Both dental implants and dentures are good options when it comes to restoring smiles but each method meets different needs for patients. Your dentist will be able to offer the most specific recommendations in relation to your situation, but we will go through the basic differences between the two. In terms of stability, dental implants are rooted in your jawbone and do not create a worry of slippage while dentures, both partial and full, are not fixed in the mouth and are at risk of coming loose or out of place. Partial dentures can also be damaging to the adjacent natural teeth they rely on and are supported by. Dentures also come with the risk of jawbone shrinkage which can lead to needing replacement dentures. Jawbone shrinkage happens when teeth are missing because there are not any supporting structures keeping it in shape which can alter the way dentures fit over time.
Dental Implants
Permanent artificial teeth
Fixed into the jawbone to act as a new tooth root
Ideal for patients in good oral health with few missing teeth
Dentures
Removable replacement teeth that are attached to a metal framework
Partial dentures are secured by connecting the framework to adjacent remaining teeth or a cemented bridge
Complete dentures replace all of the natural teeth and are held in place by natural suction