6 Reasons Dental Implants Are Better Than Dentures
Dental implants vs dentures: besides comfort, here are six more reasons implants beat dentures, from chewing power to easier cleaning and longer life.
Several things can cost a person their natural teeth, such as tooth decay, injury and gum disease. To replace them, a person can get permanent artificial teeth, and one way to do that is with dental implants. An implant replaces the natural tooth by placing a synthetic tooth root in the jaw.
Why You Should Choose Dental Implants
Implants, also called tooth planting, are not the only way to replace a lost natural tooth. You can also get dentures. Still, there are several reasons to choose dental implants, as follows:
- Comfort Close to a Natural Tooth
A successful dental implant can feel as comfortable as a natural tooth. Dentures are different, because wearing them can be uncomfortable. An implant lets you chew food properly, as you would with natural teeth. It also lets you feel the texture and temperature of your food.
- Chewing Power Like a Natural Tooth
Dentures deliver only about 10% of the chewing power of natural teeth. Dental implants are different, with chewing power of around 70-90%, which is close to that of natural teeth. A successful implant lets you eat hard foods, though that does not mean you should eat food that is too tough. If you want an implant, it is important to see a certified, experienced and competent dentist, so the procedure succeeds without side effects.
- Protects the Teeth Next to the Gap
An implant is placed only in the space left by the missing tooth, without grinding down or disturbing the teeth on either side. Dentures are different, and they can wear down the neighboring teeth on the left and right.
- Easier to Clean and More Comfortable
One of the most common reasons people choose dental implants is how easy they are to care for and how comfortable they feel. An implant can be called more comfortable because it is anchored in the alveolar bone, just like a natural tooth. No extra attachments are needed in the mouth. Best of all, since it works so much like a natural tooth, you can clean it the usual way, by brushing regularly, rinsing, or using dental floss.
- Implants Cannot Get Cavities
Dental implants are usually made of metal and are easy to clean, so the implant itself cannot develop cavities.
- Longer Lifespan
A dental implant can last for years if you care for it and use it properly. Once you have an implant, you must follow the dentist's restrictions for implant patients, because ignoring them can only shorten the life of the implant. To last a long time, an implant needs good care and attention from the patient. Ten years after placement, you have a 50% chance that the implant is still in place. By year 20, the chance that an implant lasts usually falls below 50%.
Read also: How to Tell a Legal Dental Practice From an Illegal One
