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Over the last several decades, dental implants have become the standard of care in restorative dentistry. Many patients still opt for dentures and dental bridges when looking to replace their missing teeth, but beware—both treatments come with their own sets of disadvantages.
Dentures — Cumbersome and High-Maintenance
When comparing your different tooth replacement treatment options, you may be tempted to go for a set of dentures because their initial price tag is relatively low. Dentures work for many people and have proven to be a hardy restorative dental treatment, but there’s a reason why they’ve earned a less-than-stellar reputation.
To stay dense and full, your jawbone relies on a full set of teeth. When a tooth falls out, the area of the jaw around that tooth begins to deteriorate, as there’s nothing there to keep it working and stimulated.
Unfortunately, dentures don’t prevent this from happening. Dentures sit on top of the gums so while they restore the appearance of your natural teeth, they don’t do anything for your bone structure and eventually, your face will start to appear sunken and hollow.
Denture users also report that their restorations can be:
- Uncomfortable
- High-maintenance
- Ill-fitting
- Hard to eat with
- Noticeable
Dental Bridges — Bad for Your Other Teeth
Dental bridges offer another method for replacing teeth and tend to be preferable over dentures. A bridge does as its name suggests—it literally bridges the gap left behind by your missing tooth. Two crowns fit over the existing adjacent teeth to support a third prosthetic in the middle, replacing the missing tooth with an attractive replica.
The primary problem with dental bridges is that the adjacent teeth need to be filed down in order for the crowns to fit over them. Once that enamel is lost, it can’t grow back, which causes permanent damage to those teeth.
Like dentures, bridges don’t prevent the jawbone from deteriorating, which will cause your oral health to deteriorate. Plus, they need to be periodically replaced and that cost will add up over time.
Dental Implants — Worry-Free and Healthy
Dental implants offer the most health, esthetic, and lifestyle benefits of all of the treatments.
Dental implants don’t just replace the visible part of your teeth—they replace the roots as well. Your surgeon places the implant post directly into your jaw, which will allow the bone to wrap around it. This ensures that the jawbone stays dense and full and ultimately prevents resorption.
Dental implants are:
- Natural-looking
- Permanent if cared for properly
- Easy to brush and maintain
- Immune to tooth decay
If you’re missing one or more teeth and want to ensure that your oral health doesn’t suffer because of it, consider calling our Brampton, ON office to learn more about dental implants. We always accept new dental implant patients and are committed to helping each and every person that comes through our doors. Contact us today to get started!