What is the difference between implants and dentures?
An implant replaces the root: a small titanium post in the jaw that carries a single crown, a bridge or a denture. A denture replaces the teeth and rests on the gum, held by suction, clasps or adhesive. Nearly everything else in this comparison follows from that.
What happens to the jaw bone?
Bone stays where it is used. Once a tooth is gone, the bone that held its root begins to shrink, because nothing is loading it anymore. An implant loads the bone the way a root did, which is why the bone around it stays.
A denture sits on top of the gum and does not load the bone that way, so the shrinking carries on underneath it. That is why a denture that fit well when it was made gradually loosens, and needs adjusting, relining or remaking over the years.
Which is more stable for chewing?
An implant is fixed in the bone, so a crown or bridge on implants stays put when you bite, and chewing feels closer to natural teeth than with anything that rests on the gum.
A denture moves a little whenever you chew, a lower one more than an upper. Most people learn to manage it, but they chew with less force than they did with their own teeth, and many quietly give up foods they used to enjoy.
Upkeep, time and surgery
The practical differences, side by side:
- Upkeep. Implants are brushed and cleaned between like teeth, with regular check-ups, because the gum around them can lose bone. Dentures come out to be cleaned, and need adjusting as the gums change.
- Time. Implants take months rather than weeks, because bone has to fuse to each post before the teeth go on. A denture does not wait on that.
- Surgery. An implant is placed under local anesthetic, and most people say the day after feels like having a tooth pulled. A denture needs no surgery, unless teeth have to come out first.
Which costs more, implants or dentures?
A denture costs less at the start. Implants cost more, and the fee rises with the number of implants. Neither is a one-time cost: a denture can need relining or remaking as the bone beneath it changes, and implants need their check-ups and, now and then, a repair.
You get a written estimate before any treatment is scheduled, and for larger work we can send a pre-treatment estimate to your insurer first. See insurance, or the Virginia Dental Club if you have no dental insurance.
When is a denture the right answer?
Implants are not right for everyone, and a well-made denture still serves plenty of people well. It may be the better choice if your health makes even minor surgery unwise, if there is not enough bone where implants would go, if the cost would mean putting off treatment you need now, or if you are content with a denture and simply want one that fits.
In between sits the implant-retained denture: a denture that clips onto a small number of implants, so it stops moving but still comes out for cleaning. For a loose lower denture, it is often the most practical middle ground.
What to ask at a consultation
Whichever way you are leaning, these questions get you a useful answer, whether you ask them here in Pearisburg or anywhere else. Ask us all of them. If an implant is not right for you, we would rather tell you than sell you the more expensive option.
- Do I have enough bone for implants, and where?
- Are my gums healthy enough, or is there something to treat first?
- What would each option cost me, in writing, after insurance?
- How long would the whole process take, and what do I wear in the meantime?
- What upkeep will each option need in the years ahead?
Questions patients ask
Are implants better than dentures?
Not for everyone. Implants keep the bone and stay put, but they cost more, take months and involve minor surgery. For some people a well-made denture, or a denture held by implants, is the better answer.
Why do dentures get loose over time?
Because the bone beneath them keeps shrinking once the teeth are gone. The denture stays the same shape while the ridge under it changes, so it needs adjusting or relining as the years go by.
Can I switch from a denture to implants later?
It depends on the bone. The longer teeth have been missing, the more bone may have been lost where implants would go, which is why the question is worth asking sooner rather than later.
Does insurance cover implants or dentures?
Plans differ a great deal, and many treat implants differently from dentures. Call with your card and we will check what your plan pays toward each before you decide.