Today, one in every 25 Australians does not have natural teeth. When one loses a tooth or several, the impact in their life can be monumental. From smiling to feeding, the lost teeth might prompt the need for a total lifestyle change.
In the past, the remedy for fallen teeth was false teeth. However, false teeth make one to feel and sound very different. Now, you have the option of selecting between dentures and implants.
Dentures
Dentures are false teeth, types of prosthetic devices, that are designed to replace lost or removed teeth. They can be partial (replacing only one or few teeth) or full (replacing all teeth) on the bottom or upper gum line.
Dentures are custom designed by a dentist to make them perfectly fit your mouth. And, you might be wondering how they stay in position, right? They are supported by the tissues in the gum.
In the past, most false teeth were designed using plastic or porcelain. However, modern dentures are made using hard resin or metal.
Implants
Dental implants are metallic posts made using titanium to mimic the actual structure of your natural tooth. The root of the implant is inserted into the bone to support a crown or full denture. Once a dental implant has been installed, it will appear and work like a natural tooth. Well, take good care of the implant and it can last a lifetime.
Today, anyone who has lost a tooth, whether through accident or decay, can get back the lovely smile through dental implants.
Advantages
The main advantage of dentures is that they are easy to design compared to implants. The prosthesis can be designed within a short time because no surgery is required. This means that you are assured of getting back that lovely smile that ebbed away with the loss of teeth.
In the case of dental implants, the main advantage is that they provide a permanent solution for the lost teeth. Although they require surgical procedures, you are sure of enjoying a permanent smile for the rest of your life. Finally, they are considered more convenient because you will not need to remove them from the mouth when going to sleep.
Maintenance
When it comes to maintenance, both dentures and implants need good care for you to enjoy using them. In the case of dentures, you are required to clean them daily and remove them when sleeping. This gives your gums time to rejuvenate.
For implants, you simply take care of them the same way you do for natural teeth. Consider using the ordinary Teflon instrument to clear plaque to prevent infections on the gum. And, unlike with dentures, you will enjoy the fact that you do not need to remove implants when going to sleep.
Cost
When it comes to cost, this is perhaps where the biggest difference between implants and dentures is. Dentures are cheap because the dentist only needs to get the right measurement of the missing teeth to craft the custom artificial teeth. The average cost of getting dentures in Australia is $2000.
In the case of dental implants, the cost varies between $3000 and $10,000. And this cost could go further up if the current tooth/teeth need to be removed first. The cost of implants is higher because the process is more complicated compared to the dentures procedure. For example, it requires a surgeon, dentist, and complex equipment.
Which is best suited for you?
From the design, advantages, and maintenance, there is no doubt that dental implants are the better option. They offer a permanent solution to the missing teeth, which is what you want, right? This means that no matter the cause of your teeth loss, the power of getting that beautiful or charming smile back is in your hand. But, you need to be prepared to pay the high cost of getting the permanent solution for your teeth.
Whether you lost your teeth through decay or accident, implants and denture technologies now have the best solution. However, we strongly recommend that you go for implants.