Dentures Vs. Dental Implants | Which Is Right For Me?

Is it finally time?

Maybe you've been doing research for a while now.

Or, maybe the idea has just popped into your mind, and your research is just beginning.

Either way, the decision you have to make is an important one.

And don't worry, you aren't alone.

Thousands of people will be making the same decision as you soon as well.

It's time to restore your missing teeth.

By now you've probably realized that the two most popular options are dentures or dental implants.

Dentures and dental implants are both fantastic options, and there's no right or wrong choice.

There's not a "one size fits all" approach to restoring your missing teeth.

What's good for one person might not be good for the next.

In the article below we will discuss the similarities and difference between the two to help you make an informed decision.


Article Table of Contents


Why Patients Love Dentures

Why Patients Don't Love Dentures

Dental Implants

How Do I Get Dental Implants?

Time To Decide

Dentures are still a popular choice for tooth restoration


The first image that pops into your head when you think of dentures is an old lady taking her teeth out and putting them in a cup on her nightstand.

Maybe your mother or grandmother did this.

Thankfully, though, dentures have come a long way since then.

Today's dentures are made from quality materials and are fitted to each patient, so they don't slip in your mouth or impair your speech in any way.

Your dentist will take an impression of your mouth and create a model that ensures a perfect fit.

Whether you need full dentures or just partial dentures, make sure not to skip this step to be sure you get dentures that fit your mouth.

After your dentist takes the impression of your mouth, they will send it to a lab to get it crafted you your specific measurements.

If they don't do this already, ask your dentist to make sure they fit before you leave their office.

Why Patients Love Dentures

Most patients love dentures because of their simplicity.

You can remove them whenever you want, and getting them is painless and easy.

They are also relatively inexpensive when compared to the other cosmetic and restorative options available.

Today's dentures mimic your natural teeth pretty well, and partial dentures can even be color matched to your existing teeth.

Most people will be completely oblivious to the fact that you have dentures. 

Why Patients Don't Love Dentures

What you like about dentures someone else might despise.

While you like the thought of dentures being removable, the next guy might hate it, or vice versa.

That often is the biggest complaint about dentures.

When people are considering getting missing teeth restored, they want them to be as natural as possible.

Removable teeth obviously aren't natural.

Many people prefer a fixed, permanent solution.

Although the functionality of dentures has made leaps and bounds over the past few decades, it still can't match the functionality of teeth anchored into your jawbone.

And people often think that dentures are cheap, and won't consider them for that reason.

Dental Implants are becoming the most popular option for tooth replacement

Dental Implants

If you aren't sold on dentures, don't worry; you have another option.

An option that is considered superior to dentures by most people.

Dental implants are becoming the new norm when it comes to tooth restoration.

Unlike dentures, dental implants are titanium screws that attach to your jawbone, giving you a secure fit and a natural, healthy smile.

The primary reason people choose implants is that they want a permanent solution.

They're tired of having missing teeth, and they don't want a temporary solution.

They want a permanent fix so they can finally move on from the issue.

A smile with missing teeth is often very embarrassing, Dental implants will fix that right away.

Implants will also fix the slurred speech issue that often accompanies missing teeth.

Some patients missing several teeth experience facial sagging.

Dental implants with crowns or bridges will go a long way in fixing the facial sagging.

Basically, people who want a permanent solution that is indistinguishable from their natural teeth choose dental implants. 

How Do I Get Dental Implants?

The process of getting dental implants will vary from person to person.

If your dentist tries to tell you how your implants will work before examining you, you might need to consider another dentist.

Various factors come into play when you choose to get dental implants.

Things like needing just one tooth or multiple teeth replaced, how much bone you have, whether or not you need a bone graft, as well as many other factors.

To give you a general idea, the process will look something like this:

  1. Titanium screws are placed in your jaw. The screws act as an artificial root for your new teeth.
  2. After the screws are put in, you'll wait between 3-6 months to allow your mouth to heal, and have the bone and titanium screw fuse together.
  3. Once your mouth is healed, your crown or bridge is placed on top of your implants, and your brand new smile is ready to go. If you're uneasy about waiting six months for your crown or bridge, your dentist can give you a temporary denture while you wait.

Time To Decide

Hopefully, this article gave you a good idea of what to expect when you choose between dentures and dental implants.

However, there is only so much you can read online about your decision before it's time to get an expert opinion.

The last step in the decision-making process is talking to an experienced dentist that can guide you through the decision-making process, helping you determine what's best.

The dentists at Hylan Dental Care will do just that.

They will make sure you know the ins and outs of dentures and dental implants.

Then they will help you decide what is best for your unique situation.

When you schedule a dental implant consultation at Hylan Dental care, you are under no obligation to do anything.

They just want to be sure you are as informed and prepared as you possibly can be.

If you'd like to schedule a consultation with them to discuss your options, click the button below.

Schedule a Dental Implant Consultation