Dentures vs. Implants: Which Is Best For You?

Posted On: July 12, 2023 by Dr. Fariba Kalantari

Having teeth missing can make people feel uncomfortable in social situations and reduce their self-esteem. But it can also have a negative impact on a person’s health. If you’re missing one or more teeth, however, you’re far from alone. According to one study, around 70% of American adults between the ages of 35 to 44 are missing at least one tooth.

The two main solutions for missing teeth are dentures and dental implants. Both can help restore your smile, but they have significantly different advantages and disadvantages for the people that use them.

In the following article, our dental experts explore the pros and cons of both dentures and implants. We also go over a few key points to help you decide which option is the right one for you.

Dentures: What You Should Know

Dentures are tooth replacements that can be removed as needed. They come in full sets for people who have lost all of their teeth, or partial sets for people who are missing just a few. Thanks to advances in technology and materials science, dentures are higher-quality and more attractive than ever before.

Advantages of Dentures

Dentures have a few notable upsides compared to implants. These include:

• More affordable: Dentures are far cheaper than dental implants. The lower price point makes them more accessible for everyone and, for some people, the only option between the two. It also makes them a better option for people who aren’t sure about replacement teeth just yet.
• Removable: People with dentures can remove them quickly and easily whenever they need to. This can help a person’s gums rest and make it easier to clean some parts of the mouth.
• Less invasive: Dental implants require surgery to be put in, whereas dentures do not. While dentures still require a fitting and other visit to the dentist, the process of getting them is much less painful and time-consuming than getting implants.

Disadvantages of Dentures

There are also a few notable downsides to dentures as a replacement teeth solution. These include:

• Cleaning needs: Dentures need to be cleaned thoroughly daily. This usually involves soaking them in a cleaning solution. While this isn’t a time-consuming process, people who struggle with remembering to take care of dental tasks may find cleaning their dentures consistently to be a challenge.
• Infection risk: When dentures are not cleaned properly or are worn for too long, they can cause infections for the person wearing them. It’s easy for food and other foreign material to get stuck between the dentures and the gums, which can quickly lead to gum disease and other health issues.
• Risk of misplacement: Because dentures are meant to be taken out daily, it’s possible for them to get misplaced. It’s also easy to leave them in places like your home, office, or when travelling.

Dental Implants: What You Should Know

Dental implants are a much newer solution for missing teeth than dentures, but they’ve become increasingly popular in recent years. Much of that is due to advances in materials and technology that have made implants more affordable and easier to get. Thanks to innovations like 3-D printing, dental professionals can create highly accurate replacement implants much more quickly than even a decade ago.

Advantages of Dental Implants

Dental implants offer some significant advantages over dentures, including:

• Permanence: Once dental implants are installed, they don’t need to come back out. While dentures need to be removed daily and can even fall out unintentionally, implants stay in your gums.
• Appearance: While dentures can look healthy and attractive, good dental implants look like you were never missing a tooth at all. Dentists can match the shape of the original tooth and the color of the teeth around it to look like the implant has always been there.
• Function: Dental implants also function like “real” teeth. That means you can eat with them just as you would before you lost the teeth, they replaced without worrying about them falling out or breaking easily.

Disadvantages of Dental Implants

There are also a few noteworthy downsides to implants. These include:

• Expense: Even as they have become more affordable in recent years, dental implants are still very expensive. The price tag can make them a major financial decision for most people and cost-prohibitive for some.
• Surgical needs: Installing implants is a minor surgical procedure. This can be a stressful and sometimes painful experience for some. People who have anxiety around dentists may have fears about the procedure.

How to Choose Between Dentures and Implants

No one solution is right for everyone. The best teeth replacement solution for you depends on your budget and personal preferences. If both options are available to you, it’s worth considering them thoroughly before deciding.

Who Dentures May Be Best For

For some people, dentures can be a better option. These people include:

• People on a budget: With dentures costing significantly less than implants, they are often a better choice for people without as much financial capacity.
• People with lots of teeth missing: Because dentures can be made into a full set, they are usually a much easier solution for people who are missing many teeth than implants. Dentures are not only much less expensive; they also don’t require the time and complications of having implants put in.

Who Implants May Be Best For

Many people may find dental implants to be a superior choice for their needs. These include:

• People who want a permanent fix: Dental implants require a surgical procedure to install, but once they’re in, they’re in for good. After installation, implants function just like natural teeth and can last a lifetime if taken care of.
• People who want to restore function: Dentures can look great, but they don’t replicate the function of natural teeth. Implants, on the other hand, are just as adept at chewing and biting as the teeth they replace.

Dental Implants vs. Dentures: Conclusion

Both dentures and dental implants offer people with missing teeth a way to get their smile back and restore confidence. But while dentures provide an affordable solution that doesn’t require an invasive procedure to install, implants function just like natural teeth and can last just as long when cared for properly.

Whichever solution you decide is best for you, make sure you go over all of your concerns and hopes with your dentist. They can offer more information that could help you reconsider or feel more confident about your decision.