There are many things that we take for granted, like that beautiful, toothy smile! Anyone who’s lost one or more natural teeth often find themselves noticing the change in their smiles. What was once a genuine, effortless smile is now something you don’t want to keep showing, not forgetting how your speaking and eating gets affected, too.

Most patients will be lost at whether to get dentures or dental implants. Hence the need to look at either option thoroughly, and make an ultimately informed decision. Dentures and implants both serve the purpose of providing the wearer with a most natural ‘set of teeth’ feeling, which improves the general quality of life in many ways.
But how does one choose?

Let’s have an in-depth look at each of the options and their benefits.

Advantages of Dentures

• Tooth loss can happen to people of all ages. Several factors that may contribute to this include poor oral hygiene, accidents, or gum disease (like caries or periodontal disease).
• Wearing dentures solves the problems associated with teeth loss, like, difficulty in speech, eating, and discomfort at social gatherings.
• Dentures wearers prefer them to implants because of their versatility. You can remove them for cleaning at any time. Unlike with implants that are permanently drilled into your gum, and which require constant dental visits.
• Dentures are easier to fix, as it takes up no time at all. It is easy for young adults who are denture wearers.
• Dentures are cheaper than dental implants. Since they are temporary, they will not dent the wearer’s pocket as would dental implants.
• Conventional dentures don’t require adhesives to hold, as was the case with traditional dentures.
• With dentures, you skip root canal procedures at installation. Most patients find this procedure quite unsettling.
• The acrylic material used with dentures today is relatively safe for human use, compared to previously used materials like hippopotamus ivory, ceramic and human bone.
• With the advancement in technology today, dentures look very natural compared to traditional dentures. Wearers have a sense of youthfulness and a general self-esteem boost.

Disadvantages of Dentures

• Dentures may cause painful sores in the gums, especially if they don’t fit properly.
• Dentures require much more maintenance than dental implants. Not to mention the daily cleaning, removal, and insertion. Caring for dentures can be very daunting and messy.
• Dentures tend to be very fragile. They are prone to falls and cracking, so wearers should be very careful while handling them.
• Some old model dentures might still require adhesive so as to stay in place. It is usually tedious having to keep replacing the adhesive.
• It is not unusual to have one’s dentures fall off while talking or eating. The embarrassment is double if this accident happens at a social gathering.
• Partial dentures may cause the surrounding natural teeth to weaken over time.
• Dentures can make it hard to eat certain foods, or even speak properly. Most patients have reported ‘feeling’ the dentures in their mouths.

Advantages of Dental Implants

• Patients who opt for dental implants are sure to get a long-term solution to their dental problems. This is more satisfying than always spending time and money on a lingering dental problem.
• Dental implants prevent bone loss. They mimic the natural movements of natural teeth roots, preserving the natural jawbone structure.
• Dental implants offer a more natural result, as they are infused into the bone tissue. Implant wearers don’t ‘feel’ them, as would denture wearers.
• Implants preserve a healthy structure, as they don’t require support from the adjacent teeth. This lessens the chances of destroying the healthy structures.
• Cleaning implants is easy. Most wearers just need to brush and floss normally, and if need be, implants can ‘snap’ out for thorough cleaning.
• Unlike dentures, you never have to worry about mishaps with dental implants. At no one point will your teeth fall off as you deliver that speech or if you laugh out loud in public.

Disadvantages of Dental Implants

• Most patients dread the root canal procedures before the installation of dental implants.
• Getting a successful implantation could sometimes take up to several tries. For some patients, it takes between four to six times to fix an implant.
• Getting a dental implant is expensive, and could dent one’s pockets.
• Chances of infection at the implantation site aren’t uncommon. Because of the whole procedure, germs and bacteria could easily get on the site causing an infection.
• In some cases, the procedure could cause nerve damage, leading to feelings of pain, numbness, or tingling. These symptoms may affect the natural teeth, gums, lips or chin.
• The procedure of installing dental implants may cause damage to surrounding structures, such as blood vessels or surrounding teeth.
• In rare cases, implants placed in the upper jaw could protrude, causing damage to the sinus cavities. This may result in sinus-related complications.

It is always best to seek expert advice when choosing either of these interventions. Look for the best dentists in town. I highly recommend the West Hollywood dentists, as they will consider several factors like your age, oral health, and bone density before guiding you on the path you should take.