Much has been made of the superiority of dental implants over dentures, but the fact remains that some people still prefer dentures, and therefore the dental industry continues to make them. Let’s look at what they are and their relative merits.
What are Dentures?
These are, if you like, the traditional solution to missing teeth. They consist of artificial teeth mounted on a “plate” which sits on the gums. A full set of dentures replaces all the teeth, but partial sets are available, designed to sit around the existing teeth, with a mutually supportive relationship. A solitary tooth that has lost its colleague on both sides is liable to collapse one way or the other, but with a well-made plate of new teeth sitting around it, it can’t be rocked back and forth and destabilised in the same way. Similarly, the plate uses the existing tooth or teeth as a kind of anchor or support to prevent movement which can cause soreness.
What Are Implants?
The clue is in the word. A metal post, like a root, is implanted into the jawbone and a tooth is attached to it. This depends on the post being accepted by the body, so the bone grows around it and the two fuse together, much like a broken bone will knit together to form a stable join.
A temporary tooth could be put in position while the healing takes place, and once the post has settled into the bone, a permanent tooth can be inserted. In the early days of implants, they were done one by one, usually to plug a gap and prevent the whole set of natural teeth from becoming destabilised. This is still a popular procedure, but there is now an option for replacing the complete set of teeth with All On Four, which uses just four strategically placed roots as the foundations, supporting banks or arches of new teeth to make up the whole set.
The question of dentures vs implants is all a matter of personal preference. While one individual may like the permanence of implants, another may appreciate the fact that dentures can be removed, giving the gums a break and allowing the dentures to be cleaned in a comfortable and practical position.
Dentures and implants perform the same functions: the visual/cosmetic aspect and the mechanical processes of biting and chewing. Like implants, dentures have benefited from advances in technology in terms of materials that improve both appearance and performance. Our teeth are a kind of calling card, the representatives that give other people a friendly smile, so it is important that we are happy with them. An irregular, untidy or unattractive set of front teeth can inhibit people, making them reluctant to let themselves go and smile or laugh. Both dentures and implants can give self-confidence and improve self-image, and as they say, if you don’t love yourself, how can you expect other people to love you?
The practical purpose of teeth, as tools to help us eat, is often overlooked in favour of the cosmetic side of it, but having a good set of teeth for chewing and biting can also improve our quality of life. Whether you are getting stuck into a steak or crunching nuts as part of a plant-based diet, having the right tools for the job is something everyone should be able to take for granted.
Having said that, natural teeth, dentures and implants all need to be handled with care, and biting down on something hard can cause damage, so the same rules apply in every case: be careful.
Call Us To Discuss Dentures vs Implants in Townsville
Choosing which is right for you depends on being in full possession of the facts, so it pays to talk it through with a professional. You can call us at My Family Dental and we will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Or if it’s more convenient, fill in the online enquiry form and we’ll get back to you.
