Dental Implants vs. Dentures
Salem, OR
 There are many reasons why you might lose teeth, including gum disease, severe tooth decay, and facial trauma. Suffering tooth loss is a serious issue that affects your entire life. Basic things like eating and speaking become more challenging. Tooth loss also impacts your smile, your confidence, and the health of your jawbone. Replacing your missing teeth is essential for restoring the functions of your missing teeth. Multiple missing teeth can be replaced with traditional dentures, or they can be replaced with dental implants. At Fairmount Dental Center, we can help to determine the best solution to meet your needs.
Dentures are the traditional treatment used to replace missing teeth. They are a removable restoration consisting of acrylic resin teeth and an acrylic base. Dentures have been in use for hundreds of years, although the ones we use today are much more realistic and much less bulky than older dentures. The base is designed to sit directly on your gums, relying on the soft tissue for support. Dentures are commonly used to replace an entire arch of teeth, but they can also be used to replace sections of missing teeth as well.
Benefits and Drawbacks to Dentures
 There are several benefits of dentures:
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Modern dentures are more realistic in appearance.
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Your smile is restored, which restores your confidence.
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You can eat and speak normally again. |
Despite modern dentures being more realistic in appearance than older dentures, there are still many disadvantages associated with this traditional treatment:
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Dentures require special nightly care.
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They can be uncomfortable. Not only do they put pressure on your gums, but they can also lead to painful denture sores.
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Your dentures can slip out of place or fall out completely, causing discomfort and embarrassment.
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Dentures cannot stop bone loss in your jaw. This results in need to get new dentures about once every seven years to accommodate the changes in your jawbone. |
Dental implants provide an alternative to traditional dentures. This treatment uses small titanium posts, which are surgically placed into your jawbone. As you heal from the procedure, your bone fuses to the posts, turning them into the roots that are used to provide support for your dental restorations. Implants are a very versatile treatment that can replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or an entire arch.
 Dental implants provide several significant benefits:
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They look, feel, and function exactly like your real teeth.
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Your teeth are held securely in place. They will not slip around or fall out. You can eat, speak, and smile confidently.
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Your dental restorations can be brushed and flossed just like your real teeth.
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Because your teeth are supported by the implant posts rather than your gums, implants are significantly more comfortable.
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The posts act like the roots of your real teeth and restore stimulation to your jawbone. This helps to put an end to, and prevent, bone loss in your jaw. |
While dental implants provide numerous incredible benefits, there are a few drawbacks as well:
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Placing implants requires surgery.
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With surgery, there is a recovery period, which can last several weeks to several months.
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If your jawbone does not have enough bone mass to successfully support your implants, you may require a bone graft first, which adds additional surgery and additional cost.
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Dental implants can be more expensive than traditional treatments. While more and more dental insurance providers are offering at least partial coverage, not all are. You will need to talk with your insurance provider to make sure if implants are covered, as well as how much will be covered. |
Learn More About Dental Implants and Dentures:
Replacing your missing teeth is essential for restoring the functions of your missing teeth and your quality of life. Call Fairmount Dental Center today (503) 362-8364 to schedule your consultation and learn which tooth replacement options are right for you. |
