Old age brings with itself loss of tooth and hair. You can have a bald head and still keep stomping, but the loss of teeth is a major issue for everyone. You can’t chew, and you can’t eat. Your tongue slips on your gums, and you can’t speak properly. It’s not just the old people, even the young suffer a loss of teeth due to accidents or dental diseases. Not having a few of the teeth or losing the whole set to old age raises not only health issues but also heeds socially awkward situations. Is there a way to get them back? Yes, there is, through Dentures and Dental Implants.
What is a Denture?
A denture is a replacement for a missing tooth or a set of teeth, customized according to the position of the missing tooth and the jaw structure. A denture can be custom-made according to your needs. Dentures are removable, so you can remove them for cleaning or before sleeping if they trouble you during sleep.
What is a Dental Implant?
As an adult, when you lose a tooth, you lose the root as well. An Implant is a replacement for your lost tooth and root. It is placed where the root of the tooth exists and a crown or tooth is added to the implant and fixed in the jaw bone. A dental implant is fixed to your jaw and cannot be removed except by the dentist who did the surgery.
Comparing Dentures and Implants
Both dentures and dental implants are used for replacement for lost or broken teeth but both options have differential characteristics, functions, and benefits.
Fixtures: Dentures are fixed on the top of the jaw bone and gums using suction. In several cases, the dentures are to be fixed on either side of the jaw. They are held together with titanium bridges to ensure they hold shape and position. An implant, on the other hand, is fixed into the root cavity in the jaw bone using titanium screw threads and then the crown or outer tooth is fixed onto the implant.
The Time required in fixtures: The remaining tooth of the patient is supposed to be extracted before making the denture. It takes several months for the healing and reshaping of the gum tissue before the dentures can be created accordingly. In the case of dental implants, the remaining part of the broken or decayed tooth is removed and the implant is fixed into the jaw bone. And, the bone then grows around the implant. This takes around 6 to 12 weeks, after which the crown is placed on the implant.
Maintenance and cleaning: Dentures, being removable, are to be appropriately maintained, as the body doesn’t provide for the replacement of their wear and tear. They are supposed to be immersed in a soaking solution to prevent drying. You need to brush your palate and gums to prevent plaque sedimentation. Dental Implants, on the other hand, are to be taken care of just like the natural teeth. Brush your teeth regularly, avoid chewing hard foods like ice candies, quit smoking, and floss regularly.
If you have lost a tooth or you are a senior citizen looking for new teeth or implants for your decayed tooth, we urge you to contact our dental team and they’ll help you with the best course of action.
