Dental Implants vs. Dentures: Which is the Better Choice?

Dental Implants vs. Dentures: Which is the Better Choice?

First of all, we must keep in mind that both dental implants and dentures seek to restore your smile, recovering your chewing function and improving the esthetics of your face and, of course, the general health of your oral cavity.
In addition, both treatments prevent problems such as dental crowding, jawbone loss and malocclusions. However, each option has its particularities that you must take into account to make the best decision for you, we invite you to read on to discover them.

Differences

Shape and structure
-Implants are screw-shaped devices made of titanium. Their purpose is to simulate the root of a lost tooth in order to place a crown, a bridge or a prosthesis on them. A surgical intervention is necessary to place them in the bone.
-Dental prostheses are manufactured with different materials such as acrylic, plastic, porcelain, metal-resin, etc. They are intended to replace all the teeth of an arch or several of them, so they can be:
Complete denture: is indicated when the patient is totally edentulous in one or both arches.
Partial denture: It is indicated for patients who have lost some of their teeth.

Stability and patient comfort

-The implants are firmly fixed to the bone, which gives them excellent stability. In addition, they adjust correctly to the prosthesis placed on them (it is screwed) providing great comfort and security to the patient when speaking and chewing. It should be noted that when an implant is placed the adjacent teeth are not affected since it is not necessary to lean on them (since the implants are the pillars).

-Dentures are custom-made and are adapted to the patient's anatomy so that they do not move (although there is a possibility that they may become loose or move when they are poorly adapted, especially complete dentures). Its use may be indicated in those patients who, due to lack of bone support, are not suitable for dental implants.

Partial denture: It is fixed to the neighboring teeth of the edentulous space (known as abutment teeth), so it may be necessary to grind this tooth.
Complete denture: Its fixation is not through the teeth but in the mucosal tissues.
Since dentures have the possibility of being removed every day, they should be removed before sleeping to allow the tissues to rest from the pressure that the prosthesis may exert.

Cleaning

-The implant cannot be removed because it is fixed in the bone, and its prosthesis cannot be removed because it is screwed, so it may be necessary to use devices such as an oral irrigator to clean more deeply the space between the gum and the prosthesis.

-The denture can be removed every day, which makes it easier to clean. But if they are not well adapted, they can favor the accumulation of food debris inside, which in turn can irritate and inflame the surrounding soft tissues, so they should be removed at least once a day for the patient to clean its oral cavity as well as the denture.

Lifespan

-The dental implant with its prosthesis is the alternative with the greatest strength, durability and lifespan. A well placed implant and well cared for by the patient can last a lifetime.

-Dentures are usually quite durable but they usually have less resistance and useful life than an implant with a porcelain crown for example. Their survival period is usually about 5 to 10 years.

Esthetics

-The implant together with its prosthesis offers the patient excellent esthetic properties, as it can reproduce the natural shape, color and appearance of the teeth quite accurately, especially if it’s a ceramic crown.

-Depending on the material of which the denture is made, it offers esthetic results more or less similar to natural tooth tissue.

To determine the most appropriate type of treatment for our patients, at Dr. Aburas Dental Center we first perform a thorough examination of the oral cavity and also imaging studies, with this, we can make a correct diagnosis and propose the most appropriate treatment.

At Dr. Aburas we have the most qualified staff in DFC. We invite you to come to our dental office located in Jumeirah for an evaluation, we will provide you with the best care to determine what is the best treatment for you according to your needs and preferences.