You can suffer tooth loss for a variety of reasons. One of the most common causes of tooth loss is gum disease. Teeth may also fall out as a result of facial trauma, tooth decay, or bruxism. Sometimes, teeth need to be extracted because they are severely damaged beyond repair. Whatever the reason for your tooth loss, missing teeth need to be replaced. There are a few ways in which this can be done. Traditionally, tooth loss has been addressed with dentures. Today, dental implants provide a unique alternative. If you have lost teeth, Ford Dental Group can help you to determine the best treatment for your needs.
Replacing Teeth With Traditional Dentures
Dentures have long been the treatment for replacing missing teeth, and have been used for centuries. The dentures we use today, however, are a major improvement over their ancestors, providing a more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing result. The basic premise behind dentures is still the same though.
Dentures are made from impressions of your mouth, consisting of an acrylic base that is made to sit directly on your gums. The base holds acrylic resin replacement teeth. Dentures, which are removable prostheses, can be made to replace an entire arch of missing teeth, called a full denture, or sections of missing teeth called a partial denture. Partial dentures also have metal clasps, which anchor on to your natural teeth to provide additional support for your prosthetic teeth.
Benefits And Drawbacks Of Dentures
Benefits of Dentures
- Modern research and development have improved dentures immensely. The restorations we use today were more comfortable and more natural in appearance than dentures just a few decades ago
- The restoration of your abilities to eat and speak.
- The restoration of your smile, and your confidence.
Disadvantages of Dentures
- Care can be tedious, as they need to be removed nightly and cleaned separately before you brush the rest of your teeth and gums.
- They are not always secure and can slip out of place while you eat or speak. This can lead to embarrassment.
- Dentures rely on your gums for support, and this delicate tissue was never meant to support the pressures that are exerted on them with this restoration.
- If your dentures do not fit properly or slide out of place frequently, you may experience painful denture sores.
- Your jawbone changes shape as a result of bone loss but the base of your dentures, being made of acrylic, does not adjust to accommodate these changes. As a result, you need to have your restoration replaced every few years.
Replacing Teeth With Dental Implants
Dental implants are a modern alternative to traditional dentures. They were the result of an accidental discovery in the early 1950s. The first successful implants were placed in the 60s, and improvements have been made over the years to make them what they are today. Implants consist of small titanium posts, which are used to provide support for ceramic crowns. The posts are surgically implanted into the jawbone. As you heal, the bone fuses to the posts, integrating them into your jaw and turning them into strong, stable, immovable roots that anchor your teeth securely in place.
Benefits of Dental Implants
- They look and feel much more natural.
- Eating and speaking abilities are restored. You do not need to relearn how to speak with implants either as you would with dentures.
- Because the teeth are held securely in place on stable posts, they will not slip out of place when you eat or speak.
- They can be taken care of just like the rest of your natural teeth.
- Implants offer greater comfort. The teeth are supported by the posts rather than your gums.
- They stimulate the jawbone like the roots of your natural teeth. This stops and prevents the bone loss that accompanies tooth loss, and helps to maintain the integrity of your jawbone.
Disadvantages of Dental Implants
- They require a surgical procedure for the placement of the posts.
- Recovery times can take several months.
- They are often more expensive than traditional treatments.
- You need to have sufficient bone mass remaining in your jaw for the success of your implants. Otherwise, you may need to undergo a bone graft first.
Questions About Dental Implants Vs. Dentures?
Tooth loss is a devastating event with severe consequences. Along with the impact, tooth loss has on the appearance of your smile, it can make eating and speaking more challenging. Your jawbone gradually begins to change shape as well, which can then throw off your bite and cause other issues.
Learn More About Dental Implants And Dentures
- Dental Implant
- All on 4
- Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?
- Benefits of Dental Implants
- Dental Implants and Osseointegration
- Dental Implants and Titanium
- Dental Implants vs. Dentures
- Dentures
While there are pros and cons to each type of restoration, missing teeth need to be replaced. We can help you to weigh your options and make the best decision for you. Call Ford Dental Group today to schedule your consultation at (714) 409-6161.
