Lost a tooth due to injury or infection? Not sure which tooth replacement option is best for you? In our article this week, the denturist at our Calgary denture clinic breaks down the pros and cons of both options.
Missing teeth are nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, tooth loss amongst younger people is much more common than you may think. According to the last National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey that was carried out in the US, the mean number of permanent teeth found in those aged 35 to 49 was just over 25. After factoring in that most people have their wisdom teeth removed (which means an adult should normally have 28 permanent teeth), it's easy to see that a large number of people in this age category are missing at least one tooth. So what's the best way for them and others to replace these missing teeth? Dentures or dental implants? Let's take a closer look.
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Need emergency denture repair Calgary? Future Smiles Denture Clinic is open again as of May 11, 2020. We're also offering FREE telehealth consults and denture care advice over the phone for all patients — new or existing. Contact us today so we can get you smiling again.
Dentures vs implants: Pros and cons of both
While dentures and dental implants both have the same stated goal of restoring a person's smile and eating and speaking ability, they go about accomplishing this task in much different ways. Dentures (at least in the traditional sense) sit on top of the gums and can be removed at night. Implants on the other hand are installed within the jawbone using a screw-like anchor to insert the dental crown into. While there's certainly more to both, this is the main differentiating factor between the two.
Dentures
These prosthetic devices are designed to sit on top of the tissue that remains after your tooth has been lost. Generally there are two types of dentures:
- Complete dentures (used when all or most of your natural teeth are gone)
- Partial dentures (used when you still possess a good amount of natural teeth)
Pros of dentures
- Dentures are a more cost-effective solution upfront when it comes to replacing missing teeth
- If you need replacement teeth sooner rather than later, a set of complete dentures can usually be constructed within 2-6 weeks
- If you have a weak jawbone or unhealthy gums or otherwise are not an ideal candidate for dental implants, but would still like the benefits a whole set of teeth provide
Cons of dentures
- They need to be removed and thoroughly cleaned each day
- If improperly fitted they can cause pain and discomfort (that's why you need a reliable denturist like Future Smiles Denture Clinic!)
- Your mouth will take a bit to get completely acclimated to using the dentures
- Require regular maintenance and adjustments
Are you looking for complete or partial dentures Calgary? Future Smiles Denture Clinic can help! Contact us today to book a FREE consultation and let's get you smiling again.
Dental implants
Dental implants are an attractive and long-lasting alternative to complete or partial dentures. These devices are embedded within your jawbone and a dental crown is used to cap off the procedure.
Pros of dental implants
- Provide a more realistic and natural looking tooth replacement
- Last longer than regular dentures when properly installed
- Don't require any special cleaning or regular maintenance like dentures
- Looks and feels just like your other natural teeth
Cons of dental implants
- Cost more upfront than dentures
- Takes much longer to get a dental implant than dentures and requires multiple visits to your dentist or denturist
- Requires surgery to install bringing with it recovery time, discomfort, etc.
- Chance of implant loss (peri-implantitis)
Looking for dental implants Calgary? Future Smiles Denture Clinic has you covered! These long-lasting and natural looking alternatives to regular dentures can be expertly installed by our denturist at an affordable price. Contact us today to book a FREE consultation so we can discuss your tooth loss solution options.
Call us today
If you're looking to get complete or partial dentures or dental implants, get in touch with our helpful team at Future Smiles Denture Clinic by calling 403-475-0016 or by booking a FREE consultation today.
