It is pretty obvious to feel distressed any time you suffer tooth loss. In essence, your teeth play a crucial role in your body. From maintaining your sense of beauty to aiding your digestive system, the role of teeth in your body must never be underestimated.
Even with these roles, there are times when you’re forced to incur a tooth loss, either voluntarily or by force, through accidents. Due to their roles, you are left with no option but to go for a replacement procedure. Your medic will present you with dentures and dental implants as the key restoration options for dealing with tooth loss.
Choosing between dentures and dental implants will greatly depend on a range of factors like the health condition of your jawbone, the status of the remaining teeth, the prices charged for each procedure, and your preferences. Similarly, it would be a great idea to discuss with your dentist to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each approach concerning your preferences and the available alternatives.
There are various factors to think about for your overall dental health. Our professionals at Tarpon Dental will be pleased to offer a free consultation to discuss your natural tooth, gum disease, and replacement teeth. Of course, we are also here to discuss tooth decay, removable dentures, tooth replacement, and how choosing dental implants can add value to your life. If you have concerns about bone loss and seek to preserve bone matter, our professionals at Tarpon Dental can help with that as well. From dental insurance questions to proper care of your replacement teeth, reach out to us today.
Why should you go for dentures and implants?
Well, whether you choose to go for an implant or a denture, it is critical to note that these two procedures are meant to serve the same role. They will provide these benefits.
- Give your facial muscles the desired physical support
- Enhance your speech
- Assist you in chewing the food materials that you hadn’t been able to handle
- Enhance your self-esteem
- Minimize facial consciousness issues any time you want to wear a smile
While these two procedures have similar end goals, they present with great variations. Therefore, it would be a great idea to vet each process before making your final choice. Suppose you have any further questions about how to replace missing teeth or seek professionals at Tarpon Dental to provide medical advice. In that case, our professionals are ready to answer your call and set an appointment.
The Procedure for Dental Implants
Dental implants involve inserting a titanium post inside the jawbone. In this case, the titanium post is meant to replicate the root of your teeth in their natural form. Therefore, you only need to go for a dental implant if you want a permanent solution for replacing a missing tooth.
To go for a dental implant procedure, you will need enough bone to hold the screw-like implants that will be capped with crowns. Dental implants have gained a lot of popularity, particularly among adults aged between 55 and 65. Here is the procedure that your dentist will follow when initiating an implant:
- Extraction of the damaged root
- Drilling a hole into the jawbone
- Implanting a metallic prosthetic root known as a post deep inside the bone
- The top of the item is fitted with a crown
Note that the crown is only fitted when the bone has started growing around the post.
The Working Mechanism of a Dental Implant
The dental implant will continue to osseointegrate with your natural jawbone as you heal. Here, the implant and the adjacent teeth will continue to grow together to form a strong foundation for the replacement tooth. The healing process could last for weeks or months as you proceed with your lifestyle.
How to Maintain a Dental Implant
You will need to follow your natural teeth’ standard dental hygiene practices when caring for your dental implants. This means having regular checkups, brushing at least twice a day, and flossing. Thankfully, you can have more natural-looking teeth without worrying about extensive care procedures on your lower jaw or other areas of your mouth.
The Advantages of a Dental Implant
Here are the advantages of dental implants.
- They are incredibly successful, with an over 95% success rate
- They’re long-lasting
- Easy to care for, just like your regular teeth
- They preserve the integrity of your jaws and teeth
Disadvantages of Dental Implants
Yes, there are a few disadvantages to dental implants. But that does not mean that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages of dental implants.
- They’re a bit expensive when compared to dentures.
- The conditions for dental implants are highly discriminative. That means that it will vary based on the individual and the certain situation that they are in.
Thankfully you have several options for your overall health, and your dental professional can provide advice on the best option for you at your current stage in life.
The Procedure for Dentures
Dentures are prosthetic, removable teeth that are fitted to fill in for the extracted teeth. They can be fitted with little consideration of the nature of your gums and the health of your jawbone. In essence, dentures can be made as a complete replacement of your upper and lower jaws or a few missing teeth.
One might find that denture adhesive will play a role in this procedure and process as well. Here’s how dentures are made:
- Taking a clear impression of the upper or lower jaws, or the few missing teeth
- Studying your biting process and the alignment of your upper and lower jaws- This ensures that the end-product does not affect your chewing mechanism and speech
- A preliminary set of dentures is made in the lab and sent to your dentist for confirmation
- The dentures are placed in your mouth and checked for adjustments
How Dentures Work
Dentures are designed to play the role of removable appliances for your mouth. As such, they may be worn during the day or meal times and removed at night or when taking a rest. Indeed, it is necessary to take these dentures off when one rests and sleeps at night. Individuals appreciate it because they can be removed regularly. In addition, dentures may be used as effective replacements for some of the gum tissues or missing teeth.
In essence, a denture will be custom-made to take the form of a pink-colored acrylic base meant to support the base of the teeth. In addition, some dentists will recommend a denture that includes a lightweight metallic framework to provide extra strength and support.
Dentures are classified as partial or complete. Complete dentures are meant to replace all the teeth in your upper or lower jaws. At times, the replacement could be done on both jaws. Comparatively, partial dentures are meant to fill in gaps and be used when there’s a need for some of the natural teeth to remain. Your dental professionals will talk about an affordable option, if dentures need to be cleaned regularly, and if you must avoid certain foods and other factors that may be relevant in your life.
How to Maintain a Denture
Daily maintenance will be essential to ensure that your dentures remain viable for long. For instance, you need to avoid wearing the dentures overnight, ensuring that they are soaked in a cleaning solution whenever they aren’t worn, and embracing proper cleaning mechanisms for the denture and your gums.
Advantages of Dentures
- You’ll spend less on dentures than implants
- They’re very effective for patients with jawbone issues and gum losses
- Dentures apply a non-invasive procedure when fitting
- The process of making dentures is quick and will only call for four visits
Disadvantages of Dentures
You may need to make periodic structural adjustments as your facial and gum appearances will change with time.
- You may take some time to get used to dentures
- They may be uncomfortable at first
- Dentures will need regular cleaning and may be susceptible to infections
Dental Implant vs. Denture for Missing Teeth
Should you choose a dental implant or a denture? Well, here are some factors to consider when deciding:
- Your age: Dental implants are permanent. They’d be a preferable option for people aged 60 and below. Dentures could be a great choice for older adults.
- Bone density: You’re not a candidate for implants if you’ve lost a part of your bone material.
- Functional issues: Go for a dental implant if you’re looking for comfort and maximum chewing experiences.
- Hygiene: Dentures will require maximum hygienic attention. Go for it if you’re ready to provide daily attention and care.
Reach Out To Tarpon Dental For Missing Tooth Solutions
Our dental professionals at Tarpon Dental will understand your facial structure and look at your other teeth to ensure that we present the right solution. Whether you are dealing with jaw issues, gums, or other matters, our dental professionals in Tarpon Springs can assess your situation and suggest solutions relevant to you. From further deterioration to jaw matters to addressing whether you need a partial set or day implants, our professionals are here for you.
If you have any questions about dental implants and dentures and any popular alternative options that can be fitted properly, call us and set an appointment for a consultation. Our professionals are keen to understand your needs and talk through implants and dentures for the best results. Reach out to us today to find out what solutions would work best for you today. We are pleased to understand your situation and present options to help you live your best life with a healthy and functional smile.
