Implants vs Bridges and Dentures
Statesville, NC
 If you are missing teeth, then there is a very high chance that you are greatly motivated to replace them. Replacing your missing teeth can not only improve the appearance of your smile, but it can also greatly improve your quality of life. Having missing teeth can make it difficult to speak clearly, but it can also impair your ability to eat and chew, as well.
It is easy to forget how important self-confidence is to feel at ease with your smile, but when you are missing several or all of your teeth, you may find yourself not wanting to share your smile with anyone. When we here at Jon C. Packman DDS have a patient in our exam chair who is missing teeth, we like to discuss the possibility of implants, bridges, and dentures with them to help them restore both their smile and their self-esteem.
Pros and Cons of Dental Implants
Dental implants provide several significant advantages.
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Your replacement teeth look exactly like your natural teeth, which aids in perfectly restoring your smile.
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We do not need to alter your adjacent teeth in any way.
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Your new teeth feel and function just like your natural teeth.
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The posts provide strong, secure support for your new teeth.
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The posts restore stimulation to your jawbone, which aids in stopping, and preventing bone loss in your jaw. |
There are also a few disadvantages to dental implants as well.
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Implants require a surgical procedure.
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There is a recovery process involved, which can take several weeks to several months.
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If you do not have enough bone mass in your jaw, you may require a bone graft before receiving dental implants. This adds additional surgery. |
Pros and Cons of Dental Bridges
Benefits of dental bridges include:
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You can bite and chew your food properly. This also aids in improving your digestion and overall nutrition.
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You can speak normally.
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Your smile is restored.
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Your oral health improves, and your risk of tooth damage is decreased. |
There are also a few disadvantages associated with dental bridges as well.
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The adjacent teeth need to be prepared, meaning we need to remove a portion of tooth enamel from each one.
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The abutment teeth provide the support for your replacement tooth.
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The bridge cannot stop bone loss in your jaw, which means that your bridge will need to be periodically replaced to accommodate your changing jawbone. |
Pros and Cons of Dentures
Some of the major benefits of dentures include:
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If you are already missing teeth, dentures do not require surgery.
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Todays generation of dentures is much more natural looking and attractive, giving wearers an improved smile. The acrylic tray can be dyed to match your skin tone.
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A pair of properly fitted dentures should not move around at all, and well-fitted dentures may not even require dental adhesive for a secure fit. |
Drawbacks to dentures can include:
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They can slip while in your mouth and need to be relined after several years.
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Dentures do not look as natural as dental implants. |
If you are missing teeth and are interested in being fitted for implants, bridges, or dentures, give Jon C. Packman DDS a call at (704) 978-7060 to schedule a consultation appointment with us and we will see which option best fits your needs. |
