The Pros and Cons of Implant-Supported Dentures

The role that healthy teeth play in our lives, whether aesthetically or in their actual work, cannot be understated. Whether through an accident, decay, or anything else, the pain and stigma that comes with teeth loss is not a good place to be. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, one in four adults loses all their teeth by the time they turn 74. Luckily, there have been great advances made to solve the problems faced by edentulous patients. From the traditional “false teeth” to new advances, a lot can be done for those who have lost their teeth. 

False teeth were good but were generally not strong enough, and one had to be careful when chewing. The traditional dentures sat on the gum ridge with teeth. This made them at least 30 percent less strong, according to some researchers. Many have described the process of using the traditional false teeth as leaving them with a feeling of incompleteness. That is where dental implants come into the conversation. A dental implant is a framework that holds a replacement tooth. It is made of titanium and other material and tends to look and act like a screw.

Dental implants and dentures are gaining popularity as the go-to solution for edentulous patients. There are different types of implant-supported dentures. These include temporary dentures attached and detached from the patient’s posts at home and permanently implanted dentures that are fully fixed to the implant posts and can only be removed by a professional health worker. The advantages of removable implant dentures include the fact that there is no need for bone augmentation and prevent bone loss. They are considered the most affordable solution for edentulous patients’ full mouth restorations as they improve facial structure.  DentalX Clinic is known for offering such procedures at affordable rates. Implant-supported dentures are preferred because they offer the full strength of normal teeth. They take the full force of the bite and absorb it into the jawbones.

The Pros of Implant-Supported Dentures

• Strength: as noted above, because they attach to the jawbone directly that are strategically placed, they can take on more weight and strain without becoming loose or slipping. They have better bite force. This is as compared to other denture types such as bridges that rely on neighboring teeth and gums. Further, because of the teeth’ strength, there are not as many dietary restrictions with implant-supported teeth as with other denture types that many people find very limiting when getting dentures. This affects dietary intake, consequently, the nutritional quality of what one can eat. This further translates to preventing weight loss and the malnutrition that comes with lacking the teeth to eat.

• Bone Loss: Implant-supported dentures help avoid the bone loss associated with other denture types. One of the problems with traditional dentures is that they have been shown to not only not stop bone loss but have been found to accelerate bone loss. That process is known as bone resorption due to the lack of tooth roots to stimulate regeneration. This causes the traditional dentures to stop fitting properly as the jawbone shrinks with time. 

• Facial Structure: Implant-supported dentures have been shown to improve facial structure. This ties in with the foregoing point on the prevention of bone loss. The compounded effect of this is that the patient continues to laugh and feel good about themselves, which is important for their mental wellbeing. The fact that there is no need for bone augmentation is also a major plus when one is considering denture options. This means the process is much quicker for your dentist to carry out. 

The Cons of Implant-Supported Dentures 

The process of installing implant-supported dentures is very lengthy and takes a long time, sometimes as much as 6 months, for the implants to fuse with the jawbone. Further, they are known to be more expensive as compared to other denture options despite being the most affordable denture option. This is because sometimes additional procedures may be required, which is another con of this type. This can occur where one does not have enough bone mass to support the implant. It can also come with infections of the gums, although this is rare.

It is important to be very intentional about what denture procedure works for you, and Dental X Clinic will work with you to find the best option for you.