Dental Implants or Dentures? Which Will Be Best to Choose?
Do you have multiple missing teeth and are exploring whether dentures or implants will be best? Dental implants will certainly cost more, but if you ask us for our dental opinion, it’s money well spent. Dentures can become loose-fitting and uncomfortable over time because they rely on suction, while implants are fixed. You might also be wondering if there are dentures you can wear all the time? Well, that’s only possible once more with dental implants, which can use a minimum number of titanium posts (around four) to fix a hybrid denture you never have to take out.
Dental implants will be the superior solution, but explore the differences between the two prosthetics below to determine which will work best for you.
Dentures: Benefits, process and cost
Dentures typically last around 10 years.
What are dentures?
Dentures are removable prosthetic teeth that fit over your gums. They are removable false teeth, and many associate dentures with a complete set of replacement teeth, but you can also get partial dentures if only a few of your teeth are missing.
Benefits of dentures:
- Removable for easy cleaning
- Help restore chewing, biting and speaking functions
- Restores confidence
- Support your facial structure
- Natural-looking
- Available on the NHS
Disadvantages of dentures:
- They take a while to get used to
- They are not completely fixed, so they can slip when eating or talking
- They need to be cleaned daily and stored properly
- Dentures need replacing every 3-5 years as they get worn out. More.
- Ill-fitting dentures can lead to gum disease
- Irritation of the gums can be caused by moving dentures
The cost of dentures
Dental implants: Benefits, process and cost
Single implants | Full mouth implants
Dental implants can last up to 30 years.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are also prosthetic teeth, but instead of being removable, they are ‘implanted’ into the jawbone using a titanium rod. This makes them a fixed and permanent solution to missing teeth. You can have a single implant placed, or a full set of teeth can be fitted using around 4 to 6 implants. Explore dental implant types.
Advantages of dental implants:
- Restores bite, chew and speaking functions
- You will be able to smile with confidence
- Look and feel like a natural tooth
- Your smile will look younger and restore facial structure
- Replacements are anchored to the implant not your neighbouring teeth
- They can last a lifetime if cared for properly
- Easy maintenance
- Over 90% success rate
Disadvantages of dental implants:
- Not available on the NHS at the moment
- Procedure, from start to finish, takes around 6 months
- You will have to learn a new cleaning routine
