Dentures have been around in various styles for centuries. They were often the last hope for people who had lost most or all of their natural teeth. With these durable appliances, it’s possible to speak clearly, chew food efficiently, and maintain high levels of confidence. Dental implants, however, are a comparatively new invention. These devices replace both your missing teeth and the roots that once kept your teeth in your mouth. You can brush and care for implants just like natural teeth, and they also restore proper chewing and talking abilities. In fact, when dentists put in dental implants correctly, it can be virtually impossible to distinguish them from the natural tooth structures that surround them. Is it time to ask your dentist, “Do I need dentures or dental implants?” When you search for general dentistry in Sugar Land, TX, you have these options.
Do I Need Dentures or Dental Implants?
In the ongoing debate concerning dentures versus implants, one of the most important things to consider is how each of these options protects your remaining teeth and the strength of your jawbone. Whenever you lose a tooth and the attached root, your body stops routing blood to the affected area. This is a natural response that the body takes to prevent excessive bleeding. It is also to make sure that the remaining, healthy teeth are getting all of the nutrients and oxygen they need for continued survival. Unfortunately, this decrease in local circulation causes the jawbone to break down over time. This is what leads to the increasingly sunken appearance of the face after you lose multiple teeth. While dentures will replace the teeth that you’re missing and restore your chewing abilities, they will do nothing to protect the jawbone that defines and supports your overall facial structure.
During a dental implant procedure, your dentist will install a titanium post directly into the jawbone. This is the support for the artificial tooth that the dentist will screw in once the titanium post grafts securely into the bone. Surprisingly, the human body treats these posts much like it treats natural tooth roots. Rather than stopping blood flow to the area of tooth loss, the body continues to nourish the site with blood, nutrients, and oxygen, just as if the tooth root is still there. This prevents the jawbone from breaking down. It also helps preserve that natural structure of the face, thereby allowing people to maintain their full and youthful appearances for much longer.
Are Your Gums and Jawbone Ready for Dental Implants?
Dental implants have a much better ability to protect your jawbone and the natural structure of your face. In many instances, this makes them the best choice for people who are missing multiple teeth. However, there are several requirements that patients must meet in order to be suitable candidates for these treatments. For instance, people who have severe gum disease will usually need periodontal treatments to restore gum health.
In addition to gum disease, people who have badly decayed and infected teeth may not be suitable candidates. These patients tend to experience bone density loss in the treatment area. When oral infections fester unchecked for long periods of time, these problems can cause the jawbone to weaken and deteriorate. With bone density loss, most patients don’t have sufficiently stable bone structures for dental implants. The good news is that bone grafting treatments are available that can rebuild damaged jawbones to create the perfect, stable foundation for dental implants.
Dentures Vs Implants: Why Dental Implants Are Better for Replacing Missing and Badly Damaged Teeth
When considering the benefits of dentures vs implants, it is easy to see how implants are the superior choice. These structures both restore the smile and protect the integrity of the jawbone. Moreover, with implants, if there are remaining, natural teeth in place, it is possible to prevent additional tooth loss by preserving more of the very structure that supports them. While implants aren’t for everyone, there are many corrective and restorative procedures that can help patients become suitable candidates for these treatments.
Best of all, there are also many services for ensuring comfortable and anxiety-free treatments. If you’re ready to reclaim your beautiful and complete smile with restorative dentistry, contact Lovett Dental in Sugar Land, TX, today at 281-759-5900 to schedule your consultation.