Dental Implants vs Dentures is a common decision faced by over 30 million Americans living with missing teeth. For some, it may be just one tooth; for others, it could be an entire row or even multiple teeth on both jaws. Tooth loss can result from many causes, including decay, injury, or gum disease. Whatever the reason, if you’re missing a tooth or several teeth, you have options—and it often comes down to choosing between Dental Implants vs Dentures.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both, and choosing the right option depends on a few factors. The option available to you depends on the price, what you prefer and the condition of your jawbone, and the teeth you have left.
Dentures and dental implants are different in many ways, and there are pros and cons for each.
Dentures vs. Implants: What is it?
Dentures serve as removable false teeth that help restore function and appearance. Whether you have a lot or very little bone in your upper and lower jaw, your dentist can still fit dentures to your mouth. You can choose between a complete set, which replaces all teeth in the upper and lower jaws, or a partial set, which replaces only a few missing teeth.
The denture process is straightforward and generally painless. Your dentist takes an impression of your upper and/or lower jaw, then examines your bite and gum alignment. This helps ensure the dentures feel comfortable for both eating and speaking.
A dental lab creates your initial set of dentures and sends them to your dentist. During your next visit, your dentist places them in your mouth to check the fit and function. If anything feels off, your dentist requests adjustments from the lab. Once the fit is perfect, the lab produces your final set.
You’ll use an adhesive to keep the dentures securely in place. A weak adhesive can cause them to slip, so be sure to ask your dentist about the strongest denture adhesives available.
Dental Implants
Dental implants involve placing small screws directly into your jaw. To qualify for dental implants, you need enough bone in your jaw to support the screws. Without sufficient bone, the implants may loosen over time and fail to fit snugly.
If your jawbone lacks the necessary volume, your dentist will recommend a bone graft. First, they remove the damaged tooth root. Then they drill a small hole into your jawbone and insert a metal post, which serves as an artificial tooth root. After placement, your jawbone needs time to grow around the post and secure it in place—a process that can take several months.
Once the bone fully integrates with the implant, your dentist will attach a crown to the top of the post. They carefully shape and color the crown to match your natural teeth, creating a strong and seamless smile.
Dentures vs. Implants: Pros and Cons
When it comes to which one you should choose, you should pick the option that is best for you. But there are some advantages and disadvantages to choices.
Advantages of Dental Implants
- Treated like your natural teeth and can be brushed and flossed.
- Look and feel like your natural teeth.
- You can eat anything including hard and sticky food.
- Allow you to speak normally.
- Bones and other teeth are not affected.
- Can last for a long time.
Disadvantages of Dental Implants
- Dental implants cost can be expensive.
- Getting the implants is a surgical procedure and can require a long time to heal.
Advantages of Dentures
- More affordable.
- Easy to try out.
- Makes it easier for your body to heal before getting dental implants.
- Depending on location of missing tooth may be the best option.
- Noninvasive.
- Easily modified to accommodate any future missing teeth.
Disadvantages of Dentures
- They can make it hard to eat and speak because they can slip out of place.
- Can’t eat certain foods.
- Risk of gum disease.
- Need to be replaced every 3 to 6 years.
- A partial may weaken the surrounding teeth.
Dentures Vs Dental Implants: The Procedure
The process is not an invasive process which why so many people prefer it. Your dentist will first make an impression of your upper or lower jaw. If you need dentures to replace teeth on both jaws, then an impression will be made for both.
Once the impression is made it will be sent to the lab and they make a beta set. This beta set will be sent to your dentist and fitted into your mouth. They will make sure that it fits correctly, the alignment is right, and the length of the teeth allows you to eat and speak normally.
If everything is okay, they make the final set. Ask your dentist about the best adhesives for dentures to ensure they don’t slip out.
Dental Implants
The procedure for dental implants can be an invasive one that can take a while to heal.
First, your dentist will take an impression of your mouth. They will need to understand if there is enough workable bone surface to hold the dental implants in place. If not, the first step would be a sinus lift. In addition, long term, dental Implants is the one of the most affordable tooth replacement options.
