Losing a few or even many of your natural teeth is no longer treated as a grave issue, thanks to the multiple tooth replacement options we have today.
In fact tooth replacement has become so easy and accessible today that you can literally go and get it done in a single day by opting for same-day procedures.
However, not everybody is aware of these facilities. A lot of edentulous people can’t even tell apart traditional vs modern replacement procedures, let alone understand the advances in treatment timelines.
The confusion of dental implants vs partial dentures (or implant vs denture to put it simply) is a fitting example.
Edentulous people easily get confused between these two, primarily because they’re equally popular and their results look somewhat similar. The truth is they’re anything but similar. Implants and dentures differ greatly in day-to-day functionality, aesthetics and even more so in long-term durability.
Deciding between them is a difficult but important decision.
This one decision can decide the future of your smile if you have lost multiple teeth, so it should be made cautiously.
Facing the same confusion? Read this blog. Let’s give you clarity regarding implants and dentures so you can make a reliable choice.
What Are Partial Dentures?
We’ll start with the older, traditional option: partial dentures.
Partial dentures are simply understood as the partial version of dentures.
A crucial distinction is important to be understood here:
Partial Vs Full Dentures
A full denture is designed for fully edentulous patients (those who have lost all of their natural teeth). It has 12-14 prosthetic teeth that cover the entire toothless jaw.
It works by being suspended on the gums, and is either filled with a little dental cement at the base to help it stick to the gums or is simply retained with the help of salivary suction forces, giving an illusion of a complete smile.
A partial denture, on the other hand, is meant for partially toothless people who have lost just a few or multiple (not all) of their teeth.
It can replace anywhere from 1-10 teeth in a row. It works by clasping onto the existing teeth with the help of plastic or metal clasps. These teeth help support the denture and allow it to restore the lost aesthetics and functionality of your smile.
So, full and partial dentures differ in the number of teeth they replace and their support system. The former takes support from the gums whereas the latter is supported by your existing natural teeth.
Nevertheless, a traditional denture, whether partial or full, delivers the same kind of restoration:
- The fake teeth are prone to shifting and slipping even with normal eating/speaking because they’re only superficially placed on the gums (supported by existing teeth at most) and have no solid connection to the bone.
- With partial dentures, there’s a risk of the supporting teeth getting decayed if food debris accumulates around the clasps and the teeth.
- Sometimes the metal clasps can be too evident, especially if you have partial dentures for front teeth, which hampers your aesthetics. Also, the teeth may look obviously artificial or bulky if the clasps aren’t fitted properly.
- Dentures have a short lifespan because of their superficial placement and design. They typically only last between 5-10 years. This is mostly due to the denture base wearing down over the years and your jawbone/gum tissue changing shape in parallel, requiring significant relining or a complete replacement.
Dental Implants Explained
Now let’s discuss our 2nd and most advanced option i.e. dental implants.
Dental implants are not prosthetic teeth themselves; they’re highly efficient and strong restorative tools that ‘support’ prosthetic teeth.
Basically they’re artificial tooth roots (screw-like fixtures) that are surgically inserted into the toothless jawbone at the regions of tooth loss.
So, for example, if you’re missing a front tooth, then a single dental implant can be used to replace it. One dental implant would be inserted into the toothless socket at the bone level such that it replaces the missing root. A crown is then attached to the implant, replacing the missing tooth structure (root + visible tooth) entirely.
Implants are also used to replace multiple missing teeth and even for full arch replacements.
For multiple, consecutively occurring missing teeth, you get 2 dental implants placed at the starting and ending points of the missing teeth gap, respectively. These 2 implants provide a stable foundation for the attachment of a dental bridge, which contains a series of artificial teeth equivalent to the number of lost teeth.
The bridge is bolted to the 2 implants placed in the jaw with the help of abutments (connectors), giving it a strong and robust placement that’s rooted in the bone itself.
As such, you get a fixed (permanent) replacement for your missing teeth that:
- Are independent of your existing teeth or gums, because they’re directly held by the gums. Hence they don’t slip or shift, let alone fall out like traditional partial dentures.
- Look absolutely natural due to their precise placement and fit.
- Allow for comfortable eating with a strong bite force as well as fluent speaking.
- Have no chances of decaying or causing decay in surrounding teeth.
- Are extremely durable. Implant screws can last easily for 20+ years. Only the prosthesis (the bridge) would need replacement every 10 to 15 years.
Should You Get Implants Or Partial Dentures?
The answer to this depends on what you’re looking for in your replacement.
If you want a one-time, permanent solution for your missing teeth then dental implants are without a doubt the best option.
Their fixed and comprehensive nature makes them the closest possible replacement to natural teeth, with optimal functionality, aesthetics, and longevity. These aspects make them highly reliable.
However if you’re looking for a budget option then implant dentures are also fine, given you’re comfortable with the idea of frequent replacements and maintenance visits.
Conclusion
To conclude, dental implants clearly have a winning edge if we talk about reliability and efficiency. Choosing them means getting a permanent replacement for your missing teeth with a one-time investment.
Not sure if you’re eligible for implants? Book a FREE consultation with CA Implant Clinic, a premium dental practice located in California. Talk to our team of implant experts and pave your way to a healthy and beautiful smile!
