Dentures vs. Implants: What’s The Difference?

When it comes to deciding on the best solution for replacing one or more missing teeth, it can be hard to tell the difference between your options – they’re all new teeth, right?

It’s a little more intricate than that. Dentures and implants have their differences—advantages and disadvantages—and the best choice for your mouth is the one that fits the health of your jaw, your current teeth and your budget.

If you’re reading this and debating between dentures and implants, there’s a few important distinctions to make between the two before choosing one over the other.

Dentures

Dentures are prosthetic teeth that can be fitted to your mouth alongside or regardless of any present teeth you still have. They’re removable and easy to maintain with proper cleaning.

We can make dentures as complete sets to replace all of your teeth or to replace a few missing teeth (partial dentures). By taking an impression of your gums, we can get dentures made that are a snug fit to your jaw and act as realistic teeth in your mouth.

Dentures can, however, pose problems during the adjustment period, such as sores and ulcers forming on the gums from the teeth rubbing against your gums or the dentures feeling like they’re slipping around in your mouth.

If you have dentures and are dealing with these issues, please feel free to contact us, and we can help you with realigning your dentures or looking at the sore gums.

Implants

On the other hand, dental implants require bone to screw implants in that are capped with crowns, artificial teeth made to match the surrounding teeth.

We first extract the damaged tooth and root, then drill a hole into the jawbone. A prosthetic root, known as a post, is implanted deep into your jaw, and once bone grows around the post’s top, we will fit it with a crown.

Implants are more expensive than dentures and other treatments, like dental bridges. Implants can also lead to complications like infections and mechanical problems, such as cracked crowns or loose posts. Implant failures occur very infrequently, but it’s important to keep that in mind.

What’s The Difference?

Dentures and implants serve a similar purpose: they help you chew, improve your speech, support the muscles in your face and boost your self-esteem. There’s nothing brighter than a nice smile!

When it comes to deciding between dentures or implants, consider which choice will be best for you and your mouth.

For individuals of an older age, dentures may be a more viable choice, especially because the procedure to get implants takes several months to complete.

Implants require a certain amount of bone in order to support the posts, so if you do not have the right amount, you may not be suitable for implants. Dentures sit on top of your pre-existing gums and jawbone, so there’s less invasive drilling.

Dentures are more high maintenance than implants and require daily cleaning as regular teeth do, and then some. For the more low-maintenance people out there (no shame in it!), perhaps implants could be a more practical option.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you and what you’re comfortable with having in your mouth. Our team is more than happy to help you decide which one would be most useful for your budget and lifestyle.

Dental Health, Implants and Dentures with Smiles From Ear to Hear

When it comes to your dental health, we’re here to help! Our team of dental experts can assist in your decision between dentures or implants so that you leave our clinic with a shining, brilliant smile.