As an implant dentist, we work with many patients who need to replace their teeth and are looking for a more secure way to do so than dentures. While dentures have stood the test of time, providing a dependable replacement for natural teeth, they can never fully compare to natural teeth because they are removable in nature. Even a perfect fitting set of dentures can come loose from time to time because it is designed to come out.
While a denture adhesive can help, we have found that many people are so fearful of them coming loose, they avoid eating in public and stop doing some of their normal pre-denture activities. If this is you, you do not have to live like this. We can replace your dentures with a secure and permanent tooth replacement: dental implants. To learn more, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with our Corcoran implant dentist. In the meantime, here are a few things to think about.
IMPLANTS VS. DENTURES: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
How they are secured
We will surgically place the dental implants into the jaw for maximum stability. To complete the procedure, we implant a titanium post under the gums and secure it to the jawbone. The bone and titanium will fuse together through the process of osseointegration. This means the jawbone will provide stability and security to the implant and the new tooth. Dentures, on the other hand, are removable. We will secure the dentures using wires and clasps or by surrounding the gums. Dentures can remain in place, but since they are removable, they can become loose.
Impact on your daily routine
As an implant dentist, we understand how important it is to have a dental prosthetic that does not directly impact one’s routine but allows the individual to maintain it. That is exactly what an implant does. It functions like a natural tooth, so the patient can eat favorite foods and maintain his or her daily routine without any issues. Dentures can also be secure, but they take getting used to and may require adjusting how or what the patient eats.
Caring for them
Taking care of dental implants is as easy as taking care of natural teeth. All the patient needs to do is brush and floss the teeth like normal and have regular teeth cleanings. This makes it possible not to think about the prosthetic. On the other hand, dentures need to be removed on a nightly basis to be cleaned and soaked.
Appearance
Modern dental technology has made it possible to have a set of dentures that looks like natural teeth. There are several quality levels with dentures and the one that a patient selects will impact how natural they appear. Dental implants, however, are created using an impression of the patient’s mouth and measurements, so they are the perfect size to blend in with the remaining natural teeth. They look so natural that it will be difficult, if not impossible, to tell the difference between the natural teeth and the implanted ones.
As an implant dentist, we know that the best aspect of dental implants is what you do not see.