For a long time people with missing teeth had to rely on dentures to replace their teeth. And for years it was the only viable solution to missing teeth. It was a way to eat properly, and feel socially accepted and confident despite having missing teeth.
Nowadays we can offer dental implants, a permanent solution to missing teeth. They are fixed into your jaw, so you don’t ever have to remove them, and they usually last for the rest of your life!
Wearing Dentures
Dentures are still a perfectly acceptable solution to missing teeth, but they do come with some problems and inconveniences.
Dentures need to be held in place with glue. You have to take them in and out, sometimes several times a day, in order to secure them with more glue. They have to be cleaned periodically, and sometimes they are uncomfortable and even painful.
Dentures may slip around a little, making certain foods difficult to bite into or chew. The extra apparatus in your mouth can hinder your speech slightly, giving you a lisp or other speaking problems.
While dentures are better than no teeth at all and perfectly acceptable for some people, there are better options now with permanent dental implants.
Having Dental Implants
Dental implants are becoming more common and easier to provide. The surgical aspect is much easier now, with the option for sedation dentistry, and we can even do same-day implants! The cost of dental implants is not as expensive as people may think, and my patients all say it is well worth it.
With implants there is no need to take them in and out of your mouth since they are permanently implanted into your jaw. You will still need to brush and floss, since your gums are an important part of your oral health and hygiene.
Since implants are fixed in your jaw, they are much more secure than dentures for the sake of eating. They have a more natural appearance, and there is no glue, or a device to hinder your speech. They have the look and feel of natural teeth.
Dental implants benefit not just your mouth, but your overall health. You can chew healthier foods, feel more confident, and clean your mouth and gums easily and effectively.
Implant Supported Dentures
It is possible to have a combination of dentures and implants in patients who are missing all or most of their teeth. We can place 2, 4, or 6 implants, and then create a removable bridge to attach to those implants.
This works fairly well, as implant supported dentures are more stable and fixed than regular dentures, but I can’t think of a single patient who stayed with that set-up. You still have pieces that go in and out of your mouth, and they need cleaning and replacing. People return to me eventually, wanting a more fixed solution than the implant supported dentures can provide.
If you’re wearing dentures, and would like a more permanent solution, come in for a free consultation! We specialize in implants. And if you’re missing teeth, or are going to lose teeth, don’t worry! There are lots of options available to you. Losing teeth is no longer as big of an ordeal as it used to be. Whether you need a single tooth implant, or full mouth implants, we are here to help!
We serve patients all over the Greater Bay area, from the Peninsula, to the East Bay, to San Francisco.
