Dental Implants vs Dentures: What’s the Difference?

Dental Implants vs Dentures: What’s the Difference?

Are you experiencing tooth loss and wondering what the best method of tooth replacement is? In this blog from Indigo Dental, we’re doing a side-by-side comparison of dental implants and dentures. Read on to learn more about the process of the procedures, healing time, advantages, and disadvantages of dental implants and dentures.

Procedure & Healing Time of Dental Implants

The dental implant procedure is significantly longer than the process of getting dentures. Dental implants are done in three separate appointments, spanning months. The first appointment is when an incision is made into the gums to insert the titanium implant into the jawbone. 

Your mouth will heal within 2 weeks but it will take 3-6 months for the implant to fuse with the jawbone through osseointegration. Then, you will return to the dentist to make another small incision into the gums and attach an abutment to the implant. You will take another 2 weeks to heal.

Finally, 6 weeks after the abutment has been attached, you will receive your permanent dental crown. This is created from impressions that were taken of your mouth to match your natural teeth.

Procedure & Healing Time of Dentures

The dentures process is much more straightforward and quicker. Impressions are taken of your teeth and a record will be taken of how your teeth are aligned. This information is used to create dentures that will perfectly fit your gums. 

You will then receive a trial run of dentures and test how they fit in your mouth. You will inform the dentist if any adjustments need to be made and then you will receive your permanent dentures. 

If you are looking to get full arch dentures then you will need to have your remaining healthy teeth extracted before you receive your dentures. Your gums will need to completely heal before any dentures can be fitted in your mouth, which will take 6-8 weeks. Partial dentures are a very simple procedure that does not require any extractions or oral surgery. 

Benefits

Dental Implants - Dental implants are the only tooth restoration that fully restores the appearance as well as the function of the tooth. Only dental implants can preserve and prevent further bone loss because the implant stimulates the jaw bone when you chew. Other advantages of dental implants include:

• Durable long-term solution
• Can last for a lifetime
• Free to eat and do what you want
• Low maintenance
• Secure and don’t shift
  

Dentures - Dentures are a much quicker and simpler procedure compared to dental implants. Dentures usually do not require oral surgery which makes healing time and the entire procedure a lot quicker.

This makes dentures an ideal tooth replacement for those who would like a quick fix. There are also fewer complications associated with dentures. Other benefits of dentures are:

• Look just like real teeth and gums
• Cheaper alternative to implants
• Dentures can be fitted after extraction quicker than dental implants
• Patients can choose between fixed, removable, or implant-retained dentures
  

Disadvantages

Dental Implants - Dental implants can be quite expensive and the entire process takes a long time to allow for full healing and osseointegration. There are also more potential complications associated with implants, such as the implants being rejected or developing mucositis or peri-implantitis. You need to have adequate bone health to get implants or you may require bone grafting.

Dentures - Dentures are prone to shifting around in the mouth, especially when eating or speaking. This can cause difficulty eating certain foods and speaking clearly. People who wear dentures have more restrictions than those with implants because they will not be able to eat certain foods. 

They also tend to be a lot less comfortable and take a period of adjusting to get used to them. Ill-fitting dentures can cause irritation and soreness. They are also higher maintenance in terms of cleaning and lead to bone loss and changes in the facial structure.

Interested in Dental Implants or Dentures? Contact us at Indigo Dental!

At Indigo Dental, we offer all of your tooth restoration needs, whether that be dentures or dental implants. Contact us today to find out which would be best for you. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Michael Crosland or Dr. Meagan Crosland for an oral exam and advice on whether dental implants or dentures would be more suitable.