Loosing teeth is a struggle, so worrying about which treatment is best is an added and unnecessary stressors. There are two primary replacement options for missing teeth: dentures and dental implants. Though they achieve the same goal, a complete and healthy smile, this post walks through their differences to ensure you can make the most informed decision about your teeth.
Dentures
Dentures are removable prosthetics that replace missing teeth through their snug attachment to the tissues of the mouth. They are offered in full or partial sets, depending on the number of teeth missing. Dentures are a relatively stable solution for incomplete teeth, though their movable, impermanent status means the possibility of slippage and shifting while eating or speaking. Further, dentures do nothing to combat the decrease in bone density caused by losing teeth, allowing for potential facial distortion and jaw deterioration. These drawbacks have significantly decreased in recent years, as dentures’ appearance, effectiveness and comfort improve.
Despite these improvements, patients must replace their dentures throughout their life because of the wear and use of living. Creating a set of dentures involves creating a mold of the mouth to achieve a tight and custom fit. The process can take a few weeks, and further adjustments may need to be made to ensure proper positioning. These inconveniences come alongside a cheaper upfront cost, and allow for patients to avoid length surgeries and recovery periods. And for patients with low bone density, for whom implantation is not an option, dentures provide a consistent and convenient solution.
Dental Implants
The other major option is dental implantation. Dental implantation inserts titanium posts into the jawbone to serve as anchors for replacement teeth. The procedure begins with the surgical implantation of the posts, followed by a recovery period to allow for the osseointegration. This means that the jaw grows around the post, stabilizing and accepting the material as part of its new structure and creating a stable hold for the faux teeth. After healing, the artificial teeth are attached to the post.
Though the surgical process is involved, it does provide exceptional dental stability, as the bones grow around and stabilize the implantation. Such anchorage ensures no slippage or movement while eating or drinking. It also ensures facial integrity, as the jaw cannot slip or decline. And while there is a greater up-front cost, overtime dental implantation proves to be cheaper, as they last a lifetime if properly installed. They also combat the decrease in bone density caused by lost teeth, ensuring no further deterioration requires additional treatment. Their failure is more dramatic, as additional surgery, recovery, and treatment are required to rectify their status. With dental implants, proper oral hygiene is exceedingly important to ensure recovery and solidification goes well.
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Overall, with an experienced practitioner like Dr. Sara Bekyan, dental implantation is the best option for its longevity and stabilization, if it is at all possible! If you are interested in our services, give us a call at 484-887-0777!