Comparing Dentures and Dental Implants

 ​​Losing teeth can be traumatic. Fortunately, you possess several options, including dentures and dental implants, to fill in the gaps. However, dentures and dental implants differ in many ways.

Danny Jeon, DMD, offers a range of restorative dental procedures, including implants and dentures, along with other cosmetic and preventative solutions, to keep you smiling at Tucker Family Dental in Tucker, GA.

How we create dentures

We’ve come a long way since dentures were fashioned from animal teeth and wire centuries ago. 

These days, they’re usually constructed from either lightweight acrylic resin or long-wearing porcelain. Depending upon the number of teeth missing, you choose between removable full or partial dentures.

To create your dentures, Dr. Jeon examines the alignment of your upper and lower jaws. Then, he:

1. Makes impressions of your jaw
2. Sends measurements to a lab to create a model 
3. Assesses the fit before casting your final dentures
4. Adjusts your new dentures as needed

Your replacement teeth are added to gum-colored plastic bases using a framework made of metal or a more natural-looking material that connects to your teeth.

 Types of dentures

Dr. Jeon uses different types of dentures, depending on your preference.

 Conventional

 We place fully removable dentures after your gums heal from tooth extractions.

 Immediate

 If you prefer not to be without teeth, we place a temporary denture in your mouth right away. Then, our team creates a model of your jaw before removing any remaining teeth. As your jaw heals, we adjust your dentures to fit perfectly.

 Overdenture

 Our team creates a denture to fit right over your natural teeth for a more stable base.

 Dr. Jeon may also combine two implants with overdentures for the best of both worlds.

 How we employ dental implants

If you have sufficient bone structure, Dr. Jeon uses implants made of titanium or zirconia. If you don’t have enough bone density, he may add bone grafting material to build up your jaw. 

Although zirconia isn't as strong, it provides a more natural look for front teeth or people with metal allergies. 

During the  procedure, Dr. Jeon:

1. Numbs the area
2. Makes an incision in your gums
3. Creates a small hole in your jawbone
4. Places the dental implant
5. Closes your incisions

 Depending on the location of the implant, we either leave the area alone to heal or fashion a temporary tooth to attach to the underlying implant. 

Over the next few months, the implant fuses to your jaw. If no temporary teeth were used, Dr. Jeon attaches an abutment to connect the implant to your permanent crown.

Dentures versus dental implants

Deciding between dentures and dental implants can be challenging. Several factors should be considered, such as:

 Cost

 While dentures usually cost less to begin with, they may need to be replaced more often than implants.

 Durability

 Implants preserve the density of your jawbone. Dentures don’t.

 Look

 Implants resemble your natural teeth more than dentures.

 Care

Cleaning removable dentures requires considerable care, including overnight soaking. Implants require excellent dental hygiene to remove plaque and other debris to avoid inflammation around the gums.

 Bone density

 Implants require a certain amount of bone for stability. If your jawbone has deteriorated too much, you may need bone grafting with synthetic material or pieces of actual bone.

 Although dentures don’t require the same level of bone density, they may not feel as stable if you have significant bone loss.

 Dr. Jeon advises you on these and other options to make sure you’ll be as comfortable as possible with your new smile.

 When it’s time to choose

 If you’re looking to restore your smile using implants or dentures or discuss other dental issues with Dr. Jeon, we’re here to help. Simply call our office at (678) 233-2945 or book an appointment online today.