here are a few of the biggest benefits to consider:
- Cost and Ease of Treatment: Compared to the number of procedures required for implant treatment, dentures are easy to fit and a more affordable option upfront.
- Maintain Mouth Shape and Jaw Structure: One of the biggest benefits of dental implants beyond replacing teeth, is that they help the jaw maintain its shape and structure. This is because the body recognizes implants as teeth. Implants also help encourage healthy bone growth. On the other hand, traditional dentures are not able to help stop the jaw from shrinking and changing shape.
- Secure Fit: With the constantly changing shape of the jawbone, it is difficult to maintain a secure fit with traditional dentures. Dentures that do not fit well will slip during speaking, eating, and can cause discomfort. With the permanent stability of implants you never have to worry about secure fit.
Alternative Tooth Replacement Options
Dentures and implants are two of the most popular treatment options to replace missing teeth. However, there are many other replacement options available for you to consider and discuss with your dental provider, including:
- Dental Bridges: A dental bridge can help to replace several missing teeth at once. Also called a fixed partial denture, a bridge is a prosthetic piece that attaches to surrounding teeth or a dental implant.
- Temporary partial denture: A temporary partial denture is a set of teeth that can be easily removed. Partial dentures work well to improve the appearance of the smile while also being easily removed for cleaning. Partial dentures are one of the most affordable solutions to replace missing teeth, but not the most durable. This option is often used for patients who are waiting for a more permanent solution.
- Snap-in Dentures: Snap-in dentures are dentures that are designed to securely attach to dental implants. Instead of having an implant installed for each missing tooth, snap-in dentures replace several missing teeth with one or two devices.