Many people have to suffer from loss of teeth due to reasons under or not under their control. Some people may even have genetic issues which may cause no teeth to come up. Having missing teeth can be detrimental, as teeth are an important part of the digestion process and not having them means the food may not be properly broken down. There is also a societal stigma associated with missing teeth. The most popular dental procedures for replacement of missing teeth are dentures and implants. This article would lay down the differences between dentures and implants and help you decide the best procedure for your dental ailment.
Dentures are basically false teeth attached to a base, called mouthpiece. They are attached to the gums using dental adhesive. On the other hand, dental implants are also false teeth but unlike dentures, are attached surgically to one’s jaw. Compared to implants, dentures may seem uncomfortable at first, due to the fact that they are attached over an already existing surface and overlaps the gums, while implants are attached in a manner not too dissimilar to the normal tooth. Unlike dentures, which are used as a replacement for a set of teeth, implants can be used to replace tooth one by one, which makes them more flexible.
Dentures also have a known issue of shifting and causing discomfort while one is eating food or speaking, a problem which is not experienced with dental implants. Although dentures available today have come a long way, they can still cause an increase in the rate of tooth decay of the nearby healthy teeth, while implants, on the other hand, do not cause any such problems. But, unlike dentures, implants need a healthy jaw and gums as they are attached directly to them, which make them unsuitable for many people who have suffered gum disease or have an advanced age.
But in one place where dentures have a big advantage over implants is cost. Dentures are being used in dentistry for decades now, which has made the process as well as the overall raw materials required to be inexpensive. On the other hand, implants are a relatively newer process in dentistry and require complex surgery as well as more expensive raw materials which bumps up its cost significantly. Some insurance plans do not cover the complete cost of dental implants and require you to pay a part of the total cost. But on the other hand, implants can offer a lifelong solution to those having missing teeth, as they are a “fit once stay forever” solution, unlike dentures, which need to be replaced and adjusted from time to time and cause significant irritation and increased risk of infection if not taken care of in a proper manner.