Both dentures and dental implants are commonly used to replace missing teeth. But it can be hard to know which option is best for you. The team at Owings Mills Dental Care discusses the positives and negatives of dentures and dental implants in Owings Mills, MD.
Dentures: What to Know
Removable dentures are usually thought of to replace an entire arch of teeth, but partial dentures are available as well. Their base is made of resin and metal while the teeth are made of plastic or porcelain. Some of the main benefits of dentures include that they’re cheaper upfront and you get your final restoration quicker without a surgical element.
But dentures come with many drawbacks as well. Though you don’t have to pay as much upfront, you incur more costs down the line. When you’re missing a tooth, the jawbone in that area begins to deteriorate. Because dentures don’t replace the tooth root, this deterioration continues even with the dentures. Eventually, they’ll need to be replaced or readjusted to be comfortable and functional.
Dentures require adhesive to stay in the mouth. They can slip, slide, or fall out just from talking or eating. You only get back around 30-40% of your bite function, which means you may have to remove certain foods from your diet. Due to the adhesive, they need to be taken out and soaked at the end of the day to be cleaned properly.
About Dental Implants
Dental implants are often considered the gold standard of tooth replacement. They’re made up of three different parts. First, a titanium implant post is placed in the jawbone. Next, a piece called an abutment is used to attach the post to the final restoration. The final restoration is usually a dental crown, but implants can also support a fixed bridge or denture.
One of the biggest qualms people have about implants is the price. But while they cost more upfront, you won’t have surprise costs in the future. Dental implants are the only solution that replaces the tooth root. They stop bone deterioration from continuing and can even reverse some that’s already occurred.
After the posts are surgically placed in the jawbone, they do require 3-6 months to heal before continuing the process. But this healing time is what allows the implants to fuse with the bone, giving you the stability they’re known for. You don’t have to worry about your implants slipping or falling out. You also get back 100% of your bite function so you don’t have to limit your diet either.
Even after advancements in dental technology, dentures are still bulky and take time to get used to. But implants, particularly when they’re topped with a dental crown, are the most natural-looking and feeling tooth replacement. There’s no learning curve or extra maintenance. Simply brush, floss, and visit the dentist regularly.
Getting Dentures or Dental Implants in Owings Mills, Maryland
Does one of these choices seem like the right one for your missing teeth? Call us or schedule an appointment online.