With today’s tooth replacement options, missing teeth don’t have to mean low self-esteem or trouble chewing. In fact, modern dentists have several ways of replacing missing teeth. Dental implants are a long-lasting, natural-looking option for many patients. In some cases, dentures are also a smart option to consider.
Here’s a closer look at the tooth replacement options DeLand patients turn to the most, and how they compare across factors including longevity, cost, and comfort.
How Long Do Dental Implants And Dentures Last?
Typically, a set of dentures lasts 5–10 years. Over time, the material used to make the denture base may weaken, causing the dentures to feel looser in your mouth. Dentures can also develop cracks that can hold on to smelly oral bacteria.
Dental implants have a much longer lifespan than dentures. When properly anchored into your jawbone, a dental implant can last the rest of your life. The crown, which is the visible portion of the implant, may need to be replaced eventually. However, this is a simple, non-surgical procedure, and many implant patients never need a crown replacement.
Implants do need to be surgically inserted into your jawbone, and the process requires several dental visits over the span of a few months. As such, some patients opt for dentures because they seem like a simpler, faster solution in the moment. In the long term, however, dental implants require less fussing because they are so long-lasting. Plus, in many cases, the team at Orange City Modern Dentistry will be able to insert your implants, making the process less daunting in our familiar, friendly office.
How Much Do Dental Implants Or Dentures Cost?
Cost is another area in which dentures take the short-term win, while implants have an advantage over time. In other words, it costs less to get a set of dentures than it does to have dental implant surgery. But keep in mind that these initial costs are only part of the story.
With dentures, there are a few ongoing costs to consider. You’ll need denture cases, cleaning solution, and perhaps denture adhesive. You may need to have your dentures adjusted a few times over the years, and eventually you’ll need to have them replaced. So, before long, the cost of dentures builds to the point of being very close to, if not more than, the cost of dental implants.
Dental implant surgery can be a bit costly up front. Sadly, dental insurance doesn’t always fully cover it. However, there are really no ongoing costs once you have dental implants. You brush and care for your implanted teeth just as you would natural teeth, and your dentist will keep an eye on them during your routine checkups.
How Comfortable Are Dental Implants Or Dentures?
Sometimes, when we talk to patients about dental implants Orange City Modern Dentistry staff learn that they’re afraid of pain during recovery. It is true that recovering from dental implant surgery comes with some discomfort. However, the pain is short-lived and easily managed.
Getting dentures does not require surgery, so you won’t have any post-surgical pain to worry about if you go this route. However, it’s not accurate to assume that dentures will never cause discomfort. The discomfort caused by dentures is often experienced in spurts over the years. You might have weeks when your dentures rub and you need to have them refitted. There may also be times when food trapped between your gums and the denture causes soreness.
Dental implants, while they do come with some post-surgical pain, are unlikely to cause any significant discomfort once you’re healed. If you can manage to endure the recovery (which really isn’t that bad), you can look forward to less oral discomfort as you age.
Are Dental Implants Or Dentures Good For Your Mouth?
In one respect, both dentures and implants are “good for your mouth” in that they allow you to chew, speak, and smile more effectively. If you’re missing all or most teeth in either your upper or lower jaw, getting a set of dentures will definitely improve all these functions. This can be a life-changing improvement!
There is, however, a limitation to consider with dentures and long-term dental health. When natural tooth roots are removed from your jawbone, it no longer receives stimulation from those tooth roots. Over time, this can cause your jawbone to deteriorate. Eventually, this could compromise the health of any remaining teeth, and it could also lead to changes in facial structure and appearance.
With dental implants, you don’t have to worry about jawbone deterioration. The implants that are inserted into your jaw stimulate the bone similarly to the way natural tooth roots would. As such, teeth on either side of the missing tooth are likely to stay stronger, healthier, and more secure. You also don’t have to worry about deterioration of your jawbone leading to changes in facial structure or in the appearance of your smile.
Is this to say that dentures are bad for oral health? No. They just don’t address the concern of jawbone deterioration the way implants do.
What Is It Like To Eat With Dentures Or Dental Implants?
If you’ve been struggling to eat with missing teeth, getting dentures will definitely make life easier. You will have an easier time eating foods that are chewy, crunchy, or stringy. However, there are some intricacies that come with eating with dentures. Your dentures may slip a little if you eat foods that are too chewy or sticky. You may find you need to cut your food into smaller pieces, or that there are certain foods you just can’t chew comfortably. This varies widely from person to person.
With dental implants, there are few limitations. Once you’re healed and the implants are securely anchored into your jawbone, you will be able to bite and chew just as you would with natural teeth. You’ll want to avoid ripping bags open with your teeth, crunching on ice cubes, and biting very crunchy nut shells, but, to be honest, you shouldn’t be doing those things with your natural teeth, either!
Here’s the bottom line: In many cases, dental implants are a more cost-effective, comfortable, stable option. However, if you need to avoid surgery, prefer an immediate solution, or need to prioritize upfront costs, dentures can restore much of the functionality of natural teeth. In other words, both sides of the dentures vs implants debate have merit. The key is to work with a dentist who can walk you through both of these missing teeth solutions and help you determine which one best fits your needs and lifestyle.
At Orange City Modern Dentistry, we take a patient-centered approach. We’d be happy to tell you more about the tooth replacement options DeLand residents have available to them. Our knowledgeable dentists are often able to provide these services, but they also don’t hesitate to refer more complicated cases to a great periodontist who can offer more specialized care. Whether you have missing teeth or need to have a tooth removed soon, we welcome you to contact us for a consultation.