Benefits of Dental Implants Over Dentures

Atlanta Oral & Facial Surgery: Dental Implant Office

When searching for a tooth replacement method, it is vital that you consider and compare all of your options. In recent years, dental implants have become dentists’ and patients’ preferred choice for tooth replacement. Atlanta Oral & Facial Surgery offers top-of-the-line dental implants in Atlanta, GA. If you are considering a form of dentures, we also offer implant-supported dentures. When it comes to having teeth replaced, the two main options you have are dentures and dental implants. Both of these choices come with a variety of benefits and drawbacks, and it is necessary to evaluate them. The first step is understanding what each of these options are and what will work best for you.

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are removable prosthetic devices that replace some or all of your missing teeth along with some of the surrounding soft tissue. Full dentures are used to replace all of the teeth on the upper or lower jaw. Partial dentures only have a few artificial teeth to fill in the gaps between the remaining natural teeth. Dentures can be removed from the mouth and replaced as needed. Affordable dentures are a great tooth replacement method that continues to work well for a lot of people. However, significant advances in dentistry have produced a more permanent, supportive method of tooth replacement known as dental implants and implant supported dentures.

The Pros and Cons of Getting Affordable Dentures

Since dentures are removable, this means that they are not permanent placements in the mouth. The lack of permanence can create a lot of discomfort and annoyance for those who use dentures as a tooth replacement method. The advantage to getting regular dentures is that they typically require lower upfront costs than dental implants do. Removed this sentence. They simply pop in and out of your mouth as needed. Dentures are also easily adjustable if it is necessary. On the other hand, dentures pose many disadvantages, which include:

Causing Discomfort — Since dentures are not attached to your mouth, they may slide around and move about when talking or eating. This creates discomfort for many patients as the dentures may rub on your natural gums.
Unnatural Feeling — With dentures, you are still anatomically missing teeth. This means that when the dentures are not in your mouth, you will still feel the gaps of your missing teeth. Also, since the dentures are not attached to your mouth, the movement of your false teeth will feel unnatural.
Food Limitations — Those who choose dentures will have to be cautious about what foods they eat. Dentures may stick to certain foods and fall out or make eating certain foods extremely challenging. Dentures can make it difficult to bite down into foods.
Not Permanent — Dentures often need to be replaced every 5 to 10 years, depending on their wear. Dentures are not a permanent solution to tooth loss.
Fail To Prevent Bone Loss — Dentures do not provide a tooth root the way that dental implants This means that the jawbone will continue to deteriorate in the areas where it is not being used. Dental implants provide a prosthetic tooth root that encourages healthy bone levels and prevents bone loss.
Nightly Removal — You should not sleep in dentures. Dentures must be removed at night to allow your mouth and gums to rest and heal properly. Removing dentures at night is also important for their cleaning process. It is recommended that dentures be soaked in a cleansing solution overnight.
Daily Cleaning — Regularly cleaning of your dentures is vital to preventing gum disease. When your dentures are not clean, bacteria and fungi build up on them and can compromise your oral health.
Extra Products to Prevent Slipping — Denture users often opt to use creams and oral adhesive products to help keep the dentures in place and stop them from sliding and slipping around in your mouth.
Regular Relining — Dentures need to be regularly relined. As you wear your dentures, your facial structure will change. Since dentures do not stop bone loss, the bone will also change. Denture relining is necessary to ensure that your dentures stay in your mouth and fit appropriately.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are a root replacement of a tooth that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The implant itself is a titanium post. After the implant is placed, an abutment is attached. The abutment is a connector that allows a general dentist to attach the crown or new tooth to the implant. Dental implants look and feel like real teeth. The post acts as a new tooth root and stimulates new bone growth. This root allows for the jawbone to be supported so that there is no bone loss. For a long time, dentures were the only solution to missing teeth. With recent advances in dental technology, our surgeons now proudly offer a large variety of dental implant treatments at Atlanta Oral & Facial Surgery.

Why Should I Get Dental Implants?

Dental implants are often more expensive upfront than the alternative of dentures. However, they offer a plethora of benefits and often end up being cheaper than dentures in the long run. It is important to consult with one of our oral surgeons at Atlanta Oral & Facial Surgery prior to deciding on dental implants. At our dental office, we will examine you to ensure that you are a good candidate for receiving dental implants. In some cases, patients will need to receive a bone graft prior to, or at the same time as placing the implants. Once our doctors have determined that you are a good candidate for dental implants, we will get to work helping to get your teeth restored to new. With dental implants, you will receive all of their benefits, including:

Facial Bone Support — A dental implant acts as a prosthetic tooth root that is placed directly into the jawbone. This root encourages bone growth and supports the existing bone so that you will not continue to experience further bone loss.
Natural Feel — Dental implants are securely placed in your mouth and are adjusted to ensure that they look and feel similar to natural teeth.
Perfect Fit — Our oral surgeons ensure to place each implant exactly where it needs to be so that your smile is restored. You won’t have to worry about dental implants not fitting the way they should.
Easy Maintenance — To care for dental implants is easy. You will only have to continue with your normal oral hygiene routine: regular brushing, flossing, and dental visits.
Permanence — Dental implants are the permanent tooth restoration solution. You most likely will never have to get dental implants replaced once you have them. Dentures have to be replaced every five to ten years, and a bridge every seven to ten years, whereas dental implants are the longest lasting thing in dentistry.
Chewing Ability — With dental implants, you have no food restrictions. Since implants are attached to the bone as natural teeth are, you can chew any food you wish comfortably.
Beautiful Smile — Implants provide you with the opportunity to restore your smile to new. Dental implants are placed exactly where it needs to be so that you get a natural, beautiful smile.
Securely Attached — At our dental implant offices, our oral surgeons will expertly place your new implants into the bone, securing them so that you will not experience tooth or bone loss.
Highly Successful — Dental implant restoration has a higher success rate than that of dentures. Dental implants are designed to last and provide a secure, strong bond with the living bone in your mouth.

Dentures Vs. Dental Implants: What Is the Cost?

Regular dentures may have a more affordable up-front cost, but the cost of dental implants is a long-term investment. When you start to look at the extra things you will need to pay for with dentures, dental implants start to look like the smarter financial option in the long run. With dentures, it is likely that you will have to pay for cleaning solutions, relining services, replacement dentures, fixatives, and more. When you get dental implants, they are a long term solution. Most often, dental implants do not need to be replaced, and they typically last for more than 25 years. When you choose dental implants, you choose to invest in your oral, physical, and emotional health. Dental implants will not only return the confidence you have in your smile, but they do not limit your eating habits or your nutrition. Dental implants encourage bone growth in your jawbones so that you do not have to worry about your facial structure changing over time. Dental implants are a wise investment to make in your overall well-being.

Contact Our Dental Implant Office Today

If you are trying to decide what the best tooth replacement option is for you, our oral surgeons can help you with the decision-making process. Our team is highly skilled and trained to assist patients on their dental journey. When it comes to taking care of your oral health, it is important that you discuss your options with our professionals at Atlanta Oral & Facial Surgery in Atlanta, GA. Dental implants come with many benefits that our doctors will discuss with you. When it is time for tooth replacement, we will help guide you in the right direction for your unique situation. No matter what you need, our team is here for you. Reach out to one of our dental implant offices today to schedule a consultation with us.