Dental Implants vs. Dentures
The most effective treatment for substantial tooth loss is usually dentures. Dentures are solid restorations that can replace a small set of missing teeth up to an entire arch of missing teeth. At his dental practice, Dr. Byron J. Nordhus offers both traditional dentures and implant-supported dentures, which are anchored down by dental implants surgically placed in the jaw.
When considering dental implants vs. dentures for tooth loss treatment, we must take into account which technique is most appropriate for our Wichita, KS, patients, as well as which technique offers the benefits the patient desires.
Dental Implant Treatment
Dental implant treatment starts with a surgical procedure to place small titanium screws in the jaw beneath the area of tooth loss. An entire arch of dentures can usually be supported by a series of four to six dental implants. After implants are placed, we allow the jaw and gums time to heal. During this timeframe, the implants should fuse with the patient’s jawbone. This process of osseointegration is key to the success of dental implant treatment.
Around four to six months after the implants are placed, we move on to the next phase of treatment, which is abutment placement. Abutments are small metal posts that extend from the dental implant above the gumline. These posts eventually support dental restorations.
The final stage of dental implant treatment is the placement of the implant-supported dentures (or other dental restorations) to replace the crown of the teeth. Dental restorations are bonded to the abutments with a cement-like compound. Once in place, dental restorations are fully supported by dental implants.
Dental Implant Candidacy
To be considered an ideal candidate for dental implants, our Wichita patients must have good oral health and sufficient jawbone density. Since bone degeneration is a common side effect of tooth loss, this is a problem for many patients. These individuals may strengthen their jawbone with a bone graft to make dental implants possible, or they can opt for an alternate treatment.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants are considered the gold standard of tooth loss treatment, because they offer many benefits that are unique to this technique. Most notably, dental implants:
- Stimulate the jaw to prevent bone atrophy
- Can be cared for just like the natural teeth
- Offer superior support and stability
- Can last a lifetime
Dentures Treatment and Candidacy
Dentures treatment is non-invasive and is a suitable option even if individuals have suffered from jawbone atrophy, so just about all of our Wichita patients are ideal dentures candidates. Usually, patients opt for traditional dentures when they have been ruled out as dental implant candidates, or when they are looking for a faster and more affordable option than implants.
Dentures treatment can typically be completed within just two dental appointments. First, Dr. Nordhus takes impressions of the jaw and any adjacent teeth. These impressions are used to design a set of dentures that fills in gaps left by tooth loss, while fitting comfortably and securely.
When dentures are complete, patients return to collect their restoration and test their fit. Dentures sit over the patient’s gumline and are secured by suction and dentures adhesive, so no additional procedure is necessary to put the dentures in place.
Benefits of Dentures
Traditional dentures do not offer the same benefits as dental implants, but they do have some advantages, such as:
- Dentures treatment is non-invasive
- Traditional dentures are more affordable than dental implants
- Traditional dentures can be completed in a fraction of the time as dental implant treatment
We Can Answer Your Questions
If you are interested in learning more about dentures vs. dental implants, and which treatment may be right for you, Dr. Byron J. Nordhus can answer any questions you have. To schedule a personal consultation at our dental practice, send us a message online or call (316) 721-6730.