At Victory Plaza Dental Group, we perform a sinus lift by carefully raising the maxillary sinus to create space for additional bone. After lifting the sinus cavity, we graft bone into the new area to support future dental implants.
Once the bone graft is in place, we allow time for proper healing—typically up to 10 months. After the area fully heals, we remove the damaged root and drill a precise hole into your jawbone. Next, we insert a metal post that acts as a strong, artificial tooth root. To complete the process, we place a custom crown on top of the post, designed to look as close to your natural teeth as possible.
Dentures Vs Dental Implants: The cost
Dentures cost are much more affordable than dental implants. Dental implants cost may vary depending on location and other factors. An implant can cost anywhere from $1,600 to $2,200 per tooth.
While dentures cost is much more affordable at $1,600 for a complete set. Your dentist can give you a dentures cost break down. They can also tell you the average cost of tooth implant and the average cost of dentures.
The dentures cost break down will rely on the type of dentures you pick.
See Also: Bone Grafting Cost in North Hollywood
See Also: Cost of Dentures with and without Insurance
How to maintain
Dentures require daily care. Don’t wear them all night. When you go to bed, soak them in a cleaning solution. Clean them daily by brushing.
To maintain dental implants, treat them like you do your natural teeth. You should brush and floss at least twice a day and go to the dentist regularly.
Over time dentures will need to be refitted because your bite will change. But dental implants will not.
Dentures Vs. Implants: Potential Complications
They both can come with a few complications. Dental implants are one of the best treatment for missing teeth, but an infection, cracked crowns, or a loose post can happen.
Dentures is another one of the best treatment for missing teeth, but they can slip and cause ulcerations on gums.
Deciding Factors
When it comes to the debate on dentures vs. implants, there are some factors to consider.
- Age: If you are in your 60s or younger, you may want to go with the implants. You will have years of using your teeth, and implants would be easier and feel more natural. If you are older, the invasive procedure could be a drawback.
- Bone: If you have experienced bone loss which can happen through old age, injury, or gum disease, implants may not be for you. A bone graft can help, but it makes the process a lot more expensive.
- Comfort: Dental implants are more comfortable.
- Care: If you think that you will not be able to care for and clean your dentures every day, implants would be a better option.
Dentures vs Dental Implants: Alternatives
There are other options if you have missing teeth and don’t want either of the options listed above.
Dental Bridge
A dental bridge restores your smile by filling the gap left by one or more missing teeth. Your dentist begins the process by preparing the natural teeth on either side of the empty space—these are called abutment teeth. After shaping these teeth, your dentist fits crowns over them, which serve as anchors for the bridge. Then, they place the artificial tooth or teeth—known as pontics—between the crowns to complete the restoration.
Dentists often recommend dental bridges when patients want a fixed, non-removable solution to tooth loss that doesn’t require surgery like implants. By using the strength of your surrounding teeth, a dental bridge improves your ability to chew, restores your speech clarity, and prevents other teeth from shifting out of place. It also helps maintain the natural shape of your face and boosts your overall confidence.
Partial
A partial denture or flipper looks like a retainer with one or many teeth. They are affordable, but they don’t last long. Usually, if someone is waiting for an implant or bridge, they will be given a partial denture until it is ready.
Snap-in
A snap-in denture is a combination of both. There is no adhesive to keep it in place instead, implants keep it secure.
A snap-in denture may have a couple of snaps at the bottom that will attach to the post in your jaw. These types of dentures can be permanent or removed when cleaned.
When it comes to the dentures vs dental implants in North Hollywood, it depends entirely on what is best for you. To decide the best option for you, you should speak with your dentist. If you have ever searched for a dentist near me, you are in luck. If you are looking for the bests dentist in town, look no further. The bests dentist in town is at Victory Plaza dental group in North Hollywood.
Contact us for a consultation at Victory Plaza dental group in North Hollywood, and we will speak with you about your options. We can discuss the procedures, the average cost of tooth implant, and the average cost of dentures.
Here’s a study about Implant-supported removable partial dentures.