Dental Implants vs. Dentures

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Experiencing tooth loss is an embarrassing situation. You may find yourself covering your mouth when you smile or avoiding smiling altogether. Tooth loss is most common as we age. There are a few ways that tooth loss can be corrected, including dentures and dental implants. Learn the pros and cons of dental dentures and dental implants to help you to choose the best one for you.

Let’s first define what are dentures and dental implants. 

Dentures are a set of false teeth to fill in the places where your old teeth are missing. In the past, they were the only option that people who experienced tooth loss had to improve the function and appearance of their mouth. There are two types of dentures - Partial and Complete. 

Partial Dentures are removable and usually consist of replacement teeth attached to a pink or gum-colored plastic base, which is sometimes connected by a metal framework that holds the denture in place in the mouth.

Complete Dentures can be either "conventional" or "immediate." Made after the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has begun to heal, a conventional denture is ready for placement in the mouth about eight to 12 weeks after the teeth have been removed.

There are some benefits associated with dentures that have people continuing to choose this system. If you have an unhealthy or weak jaw or gums, dentures are a great way to ensure that you can still have the appearance of an entire set of teeth. Advances have also been made to make false teeth look more natural, so you don’t have to let everyone know that you are wearing dentures. The upfront costs with dentures are also less expensive than dental implants, but it is important to note that you will likely need to replace them every few years.

To keep the teeth in place, a denture adhesive or paste is needed. Without this adhesive, dentures can slip out of their proper place while speaking and eating, and this can result in considerable embarrassment. Partial dentures are available if you have some teeth remaining, but they can promote decay and infection in the remaining teeth if they don’t fit properly.

Dental implants are an ingenious and modern solution to correct missing teeth. Unlike dentures, which simply provide a façade of natural teeth, implants serve as an actual replacement. They are implanted into the jaw or gum so that they serve as an anchor for dental crowns.

Coral GablesDental Implants are a long-term solution to teeth loss, as implants won’t move or slip. They don’t require removal, special cleaning, or the use of adhesives, and maintenance is relatively simple. As long as you care for your implants the same way that you would care for your natural teeth, a dental implant can be a lifelong solution to tooth loss.

Dental Implants do cost more upfront than dentures, and this is why many people choose dentures without further investigating implants as an option. However, when you consider the additional costs of dentures, including cleaning solutions, adhesives, repairs, and denture replacement, dental implants are often a better financial solution and well worth the extra upfront cost.

If the cost is not a problem, then dental implants are the perfect option for dealing with tooth loss. Dental Implants look and feel like natural teeth and generally do not require any maintenance at all after you have healed from the implant surgery itself.

iSmile of Coral Gables and iSmile of Doral, Florida offers dental implants by Dr. Sonia Olivares are a highly successful and modern way to permanently replace one or more missing teeth. This technique has been developed and perfected to produce reliable and long-lasting, permanent solutions to tooth loss. Dental implants have been used to restore natural aesthetics and confidence in function for hundreds of our patients from Florida and beyond

Call iSmile of Coral Gables at 305-396-1026 or iSmile of Doral at 305-620-8272 today.