Accidental dental damage

Posted on: 12 February 2018

Whilst you may have lost one or more of your natural teeth, there is no reason to worry -- there are great options for tooth replacement available today. The two most popular options for teeth replacement, dental implants and dentures, can both give you natural looking and functional new teeth. You may be wondering how similar these two options really are. Read on to learn about the differences between dental implants and dentures. By knowing more about each, you can figure out which will work best for you! 

Permanent Versus Temporary

Dental implants are permanent, whilst dentures are temporary. In most cases, dental implants will last for the rest of your life. The only part of a dental implant that requires replacement is the crown -- and that usually needs replacement only around once every decade or so. Dentures can last for several years, but they will inevitably need to be relined (the addition of fresh base materials for a better fit) or rebased (the creation of an entirely new base for the dentures) every few years. 

Daily Cleaning Versus Regular Oral Care

You need to remove dentures every night to clean them. Most denture wearers must soak their dentures in either water or a denture solution each night, and then affix the dentures in their mouth each morning using a specialised denture adhesive. 

With dental implants, there's no special care required. You'll need only to keep brushing and flossing the same way that you always have. As long as you brush twice a day and floss before bed every night, your dental implants will remain in great shape. 

Eating Normally Versus Eating Carefully

When it comes to eating, there can be a big difference between dentures and dental implants. With dentures, you'll need to use extra caution whilst eating -- particularly when your dentures are new. Although the denture adhesive can help keep the dentures in place, adhesive isn't infallible. You'll need to avoid extremely challenging foods like corn on the cob or whole apples. You'll also need to be quite cautious about foods like sticky sweets, as they can pull your dentures off your gums even with the adhesive in place. As you grow used to wearing dentures, it's best to take small bites and eat only easy-to-chew foods. 

Dental implants are quite different, as they're surgically inserted into your jaw. With dental implants, you can eat anything that you ate before without fear of the implant coming loose. 

For many patients today, the advantages of dental implants are quite clear. However, dentures can be less expensive so they might be right for patients on a budget, especially if you're willing to do some extra work to maintain them. Contact your dentist to learn more about dental implants and dentures!