When you are looking to replace your missing teeth, you have a few options such as dentures and implants. These two restorations serve the same purpose of replacing your teeth and helping your chew and improve speech. They also support your facial muscles and increase your confidence.
But, when it comes to choosing the right solution, you need to focus on several factors like preference, price, the health of your jaw, and the number of teeth missing.
When it comes to choosing either implants or dentures in Calgary, here are a few factors to consider:
- Bone density
Bone loss is a common problem for people who have missing teeth. It is reported that people who have their teeth removed lose about 12 percent of the bone in the first year after the extraction.
For the implants to be fixed, you require to have sufficient bone density. If you lack the required bone density to support the dental implants, a dentist may recommend a bone graft. Bone grafting is a procedure of using bone granules to stimulate new bone growth. However, if a bone graft is not possible, dentures may be the recommended treatment. Visit a dentist near you for an assessment to check your bone density and eligibility to have a bone graft.
- Procedure
The procedure of fixing dental implants and dentures is different:
- Implants
Fixing the dental implants takes a few visits, spread over a couple of months. The dentist will begin the procedure by drilling the jaw bone to fix the implant (if a bone graft is not done). The gums are stitched to facilitate healing. During the recovery time, the bone and implant fuse to create strong support. The osseointegration process needs to occur for the implant procedure to be successful. You may experience bleeding, sensitivity, and swelling after the implant procedure. These problems will clear after a few days, but you may need dental care near you if they persist.
After the gums have healed and osseointegration is successful, the dentist will fix the abutment, which connects the implant to the crown. The dentist will open the gums to fix the connector and stitch them back. On your final visit, the dentist will fix the crown to store the function of the teeth.
- Dentures
Dental dentures are removable teeth that are customized to your teeth and gums regardless of how much bone is present.
The dentures come in two versions; complete and partial dentures. Complete dentures replace all teeth on either the upper and lower jaw, while partial dentures replace a few teeth. The process of making the dentures starts with cleaning and examination.
Next, the dentist will take an impression of your jaw to create the first cast of the denture to examine the fit. The color and bite of the dentures are examined before the final cast is made.
- Maintenance
Dental implants resemble your teeth and therefore only require your standard dental hygiene. That means you need to brush, floss, rinse your mouth and get regular having checkups.
Dentures require maintenance to increase their longevity. You shouldn’t wear the dentures overnight to allow the gums to relax. Also, the dentures need to stay moist all the time to keep bacteria away, so store them in water when you are not wearing them.
Over time, your jaw bone will shrink, causing the dentures to become ill-fitting. That is why the dentures also require alignment to maintain the fit.
- Age
Since dental implants are a permanent solution, they may appeal to people who are 60 years or younger. Older adults may, however, prefer dentures because of the convenience and short treatment process.
Other Alternatives
Dental bridges are also a great alternative to replacing your missing teeth. They are made of dental crowns that anchor the false teeth. Bridges are permanent but will need replacement after 15 years or thereabout.
Schedule an Appointment
The choice between dental implants and dentures should be made in careful consultation with the dentist. Visit Zen Dental for a discussion on which restoration is suitable for you.
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