Dentures don’t always have the best reputation. Whether it’s the way they look or feel, many people are hesitant to start wearing them despite their benefits.
Dentures are artificial teeth and gums which are specially designed by a dental professional to fit your mouth and replace any lost or removed teeth. They can be full or partial, depending on whether they replace all or some of your missing teeth.
Regardless of the type of dentures you require, they can be an excellent way to replace your missing teeth, providing a natural look with a custom design made to fit your mouth.
Traditional Dentures vs. Implant Supported Dentures
When it comes to dentures, two options exist: traditional and implant-supported. The type of denture you choose to wear should be based on your lifestyle as well as comfort.
- Traditional dentures
- Are supported by the gums and underlying bone structure
- Require regular adjustments and must be removed to clean outside of the mouth
- Are designed to conform to the shape of your mouth
- Can rub against your gums and sore spots in your mouth
- Implant-supported dentures
- Are retained and supported by at least four dental implants meaning the denture does not rest directly on the gums
- Are fixed onto implants, which have been secured into the jawbone
- Provide an improved design to help them function just like natural teeth and provide excellent stability while eating and speaking
- Remain inside of your mouth for life and can only be removed by a dental professional for cleaning and examination purposes
What are the benefits of implant-supported dentures?
Implant-supported dentures can be very advantageous for individuals who are looking for a long-term, hassle-free solution to missing teeth. Some of these benefits include:
- Firmness
When an implant is placed inside of your mouth, it is first fused to the jawbone to prevent any slipping or shifting. Implant-supported dentures are placed atop of these implants and therefore, these dentures draw strength from the bone and remain firmly in place.
- Strength and stability
The implants which support these dentures provide firm and immovable posts that keep the dentures in place, thus preventing slipping and giving them additional strength.
Alternatively, regular dentures are simply placed on top of the gums and therefore, can easily be removed. With implant-supported dentures, you have greater strength in your bite and can enjoy a wider variety of foods that don’t always have to be soft.
- Clear speech
Traditional dentures are not securely anchored to your jawbone and can shift out of place. When dentures shift, they can make it difficult to speak clearly. Implant-supported dentures remain firmly in place, allowing you to produce clear speech without the inconvenience of loose dentures shifting around.
- No sore spots
As they are not fixed firmly and have nothing to hold them in place, traditional dentures can rub against your jaw creating sore spots, and make it difficult for you to chew your food. In order to address these sore spots, the lining of the denture is changed frequently.
Alternatively, implant-supported dentures don’t move or rub against your jaw, so you don’t have to deal with painful sore spots.
How do implant-supported dentures affect my jawbone?
Traditional dentures are an effective way to replace missing teeth, but the long-term effect they have on your jawbone and face should be taken into consideration. Traditional dentures are designed to sit on top of the bone while implant-supported dentures do not, each affecting the bone in different ways.
One of the biggest downfalls of traditional dentures is the slow breakdown of bone. The implants which support dentures are fused to the bone and, in this way, continue to provide stimulation to the bone, whereas traditional dentures do not.
The stimulation of bone by implants prevents the bone from shrinking or resorbing. When tooth roots are missing, it causes the jawbone beneath it to begin shrinking unless an alternative form of stimulation, such as in the form of implants, is provided.
Without the continuous stimulation from any teeth or implants, your jawbone begins to shrink and this causes a slow change in the shape of your mouth and face. As the shape of your mouth and face continues to change, traditional dentures will need to be regularly readjusted to fit the new shape of your mouth, costing you time and money.
Long Term Benefits of Implant-Supported Dentures
Traditional dentures can appear to be a cost-effective and easier solution to a missing tooth or teeth. However, the ideal long term solution to missing teeth is implant-supported dentures, which can provide greater long term benefits and save you a significant amount of discomfort and inconvenience.
In the long run, the need for regular adjustment of traditional dentures can be costly and a waste of your time. Implant-supported dentures require significantly less maintenance, making them the more convenient option for you.
Many people agree that implant-supported dentures are the best long term investment that you can make for your teeth because they help to preserve your existing jawbone. Your face and radiant smile will remain intact when your jawbone is sufficiently stimulated by your new implants.
When you begin to weigh the pros and cons of traditional and implant-supported dentures, it’s hard not to look at everything from a cost-effective point of view. Yet there’s more of a difference than just that.
In many cases, traditional dentures prevent their wearers from eating in public or going swimming in fear of losing their dentures and being unable to find them. Traditional dentures can shift and cause difficulty speaking, leading many individuals with traditional dentures to avoid social settings and lacking the confidence to complete everyday activities.
Implant-supported dentures are the solution to all of these problems. Don’t let your beautiful bone structure suffer without the implant stimulation and support they require. Implant-supported dentures provide the most cost-effective option for the best results and to improve the quality of your life.
To learn more about implant-supported dentures, call Bristol Dental clinic today at 905-712-3409 or contact us here.
