Restoring Missing Teeth: Dentures vs Implants Downey CA

Restoring Missing Teeth: Dentures vs Implants - What Are the Pros & Cons?

For years, fully edentulous patients had only one option for replacing their missing teeth: dentures.

As time progressed, dental implants were created, and over the past few years, they have become stronger and had higher success rates.

If you are missing all your teeth, replacing them is not as simple as tossing a coin. There are many factors that come into play, and your Downey dentist can help you decide which option is best for you.

The Pros and Cons of Dentures

Dentures are still a popular choice. Patients like dentures because:

Here are a few reasons why patients may choose not to get dentures:

Why Should You Consider Dental Implants Instead?

Dental implants are another option to replace missing teeth. A single implant can replace a single missing tooth, whereas multiple implants can replace multiple missing teeth.

The downside of dental implants for most patients is the cost. It is definitely an investment, but it is well worth it. Here is why:

What Are Implant-Supported Dentures?

A great option for restoring missing teeth is implant-supported dentures.

When you lose teeth, there is nothing left to support the bone. Eventually, the bone starts to recede. A few things happen when the jawbone becomes smaller.

First, it changes how a patient’s dentures fit. Over time, the dentures will become looser, making them uncomfortable and even painful to wear.

Second, as the bone recedes, it makes it difficult to place implants since they require a certain amount of bone to support the implant. Additionally, if a patient is not fully edentulous, the bone loss from one lost tooth can impact the surrounding teeth, making them more vulnerable to bone loss, often leading to further tooth loss.

Thankfully, this can, in many cases, be remedied with a bone graft. Bone from another part of the body, an animal, or cadaver is placed in the jawbone to build it up. Once it fully integrates with the existing jawbone, it can support an implant.

The last thing that happens when the jawbone recedes is that the shape of your face can change. The loss of bone contributes to a loss of fullness in the face, which can increase the appearance of lines and wrinkles and can make someone look older than they are.

Implant-Supported Dentures

All-on-4 implant-supported dentures can help prevent these issues that are caused by jawbone recession. The implants anchor the jawbone, so it will not recede. Your jawbone will remain healthy and strong even though you are wearing dentures.

All-on-4 dentures also keep your dentures secure, so you feel confident when you eat, speak, and smile.

Another great thing about this system is that the way the implants are positioned in the jaw means that less bone is required to support the implants. That means that patients who have already experienced some level of bone loss might still be good candidates for these particular implant-supported dentures.

How to Find Out Which Option Is Best

When you visit your Downey implant dentist, they will perform multiple diagnostic tests to see whether you are a good candidate for dental implants. And if you are a good candidate, they will tell you which implant options are best for your unique case.

The test they perform includes dental x-rays, which show them how much bone you have in your upper and lower jaws. For implant procedures to be successful, the patient needs enough bone to support the implants.

During your consultation, your Downey dentist will outline what treatment plan they think is best and take the time to explain why so that you can be thoroughly confident in your investment.

Contact our team to see how dental implants in Downey can benefit you.

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