When you suffer from tooth loss, dentures and dental implants are two of the most common solutions. Both offer certain advantages, depending on a patient’s particular needs.
What’s the difference?
Dentures and partial dentures are a popular solution for tooth loss. They’re relatively inexpensive, and allow the patient to eat, drink and speak as if they had a full set of teeth. Unfortunately, they come with some drawbacks. Dentures are temporary. They need to be removed and cleaned at night. They also require adhesives to keep in place. This can lead to shifting, mouth sores and even issues with dentures falling out.
In contrast, implants are a long term solution. Once the jaw heals around the implant “roots,” new prosthetic teeth are installed. The patient can eat, drink and speak as if they had natural teeth, and they’ll never have to worry about taking the implants out for cleaning. Their oral hygiene routine is as if they had natural teeth.
If you have enough healthy jawbone tissue for implants, implant-supported dentures may be an option. Like traditional dental implants, Dr. Mike will place several “roots” in your jaw. Once the bone has healed, which takes three to six months, a set of dentures is attached to the implant screws. They cannot be removed without the help of a dentist.
Why choose implant-supported dentures?
The difference between dentures and implant-supported dentures hinges on removal. Implant-supported dentures can replace an entire set of teeth at once, just like traditional dentures. They don’t need to be removed at night for cleaning—they function more like regular teeth. This makes oral hygiene easier, and provides additional comfort and security that traditional dentures cannot. Patients no longer have to worry about dealing with adhesives, or worrying about their prosthetics falling out.
Many patients choose implant-supported dentures when they’ve lost all of their teeth. Although dental implants can replace single or multiple missing teeth at once, many patients find it more cost-effective to use implant-supported dentures.
Are implant-supported dentures right for me?
If you’re interested in learning more about dental implants and implant-supported dentures, the team at Cleveland Implant Institute will be happy to walk you through your options. First, we’ll examine your overall oral health. If you’re a good candidate for implants, we can review which kind of implants may be best suited for your needs. You’ll learn what to expect in terms of the procedure, healing time and more.
Let Dr. Mike help restore your smile. When you call today, we’ll schedule an initial consultation. If it’s time to seek a permanent tooth loss solution, there’s no better destination than Cleveland Implant Institute!