Why People Are Switching From Dentures To Dental Implants
Dental implants offer secure, fixed replacement teeth and are growing in popularity
It is probably not so many years ago that hardly anyone would have heard of dental implants.
This isn’t really surprising as, although they have been around since the mid 1960s, it is only in the last decade or so that they have started to become much better known and more widely used.
Although dentures still do have a role to play in replacing missing teeth; for example, they are cheaper and often don’t require any invasive dental work, more people than ever are learning about implants and, as more people have them fitted, word has got around about how good they are. In today’s blog, your Wickford dentists take a look at some of the main reasons for their growing popularity.
Strength and stability
Above all, implants are the number one choice for an increasing number of Cygnet Dental Practice patients because of the strength and stability that they offer. Dentures have improved in appearance and comfort over the years, but some people still find that they are not as stable as they would like, often moving around in the mouth a little. Even small movements can make eating a little tricky, to say nothing of the soreness that can occur as they chafe against the gums.
Implants do require minor invasive oral surgery but once they have been placed and have fully integrated with the jawbone, they will stay exactly where they are and not move around in the mouth at all. In addition to this, providing that you look after them as instructed, you should be able to eat any food that you want without worrying if they can withstand it. Dental implants also look and feel like a natural tooth and, in our, and many patients’, opinion, are definitely worth it.
Protecting your jawbone
One lesser known fact about tooth loss is that you not only lose a tooth when it has been extracted or fallen out, but you also lose a quantity of bone in that area of the jaw. This is because it no longer needs to fulfil the role of holding a tooth in place and the body will then reabsorb the minerals etc for use in other parts of the body. This can lead to changes in the shape of your face and indeed, cause other teeth to start to move and become crooked. Although dentures can fill a gap left by missing teeth, they do nothing to prevent this loss of bone.
Unlike dentures, implants provide a replacement tooth root (the actual ‘implant’ part of the treatment). This ensures that the bone still has a role to play in fusing with the implant in order to hold it in place. Not only does this help to prevent bone loss but also ensures that your new replacement tooth remains stable and securely in place throughout its lifetime.
Ease of care
Anyone who currently has dentures will know how fiddly it can be to keep them clean. Regular soaking and removing them from the mouth for cleaning is time consuming and can soon feel like an annoying chore. External cleaning is also responsible for much of the damage caused to them, usually dropping them in the sink or on a hard floor. Unlike dentures, implants can be treated as natural teeth when it comes to cleaning. After the initial integration period of around three months, where special care needs to be taken and you will be advised about this at the time, your teeth implants simply need to be brushed well, in addition to diligent flossing.
Longevity
Dentures, as mentioned before, can break or become damaged. They can also become less well fitting over time as the shape of your mouth changes due to the bone loss mentioned above. Implants, on the other hand, can last for twenty years or more, providing that you maintain good oral health, and they should require no further care other than your regular check ups and hygienist appointments. This should be taken into consideration when making a decision whether to have them or not. Although implants do require a more significant financial outlay initially, there should be no significant further costs down the line. Over a period of twenty years, and often more, dental implants can actually work out to be very cost effective indeed.
If you have recently lost a tooth or have dentures and would like to investigate the possibility of switching to dental implants, our Wickford team is always happy to offer advice. If you would like to arrange an initial ‘no obligation’ consultation with us to discuss this, please call the Cygnet Dental Practice today on 01268 733078.