Implants vs Dentures
Don’t let missing teeth limit your life.
Missing teeth can affect your overall oral health and make it difficult to eat, talk and
smile with confidence. Dr Coetzee offers both dentures and dental implants to
replace missing teeth.
What are Dentures?
Dentures are an oral appliance made to look and function like natural teeth.
Depending on the extent of tooth loss, you may be advised to have a full or partial
denture. A full denture replaces an entire arch of teeth where a partial denture
replaces a few teeth.
Dentures must be removed before you go to sleep so your gums have a chance to
recover. When you’re not wearing your dentures, submerge them in a glass of water
or denture cleanser so they don’t dry out or crack.
What are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a prosthetic tooth root (typically made of titanium) that’s placed in
your jawbone to function in a similar way to a natural tooth root. You will be able to
eat your favourite foods without worrying about slipping dentures. Patients must
commit themselves to stringent oral hygiene to ensure the gums around the implant
remain healthy.
Are Dental Implants Better Than
Dentures?
Dentures are more affordable than dental implants, but they don’t solve the problem
of bone deterioration. As soon as your body detects a missing tooth, it’ll start to
absorb the minerals in your jaw to use elsewhere. Once this happens, the area of the
jaw where the tooth root used to be weakens and deteriorates.
Adjacent teeth will also start to tilt toward the open gap. The patient may experience
facial collapse, which alters the shape of the face and makes it difficult to wear
dentures.
The best way to prevent further tooth and bone loss is to ask Dr Coetzee if you are a
candidate for a dental implant.
Can I Get Dental Implants?
Most people who are in good general health are good candidates for dental implants.
A CT scan is needed to determine whether you have sufficient quality and quantity of
bone. Even if you’re not a candidate, Dr Coetzee can help you explore other tooth
replacement options.
Below are a list of pros and cons of dentures vs dental implants:
DENTURES
PROS
- More affordable
- Able to replace an entire arch of teeth
- Looks & function like natural teeth
CONS
- More maintenance
- They may slip and need to be repositioned
- Doesn’t solve jawbone deterioration
IMPLANTS
PROS
- Maintain just like natural teeth
- No chance of slipping
- Prevents jawbone deterioration
- Looks and functions like natural teeth
CONS
- More expensive