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Show Your Teeth Some Respect

Think about how many times per day you rely on your teeth. You use them to chew breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. You press your tongue against them to make certain sounds when you speak. There's really no doubt about it — your teeth are important, and they deserve your respect. You can pay them that respect by visiting your dentist for regular cleaning and checkup appointments. You should also call at the first sign of dental pain, tooth discoloration, or other oral health changes. Read more about dentists and dentistry here on this blog, where we dive deep into related topics.

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Show Your Teeth Some Respect

The Pros and Cons of Choosing Dental Implants Over Dentures

by April Myers

When replacing missing or damaged teeth, your two primary options will be dental implants or dentures. While the use of implants has become perhaps the most popular option, it will not be right for everyone. Taking the time to consider both the pros and cons that come along with choosing dental implants over dentures can help you to make an informed decision and ultimately end up with the tooth replacement option that is best suited to your personal needs. 

The Pros Of Choosing Dental Implants Over Dentures

  • Longevity: Dental implants offer an impressively long lifespan. In most cases, patients will be able to expect their implant to last the rest of their life. This is not the case when dealing with dentures that will need to be replaced to accommodate the changes in the landscape of your mouth that naturally occur over the years. This is because while implants are secured within the bone, dentures sit on top of the gums. This difference allows implants to shift with the changing landscape of your mouth while dentures are not able to. 
  • Strength: Implants are securely anchored in your jawbone allowing you to enjoy the same bite strength that you would expect from a healthy natural tooth root. 
  • Mimics Natural Structure: Implants offer the benefit of being structured just like your natural teeth with the implant acting as the root and the crown acting as the tooth enamel. This structure allows implants to both look and feel like real teeth. 

The Cons Of Choosing Dental Implants Over Dentures

  • Requires Multiple Visits:  Most dental practices now offer same-day dentures that allow individuals to leave the office with their new teeth in place on the same day their natural teeth are extracted. This is not possible when getting implants since healing time is required to allow the implant to become secure within the jawbone.
  • May Require Bone Grafts: Depending upon the current thickness and strength of your jawbone, you may need to have one or more bone grafts completed before implants can be placed in the bone. This will increase the number of visits and the amount of healing time required. The need for bone grafts can also have a significant impact on the cost of this procedure. 

There are a wide variety of factors that go into determining what type of tooth replacement is right for you. For example, if you have suffered a great deal of bone loss in your jaw, the use of dentures may be better suited to your particular needs. Taking the time to discuss all of your options with a qualified dentist is the best way to determine what option is best suited to your needs.  

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