Having several missing teeth or losing an entire set of teeth can cause bigger problems than your appearance, however—chewing food can be difficult if not impossible, and speaking can become problematic as well.

Fortunately, there are options to replace your missing teeth. Two of these are all-on-four dental implants and dentures. Let’s review the pros and cons of each of these restorative options!

Benefits of Going with All-on-Four Dental Implants

A single dental implant is designed to replace a missing natural tooth. But with all-on-four dental implants, you can replace an entire mouthful of teeth with just four dental implants.

Here’s how it works: between four and six dental implants are strategically placed in your mouth and allowed to heal, or in other words, fuse with your jawbone. Then, a restoration is placed, which is essentially a replica of your teeth that securely attaches to the implants. The results is a realistic, sturdy, and functional replacement to your natural teeth. Many patients are highly satisfied with the results of their all-on-four implants [1]!

Why Dentures Might Be a Good Fit

Dentures are cost-effective solutions to your missing teeth and can last several years with the right care [2]. Generally, dentures will need to be replaced every few years to ensure a comfortable fit.

Most dentures are designed to fit so that they create a seal with your gums, while some patients find adhesive is helpful to keeping dentures in place—they don’t “attach” to anything except your gum tissue. While dentures will stimulate your jaw somewhat, they won’t prevent the loss of jawbone the same way dental implants will.

However, with dentures, you won’t have to worry about having enough bone in your jaw to support a dental implant, which can be a concern for some people who have been missing teeth for quite some time.

What’s the Verdict?

Both all-on-four implants and dentures allow you to get a set of replacement teeth quickly. However, with all-on-four implants, you’ll need to follow a specific diet for a few months with a temporary restoration while your dental implants heal. Then, your permanent restoration can be placed [3].

So while both can offer a functional replacement for your missing teeth, many patients view all-on-four dental implants as more of an investment. Why?

Dental implants never need to be replaced, unlike dentures. They also provide a more secure option, as your artificial set of teeth will attach onto the implants, allowing you to eat whatever you like once your final restoration is in place. And finally, dental implants facilitate jawbone growth, allowing you to prevent a sunken facial appearance upon removing your dentures.

Regardless of which replacement you choose for your natural teeth, the right dental restoration can allow you to chew, speak, and smile with ease, giving you the ability to enjoy your teeth again!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4253293/
2. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dentures/
3. https://www.aaid-implant.org/dental-implants/types-of-implants-and-techniques/

The post All-on-Four Dental Implants vs. Dentures: Which Should Replace Your Missing Teeth? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

A dental implant is a post that’s inserted surgically into your jaw with a dental crown placed onto the end. While the crown part of this restoration will need to be replaced at some point, the implant never will, making this a low-maintenance option for people who need to replace their missing teeth.

Here’s how you can replace one, multiple, or all of your teeth with dental implants!

Replacing a Single Missing Tooth

If you have one missing tooth, regardless of where it is in your mouth, a dental implant could be a good choice for you. In order to qualify for a dental implant, your dentist will take x-rays to ensure you have enough supporting bone in your jaw for the actual implant.

In the event that you don’t have enough bone in your jaw—the body will absorb bone that’s not being stimulated by a tooth over time—don’t worry. Your dentist can still conduct a bone graft to build up your jaw bone for a dental implant.

The implant will be placed first and allowed to heal before it can support a crown [1]. In the meantime, your dentist may place a temporary crown so you won’t have to go without a tooth!

Getting Multiple Tooth Restorations

Did you know you can replace multiple teeth with dental implants? You have the option of replacing each missing tooth with a dental implant, or you may also have the option of getting an implant-supported bridge.

An implant-supported bridge supports a dental crown attached to two crowns on neighboring dental implants [2]. With this particular restoration, you won’t have to get dental implants for multiple missing teeth in a row, but can still see the benefits of dental implants for some of your teeth.

A Whole New Smile with Dental Implants

If you’re missing all of your natural teeth, you may qualify for dental implants. You won’t necessarily have to get implants for each and every one of your missing teeth. You have the option of getting all-on-four dental implants.

All-on-four dental implants consist of between four to six implants placed at particular locations in the jaw which support a permanent fixed restoration that attaches to the actual implants. The benefits of all-on-four dental implants include a lower cost with the benefits of dental implants.

This restoration, just like with single dental implants, has a high success rate and is considered a viable option for patients who want to replace all of their missing teeth with dental implants [3].

Are you missing some or all of your natural teeth and looking for a replacement? It’s hard to come by a better replacement than dental implants. These sturdy, permanent restorations can give you a beautiful, functional smile with a range of options to suit your preference and budget. Ask your dentist about replacing your missing teeth with dental implants today!

Sources:
1. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/i/implants
2. https://www.perio.org/consumer/multiple-tooth-implant
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4253293/

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