How Dental Implants Win Out Over Dentures

Dental Implant Dentist Portage MI

How Dental Implants Win Out Over Dentures

Dental Implant Dentist Portage MI

When you have missing teeth, our Portage, MI, dentist understands that taking that next step may feel overwhelming. After all, there are multiple restorative dental procedures to choose from.

Each form of restoration has its own benefits and is often dependent on:

  • How many teeth you have missing
  • Age and current oral health
  • Personal preferences with regard to treatment

Two popular options are dental implants and dentures. A dental implant is a small titanium post topped with a porcelain crown that is embedded into your jawbone and functions as an artificial tooth root. Dentures are false teeth that are attached to a removable appliance. Both work as solutions for tooth loss but when compared, implants emerge victorious for 4 particular reasons.

Here’s how the dental implant procedure stacks up against traditional dentures and why they’re worth the investment.

Dental Implants Offer Patients:

1. A Permanent, No Slip Fit

The primary complaint about dentures is that they slip at times when they shouldn’t. Maybe they shift while you’re talking or are moved out of place when eating. Whenever it is, it’s usually at an inopportune time and may result in some embarrassment.

Dental implants, on the other hand, are permanently fused to your jawbone allowing them to firmly remain in place. In addition, no adhesives are required to keep them from moving around in your mouth. You are free to go about your day just as you would with natural teeth.

2. The Freedom to Enjoy an Unrestricted Diet and Easier Chewing

Unlike with dentures, eating is not restricted or limited if you went through with dental implant surgery. After they have been placed in your jawbone and healing has finished, dental implants function exactly like your existing teeth.

Read More4 Ways Replacing a Tooth Can Improve Your Life

This means that you don’t have to avoid certain foods like caramel, apples, or corn on the cob that may otherwise damage dentures. Many with dental implants also report being able to chew more comfortably because they are permanently affixed in the mouth.

3. A Decreased Risk of Infection or Gum Disease

Just because they aren’t technically your natural teeth, doesn’t mean you don’t have to still take care of dental restorations. Proper oral hygiene must be practiced regularly with both dentures and dental implants. If cleaning is ignored, plaque can accumulate and result in other oral complications.

There is less risk, however, of trapped food leading to gum disease or infection if you have single-tooth dental implants. This is because dentures have to be removed and thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis to rid them of food particles left behind. If your dentures are not cleaned often, plaque will build up and negatively affect surrounding gum tissue or other teeth.

4. Lower Overall Maintenance

With dental implants, all you need to do in terms of care is brush at least twice a day, floss daily, and receive professional teeth cleanings every 6 months. They are to be treated like your natural teeth and you can freely eat foods that are sticky or crunchy without worry.

Dental implants are also less likely to require future corrective dental procedures or replacement. In addition, further jawbone deterioration is a non-issue as bones and adjacent teeth are preserved. When cared for properly, dental implants remain strong for decades.

Let’s Talk Dental Implants

If you are interested in replacing missing teeth but would like more information, our dental implant dentist in Portage serving Greater Kalamazoo, MI, is here to help. During a consultation, we can discuss the procedure, if you are a good candidate for implants, and how a diagnostic wax-up might prove useful. Call Courtside Dental today at (269) 327-1011 to request an appointment.

This blog post has been updated.

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