Dentures vs Implants: Which Is The Right Option For You?

Losing teeth can knock many people’s confidence, while also negatively affecting eating and speech. The good news is that there are ways in which you can reconstruct your smile – two main ones being dentures and dental implants. Which is the right option for you? This post compares the two solutions and their pros and cons. 

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are the most traditional and most popular option. They are removable false teeth that don’t require any surgery to fit. You can use dentures to replace a few missing teeth (partial dentures) or a full set (full dentures). 

What Are Implants?

Dental implants are a modern, fixed alternative solution to dentures. Individual crowns are attached to the jawbone using small metal screws, acting as artificial tooth roots and making them feel more like natural teeth. 

The Pros And Cons of Dentures

The Pros: 

• More affordable: Dentures typically cost much less than implants.
• No surgery needed: While existing teeth may need to be removed, there is no extra surgery required.
• Quicker to fit: The whole process of fitting dentures from taking impressions to wear dentures only takes a few weeks. 

The Cons:

• They may move or slip: An adhesive is often needed to keep them in place.
• May feel uncomfortable at first: Wearing dentures can take some getting used to.
• Does not prevent jawbone shrinkage: Occasional replacing and relining may be necessary because of this. 

The Pros And Cons of Implants

The Pros:

• Fixed in place: Implants can feel more like real teeth because of this. 

• Reduces jawbone wear: Wearing implants stimulates the jawbone while chewing, which can prevent the jawbone wearing away.
• Long-lasting: Implants don’t need to be replaced as often as dentures and may even last a lifetime with good care.

The Cons:

• Expensive: Implants cost more than dentures and can be out of many people’s feasible price range.
• Requires surgery: You need to be prepared for extra surgery to install the screws, which can have small risks.
• Long procedure: After implantation of the screws, healing is required before the crowns can be fitted. The whole process can take several months to a year because of this. 

Dentures or implants?

The right option is the one that fits your health, your needs and your lifestyle. Often talking to a dentist is the best way to determine which solution is most suitable.

In many cases, dentures are the best option for those on a tighter budget – they’re easier to get finance for, especially if you need to replace multiple teeth. The whole process also doesn’t require surgery or a long healing time, making it less disruptive and more suitable for those that want quick results.

Implants can be worth considering if you want to invest in a long-term solution – implants may not last forever, but they will last a lot longer than dentures before needing replacement. They’re also worthwhile if you want your new teeth to feel truly natural and if you want to protect your jawbone from wearing away (which can sometimes happen with dentures).