From biting into a juicy hamburger to speaking with conviction while delivering a presentation to your supervisors, our teeth play critical roles in various functions.

Our teeth matter, but we often take them for granted. At least, we take them for granted until an accident, illness, or plain old age gets in the way and causes us to lose one (or more) of them.

The good news is that you can choose from many tooth replacement solutions to improve your smile and restore your confidence.

Dentures and dental implants are two of the most popular smile restoration options. This post explains the pros and cons of each to help you decide which is right for you.

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant replaces a missing tooth root. A metal post acts as the new tooth root, and a crown is placed on top, mimicking your natural teeth in appearance and function.

Dentists place dental implants in two stages.

First, they drill the implant into the jawbone. Then, after your gums have healed, the crown is securely mounted to the implant.   

Advantages of Dental Implants

Dental implants offer lots of benefits, including the following:

Comfortable

Dental implants are very comfortable because they take the place of a natural tooth. Once the gums have healed, your dental implant and crown feel just like your other teeth, meaning you can easily eat, talk, and clean them.

Impossible to Lose

Dental implants are surgically fastened to your jawbone, meaning you never have to worry about remembering where you put your implants!

There’s virtually no risk of losing them, which is excellent for forgetful folks who need cosmetic dental help.

Extremely Realistic

Dental implants don’t just feel natural. They also look natural.

No one will be able to tell the difference between your dental implant and crown and your natural teeth, even if you’re replacing one in the very front of your mouth.

Long-Lasting

If you properly care for your dental implant, it can last a lifetime. You may need to replace the crown after about 10-15 years, but the implant itself is there to stay.

Retain Bone

Dental implants help to prevent bone loss in the jaw. If you lose jawbone mass, your bit may become weaker. This issue can compromise your remaining teeth, contribute to facial collapse, and cause you to look older.

Don’t Need Special Treatment

You must take good care of your dental implant if you want it to last. The good news, though, is that dental implants don’t require any special treatment. You just have to brush and floss as you do with your natural teeth.

Disadvantages of Dental Implants

Although dental implants offer plenty of benefits, they also come with some drawbacks, including these:

More Invasive

Dental implants require surgery. The dentist has to cut open the gum to access the jaw bone and then insert the implant. Some people feel a bit squeamish about this, but they still enjoy the end result.

More Expensive

Dental implants are typically more expensive than standard dentures. However, this is the case because they are a sturdier and more reliable product.

The higher cost of dental implants is worth their added convenience and reduced maintenance for most people. They also last a long time, so you don’t have to worry about as many ongoing expenses.

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are prosthetic devices that replace missing teeth. They’re held in place by your mouth’s soft and hard tissues and look just like your natural teeth.

Most dentures are removable. However, some clasp onto the teeth or dental implants for extra support.

Advantages of Dentures

Despite the benefits of dental implants, some people still prefer dentures over them. The following are some of the most noteworthy reasons to pick dentures:

Restore Multiple Teeth at Once

Dentures allow you to replace multiple teeth — even entire rows — in one fell swoop.

Dentures are an efficient solution if you’re missing many teeth (or perhaps all of them). Once you have your dentures made, you can transform your smile almost instantly.

Work for Most People

Dental implants are typically only available to those with healthy gums and jawbones. Even if your gums or bones aren’t in good shape, you can still get dentures to improve your smile and restore the function of your teeth.

Easy to Maintain

Like implants, dentures are also relatively easy to maintain. You just have to remove and clean them every evening, then soak them overnight to prevent them from drying out.

More Affordable

Dentures are usually more affordable than dental implants. If you’re working with a tight budget, you might prefer dentures over implants.

Disadvantages of Dentures

Before you move forward with dentures, you should be aware of the potential downsides. Here are some cons that come with choosing dentures over dental implants:

Fragile

Dentures are very fragile. They can easily crack or even break in half if you drop them on the floor or counter during a cleaning session.

For those who are particularly accident-prone, you might find yourself making multiple trips to the dentist to get your dentures repaired or replaced.

More Frequent Replacements

In addition to needing replacements after breaking, you might also need to replace your dentures because the shape of your mouth has naturally changed with time.

Dentures can wear down over time as you chew and talk. If you don’t replace them when they start to change, they may hurt your gums and remaining teeth.

Dentures vs. Dental Implants: Which Should You Choose?

Dentures and dental implants both come with various benefits and potential drawbacks. The more you know about these options, the easier it is to choose a smile restoration solution that works well for you and your needs.

If you’re interested in dental implants or dentures, our team at Denture Haus is here to help. We proudly serve patients throughout North Brisbane and are happy to answer all your questions so you can make an informed decision.

Contact us today to learn more or set up a free consultation.