Dentures Vs. Dental Implants: The Advantages and Disadvantages That You Need To Know

If you’re in pain, tired of not being able to eat the foods you enjoy, and unable to even smile at a stranger passing by you on the street thanks to your missing, broken, or rotting teeth, we understand the anxiety you face every day. At Texas Sedation Dental & Implant Center, we want to help you choose the best dental options for you. In order to make that happen, we want to give you the full transparency your future care plan deserves.

Did you know that an incredible 70% of tooth loss in adults is caused by gum disease? It’s the leading cause of adult tooth loss, and when left untreated, it can affect more than just your teeth. Gum disease can have a terrible impact on your overall bodily health too.

While many adults get their first set of false teeth between the ages of 40 and 49, most of them always settle on a set of standard dentures the first time around. While dentures can “replace” missing teeth, improve speech, make eating easier, and help improve confidence, the reality is, they aren’t a lifetime fix, and often come with built-in difficulties. Dentures may be right for some patients, but they’re certainly not “one size fits all.” That’s why so many more people these days are making the move to dental implants as a permanent solution for their lost or damaged teeth.

The Statistics

There are more than 36 million Americans who have no teeth at all in their mouths. 23 million are missing multiple teeth, and about 12 million are missing teeth in at least one arch. And finally, another 120 million are missing at least one tooth. For many years, about 90% of these people were turning to dentures as the solution to their problem, but over the last few decades, that number has been steadily declining. Between 2019 and 2020 alone, dentists saw an increase of 6.3% in the use of implants over dentures for patients between the ages of 65 and 74. It’s predicted that by 2026, that number will increase to 23%! 

But what does that really mean?

It means more and more people are recognizing how and why implants are a better choice than dentures. But that recognition starts with understanding each option thoroughly.

Dentures

Dentures are often the most cost-effective way to enhance your smile and confidence. They cost less when compared to dental implants, which is why many individuals tend to try them first — they simply want to avoid the extra spending of implants. Many individuals will also choose dentures as their first attempt at a solution because they fear invasive procedures and surgery. Plus, if more tooth loss occurs in the future, dentures can be easily modified to accommodate the missing teeth. However, even though dentures can temporarily improve your appearance, they actually hinder your overall health in the long run, because they give you a temporary fix for a permanent problem.

Dentures do very little in the way of preserving and supporting the bone in your jaw. Over time, the bone that holds your natural-born teeth in place will begin to vanish. This is often referred to as the “collapsing” of your facial features. This collapsing can cause further deterioration that can lead to a myriad of health problems. With dentures, you’ll also need to revisit the dentist every few years to have them realigned because as your jaw bone deteriorates, the dentures will fit more loosely than when they were first created. This eventually leads to difficulties speaking, chewing, and even sores in your mouth from uncomfortable rubbing on your gums.