Dentures or Implants?

*According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOM), statistics show that nearly 70% of adults between the ages of 35-44 in the United States have at least one missing tooth due to an accident, tooth decay, or other oral factors.

If you’re missing a tooth or more and debating what are your ooptions are, here are two reasons as to why choose either the implant or dentures.

Dentures:

There’s no need to go through life with missing teeth, there are many good alternatives are available today. Dental implants and dentures are the most common options. Dentures are false teeth and although their quality has improved, they’re not ideal for everyone. If not secured with denture adhesive, dentures might slip out of place while eating or speaking, which could be embarrassing for some, and partial dentures might promote infection and decay in other teeth if they aren’t fitted properly, which may increase the risk that you would need a tooth filling on the abutment (adjoining) tooth. That said, dentures may be the best choice for people whose gums and jaw are weak or unhealthy.

Implants

If you are missing teeth and your gums and jaw are perfectly healthy, you may benefit from dental implants, which are replacement teeth that are implanted surgically into the jawbone. Along with good oral hygiene, dental implants can last up to 20 years or more without the need for replacement. This is often a popular choice for people who have more than one missing tooth, but they can be an alternative to dentures if you have several missing teeth. As long as your gums and jaw are healthy, two or more implants can serve as a base of support for several replacement teeth.

The choice is always up to you and what you are comfortable with. Ask us how we can fit you for dentures or what your implant options are at your next visit or give us a call at (317) 571-1271.