Implants Vs Dentures

Chicago IL

Losing your teeth is a serious problem. The more teeth you lose, the more your quality of life, and your ability to perform otherwise simple tasks, suffers. Replacing your missing teeth is essential for restoring your beautiful smile and for returning your abilities to eat and speak back to normal. At Cameo Dental Specialists, we strive to provide you with the best possible oral health care. To achieve this goal, we provide you with options. When it comes to tooth loss, you have your choice of dentures or implants.

DENTURES—THE TRADITIONAL REPLACEMENT OPTION

Dentures have been used for decades to replace missing teeth. They are available in partial (replacing a section of missing teeth) and full (replacing an entire arch of missing teeth). Dentures are removable prosthetic teeth, which are set into an acrylic gum-colored base. The base rests on your gums and is held in place with suction (when they fit properly). Dentures are supported by your gums. They are designed to be taken out every night for daily cleaning and should be left out every night to give your gums a break.

BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS OF DENTURES

There are a few benefits to dentures:

Technology has allowed dentures to become more customized, and appear more natural.
Restored ability to eat and speak.
Restored smile.

There are also several drawbacks to dentures as well:

Require significant daily maintenance.
Will not always fit properly. Your jaw changes shape due to bone resorption after tooth loss. This means that, over time, your denture will cease to fit correctly. You will need to be fit for a new set approximately every seven years.
Can slip out of place, causing both embarrassment and denture sores.
Not very comfortable.
Restrict blood flow to the gums.

DENTAL IMPLANTS—THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT

Dental implants are the latest development for replacing missing teeth. They are considered to be a permanent solution to tooth loss. Implants consist of three major parts, the implants (titanium rods inserted into your jawbone), abutments (the connectors) and your replacement teeth. They can be used to replace any number of missing teeth, from one to all of them. The exact number of implants required depends heavily upon factors like the condition of your jawbone and the number of teeth being replaced. An entire implant supported denture can typically be supported by 6 to 8 implants, although as few as four may be used in specific situations.

There are numerous benefits associated with dental implants:

Restored smile.
Restored abilities to eat and speak.
Easy to care for.
They are not removable.
Your teeth are more comfortable, being supported by the implants rather than your gums.
Will not slip out of place.
The titanium rods imitate the roots of your natural teeth. This helps to preserve the integrity of your jawbone, preventing the bone loss normally associated with tooth loss.

Despite these many benefits, there are a few drawbacks to dental implants as well:

More expensive.
Require a surgical procedure, with weeks to months of recovery.
Not meant for everyone. Significant bone loss may make you ineligible. There are options in these cases, however, depending upon your circumstances. All-on-4® Treatment Concept implants have allowed many with bone loss to receive dental implants. Some patients may require another surgical procedure known as a bone graft before getting dental implants to restore lost bone mass.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS:

SCHEDULE A DENTAL IMPLANT CONSULTATION IN THE CHICAGO AREA TODAY!

If you have experienced tooth loss, it is imperative that you take action to replace your missing teeth. To learn more about your options, and find out if implants are the best solution for you, contact Cameo Dental Specialists today at (630) 446-2921!