While oral hygiene has improved greatly over the years people still need to replace missing teeth. With advances in technology dentures are no longer the only option. In this article we will review the options available to people when considering dental implants v’s dentures.

The case for dentures

Dentures can be suitable for anywhere you have lost a tooth or teeth because of damage, wear & tear, decay or periodontal disease.  Dentures are made of cast mental, acrylic, a plastic base and of course porcelain for the teeth element. The procedure to make dentures varies in time and last a few weeks. During this time your dentist will examine your teeth, make impressions of the teeth and jaw as well as make moulds. These are sent away to a specialist to create and when they arrive back the final cast is fitted and any minor small adjustments are made.

The only downside to dentures is that in the small percentage of people they can move or make clicking noise when you chew food, which may be embarrassing or cause discomfort. That said upper dentures tend to do this less because of the natural vacuum caused by the roof of the mouth.  Your dentures will need to be re-aligned as your gums and jaw structure change with aging. Dentures are also subject to normal wear and proper oral hygiene is paramount.

The case for dental implants

Dental implants on the other hand are very durable as they are made of titanium and metal which is fully compatible with the human body. The dental implant itself is drilled into the jaw and bone socket. The process is completely painless as you are given a local anaesthetic. Once this is inserted it needs to fuse with the bone. Thereafter it takes 5-8 months to fix the prosthetic tooth onto the implant.

Dental implants or implant-retained dental prostheses are very stable, as they have a root-like portion that fits into the bone socket, like natural teeth. People who have implant-supported artificial teeth can chew efficiently.

The advantages of dental implants

Dental implants alleviate many of the disadvantages of dentures. The main advantages are:

• The tiny titanium screws acts like a tooth root making the crown more stable
• They are much more comparable to real teeth in their appearance
• Some people can be allergic to the materials that are used to create dentures whereas implants are completely bio-acceptable
• Speech can be generally better with dental implants are there is no slipping
• There are no sore points with dental implants as they do not move
• Your ability to chew is completely restored

Disadvantages of Dental Implants

• Dental implants do take longer to get fitted than dentures
• Implants are more expensive than dentures.
• If you grind your teeth at night then implants may not be suitable for you.
• If you have a phobia of invasive surgery then dental implants may not be for you.

In summary, the choice between dentures and dental implants is a personal one. We hope that this short article highlights the pros and cons with of both.