Dentures Vs. Dental Implants: Weighing the Many Factors

Whether one opts for dentures or dental implants depends on many factors I.e. appearance, finances, personal comfort, etc. Dental implants were developed by Per-Ingvar Branemark, a Swedish orthopedic surgeon some fifty years ago. The first dental implant was yet to be performed when I was fitted for my first dentures in 1960. The first actual dental implant operation was performed in Europe in the mid 1960s. My dentures were state of the art at the time and one had a difficult time distinguishing the differences between my full upper dentures and my lower teeth, which were my real teeth. If I had to do it all over again I probably would still opt for dentures because it is a quick process and having implants done can take up to eight months from start to finish. Having a dental implant done is a three-step process that usually involves four dental appointments spread out over an eight-month period. In addition, a team approach involves the patient's general dentist and an oral surgeon or periodontist.

Step 1: The first step involves drilling a hole in the gum and then screwing a titanium post into the bone under the gums. The original implants were tapped into the gums using a hammer. After the titanium implant is screwed into the bone, the patient has to wait four to six months before returning for the next phase of the treatment. During this healing period, the bone grows around the implant firmly anchoring it in place.

Step 2: during the second step, the oral surgeon makes an incision in the gum and inserts a steel ball atop the implant to train the gum to grow around it in the shape of a normal gum. This phase usually entails a one to two week healing period. In some cases, some oral surgeons will combine steps one and two with a four to six month healing period following.

Step 3: The Crown, the visible part of the tooth is placed on the implant.

Implants have many positive aspects besides appearing like a natural tooth. Studies have shown that partial dentures or bridges have led to the failure of the teeth supporting them in 30 percent of the cases studied within a period of five to seven years. Dentures promote the loss of bone while implants promote bone growth. Dental implants also preserve the appearance of a natural jaw line.

Improperly made and/or fitted dentures are not only uncomfortable and because deterioration of the gum, they can make the person wearing them appear older.

Dental implants can lead to greater confidence and poise in social situations. Badly fitting dentures can click when a person eats or speaks and that embarrasses many wearers. Studies have shown that people with dental implants tend to smile more than people with dentures.

Personally, if someone needs to have one or a few teeth replaced and money and/or time is not a problem, dental implants is the treatment of choice. Today's dentures can be made to closely match ones real teeth so they are a viable option if finances are a concern or if one is really pressed for time.