Implant Retained Dentures Vs. Traditional Dentures
Patients with missing teeth are often left with three options: traditional dentures, implant retained/implant supported dentures, or to do nothing. While some patients opt to do nothing, either due to concern of the cost, time, or discomfort involved in having a procedure performed, the long-term consequence of choosing this option is that eventually, more significant issues will develop, such as the loss of additional teeth and deterioration of one’s jawbone.
Historically, traditional dentures have been the only treatment option available for patients with missing teeth. Traditional dentures are dental appliances held in place by bracing around the gum tissue and remaining jawbone, which allows the patient to chew, bite, and smile a full smile. Traditional dentures can be a good treatment option for patients who are missing most of their teeth and are looking for a fast, cost-affordable solution.
While traditional dentures do provide fast results at an affordable price, along with these savings in cost and time come several issues that can be problematic, such as rubbing of the gums, which can cause sores to develop, slipping out of place while eating or talking, which can cause social embarrassment, alteration of one’s normal speech patterns, and a significant reduction in the types of foods one is able to enjoy.
One popular alternative to traditional dentures are implant retained dentures, a removable denture that connects to a dental implant, which is placed in the jawbone. Implant retained dentures provides a much stronger, more secure fit compared to traditional dentures and restore an individual’s ability to enjoy more types of foods. Implant retained dentures are also far less likely to slip out of place, and perhaps most importantly, provide the necessary stimulation to your jawbone that your natural tooth once did which prevents further jawbone deterioration.
Which Treatment Option is Right for Me?
It may be helpful to consider the benefits attributed to implant retained dentures and why these benefits often make them the more desirable option when deciding between implant retained dentures or traditional dentures, which include:
- Fit is more natural feeling and provides greater stability
- Do not slip out of place while talking or chewing
- Eliminates rubbing and sore sports, which commonly occur with traditional dentures
- Improves one’s ability to speak and eat
- Do not require the use of adhesives
- More comfortable than traditional dentures
- Allows for a return to normal eating habits
- Significantly reduces the risk of further jawbone deterioration and other oral health issues from developing
- Savings in cost due to a reduced need for regular examinations and refitting, which is often necessary for traditional dentures
In addition to considering the benefits and drawbacks to implant retained dentures compared to traditional dentures, it is important to schedule a consultation with your periodontist, who can perform a thorough evaluation of your oral health to determine what treatment options are available to you, answer any questions you may have, and provide their professional opinion as to which treatment option is best suited for your unique needs.