Patients who are missing one or more teeth know how distressing it can be, especially if it’s one of the front teeth, which are easily noticed by others. Not only their social life and self-esteem can be affected, but losing the functionality of one tooth can degenerate in other issues like jaw bone tissue degenerating, difficulties speaking, or eating.
Luckily, there are quite a few options when it comes to replacing a missing tooth, and dentures or dental implants are two of the most common ones.
Let’s see what each of them is, and how they compare for patients.
A dental implant is a permanent, highly effective treatment for replacing a missing tooth. An implant lasts a lifetime and requires the same maintenance as your natural teeth. Implants also prevent a number of complications related to missing teeth and help to support jaw bone health.
Getting a dental implant involves multiple surgeries, a long healing process and it can cost quite a lot. But an implant is the best treatment one can get for a missing tooth.
The process involves drilling a hole in the jaw bone and placing a titanium implant inside. The implant will act like the roots of the missing tooth, promoting bone health and eliminating the risk of bone remission. After the implant fuses with the jaw bone, it can be fitted with an artificial tooth that looks and acts just like a natural one.
Dentures, unlike dental implants, will not be attached to the jaw bone and aren’t able to support bone tissue health. However, they replace the visible part of the teeth and will keep the other teeth aligned, help you speak and eat normally and give you a pleasing appearance. They can be a temporary solution until you are healthy enough physically and financially to get dental implants.
Whether you need dentures or a dental implant depends a lot on the health of your teeth, your medical history, your budget, lifestyle, and many other factors. This decision should be made with the help of a dentist, as they can say precisely what can and cannot be done for each patient.
Both dentures and dental implants have pros and cons that will need to be considered when making a decision. A dentist will explain everything in detail and help you find the best solution for you.
If you have one or more missing teeth and you are not sure what treatment is fit for your situation, book an appointment at JAX Dental Studios with Dr. Charles Poblenz and his team. They will assess your case, do the needed investigations, and let you know all the details of each option.
Contact us for more information or to schedule a visit to our dental office.
