It is possible for you to fix your missing teeth by replacing them with either dental implants or dentures. But should you choose dental implants or dentures? This article looks at dental implants vs. dentures to help you make an informed choice.
What’s a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is an artificial structure surgically inserted into your jawbone to support an artificial dental crown. Dental implants are necessary for replacing missing teeth permanently. Since a dental implant is made of biocompatible metal, it allows the jawbone to grow around it to form a permanent bond. Therefore, your dental implant won’t slip out of your mouth when chewing.
A dental implant comprises two main parts: the implant and the dental crown. The implant is the metallic piece screwed into your jawbone to act like the tooth root, while the dental crown is the top, whitish prosthesis resembling your natural tooth. The crown is attached to the implant to cover the gap left by the missing tooth. With the latest technologies in dentistry, dentists can design crowns that look exactly like your natural teeth, thus restoring your genuine smile.
Since dental implants are inserted into your jawbone, they continue to provide your bone with the necessary stimulation so that your jawbone continues to regenerate. If you lose a tooth, your jawbone lacks stimulation, but your jawbone will remain strong with a dental implant. The cost of a single dental implant is fairly high compared with dentures.
What’s a Denture?
Also called false teeth, dentures are prosthetic devices designed to replace missing teeth supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissue. There are two types of dentures: partial dentures and complete dentures. Nevertheless, dentures come in numerous designs; some clasp onto other teeth and others bond with the jaw.
Dentures are affordable and can easily slip out of your mouth if they’re not correctly fitted. They aren’t attached to your jawbone directly, but they’re also suitable for aesthetics because they cover gaps in your mouth.