Dental Implants vs. Dentures

Dental implants are prosthetic teeth that are permanently attached to your jawbone. They look and function like regular teeth, and can even be color-matched to the surrounding teeth. Tooth implants can take the place of only one tooth or several teeth. However, they do come with significant downtime and are also more costly than dentures.

Dentures are removable appliances custom-fitted to each mouth. Dental flippers are a type of denture that can replace multiple missing teeth. Full or partial dentures are also available to replace a full set of upper and/or lower teeth. 

Dentures provide a faster solution than implants but do require more care. Furthermore, dentures may shrink over time, in which case they would need to be refitted.

How Are Implants Combined With Dentures?

There are basically two ways in which implants may be combined with dentures. They include:

• An implant-supported denture that is permanently attached to your mouth with six or more implants. 
• An implant-retained denture, which requires fewer implants and is also removable

Both procedures are performed in a similar manner-by inserting an anchoring screw into the jawbone followed by a permanent appliance several months later. In the meantime, you may wear a partial denture or flipper as a temporary substitute. 

Benefits of Combining Dental Implants With Dentures

Either method will provide you with the stability of a dental implant and the custom fit of a denture. By combining dentures and implants, you can reduce the amount of downtime you experience as well as your risk of infection. If you've been told you need an all-on-4 procedure, implant replacement, or full mouth reconstruction, ask about combining implants with dentures instead.

Are You a Good Candidate?

Could you benefit from combining dental implants with dentures? Contact us here at Shore Smiles Dental to discuss the cost of dental implants and how they might work with dentures. We look forward to seeing you during your complimentary consultation.