Dentures vs. Dental Implants
Seattle, WA
 No one is missing the days of missing teeth. What was once a fact of life is no longer the case. These days there are more options for tooth replacement than ever before. Dentures and dental implants are two of the most popular ones. Let's take a look at both to see which choice is the best one for you and your needs.
Dentures
Dentures are the tooth replacement option with the most history behind them. People have been making dentures or some form of them for as long as tooth loss has existed. There are definitely some advantages to dentures. For one thing, they usually cost less than dental implants. This makes them more affordable to more patients. Dentures are a non-invasive procedure, meaning that surgery is not required to wear them (unlike dental implants). This may put more people at ease about the whole process of fixing their teeth. And if you do fix your teeth but lose more in the future, it’s relatively simple for a dentist to customize the dentures to handle the new loss.
Dentures work, but they’re not the best. For one thing, they just don’t look quite as close to your natural teeth as dental implants do. And when you’re talking, they can slip and slide around your mouth, potentially causing embarrassment. They require more upkeep. Dental implants stay in your mouth at all times but dentures have to be removed and cleaned on a regular basis and you have to soak them overnight. Dentures aren’t permanent. They will have to be replaced every few years while dental implants last for twenty years or more.
Dental Implants
Dental implants haven’t been around as long as dentures, and this is their advantage. They are the latest and proven technology in the fight against tooth loss. For one thing, they’re way more natural than dentures could ever hope to be. That’s because they stay in your mouth and you treat them just like your natural teeth. Brush and floss them like normal, eat whatever you want with them (dentures limit the kinds of food that you can have), and obviously don’t take them out at night. Because they stay in place, they won’t move around or affect the way you speak. When you take good care of them, they can last for decades. Basically the only disadvantage dental implants have is in the price category. They’re far more expensive than dentures, but we feel that the advantages outweigh any disadvantages, and the price is more than worth it.
By now you’re far better equipped with the information you need to help you decide which tooth loss replacement option is the best one for you. This doesn’t mean that you’re ready to make such an important decision on your own. Now’s the time to make an appointment by calling Queen Anne Family Dental at 206-424-4450 or stop by our office to get that extra expert advice that only we can offer to help you make your final decision. |
