If you have missing teeth, you know the embarrassment, and you’re probably aware that you aren’t able to chew food as well as you could with a full set of teeth. Did you also know that every missing tooth can harm your health in other ways? As soon as a tooth is lost, the process of bone loss begins in your jaws. This harms the support system for the rest of your teeth. Missing teeth can make brushing and flossing less effective, which can lead to plaque buildup and gum disease.
There are many good reasons to replace missing teeth, and you may think that dentures are the only option. While dentures are an effective way to replace missing teeth, there is a better option: dental implants. Dental implants are permanent titanium posts that are implanted into your jaws. They can be used to hold dentures securely in place, or individually topped with artificial teeth that are much closer to real teeth than dentures are.
4 reasons why implants beat dentures
- Stronger – Implants give you more chewing and biting power than regular dentures, and they don’t slip.
- Permanent – The titanium posts fuse to your bone and become permanent. The artificial teeth may eventually need to be repaired or replaced, but unlike dentures, which last only a few years before needing to be replaced, implants can last for up to 40 years.
- Stop jawbone loss – Even with dentures, you keep losing jawbone. With implants the bone loss stops because of the posts.
- Make you look younger – Jawbone loss is the reason that people who wear dentures look “old” without them in, no matter what their age. Implants don’t come out, and they keep your face filled out and youthful looking.
Other factors to consider
- Implants are custom made per tooth; dentures are fit to your mouth but the individual teeth are not custom made.
- Implants can be brushed like teeth and with gentle toothpaste. Dentures must be removed to be cleaned and should not be cleaned with toothpaste.
- Implants eliminate the need for adhesives, soaking products, denture cups, denture brushes, etc.
Are you a candidate for dental implants?
Dental implants are a great tooth replacement choice for nearly everyone. The first step to find out if dental implants are the right choice for you is to visit your Westminster dentist for a full oral exam. If you have untreated issues with your teeth, gums or jawbone, you’ll need to look after these first in order for your your implant surgery to be successful. Your dentist will also need to assess your bite (occlusion). This is another important aspect of successful implant restoration.
Questions?
If you have any questions about dental implants vs dentures, please ask me and I’ll reply by tomorrow.
