Dental Implants: A Denture Alternative

You’re thankful for your dentures. After all, without them, you wouldn’t have your full, beautiful smile.

But…

You miss your real teeth. Dentures are a great option for tooth replacement, but there are definite differences. Your dental hygiene routine is different and there are a few foods you have to avoid eating.

What if you could go back to the old days when you had teeth solidly anchored in your mouth? The good news is that you can! If you’re not 100% happy with your dentures, here are eight reasons why you should consider implants.

1. Secured and Anchored Into Place

As the name implies, dental implants are implanted into your jawbone using small titanium posts. The false tooth or teeth are then mounted on the posts. This provides a secure anchor, unlike dentures which can shift. Rest assured, properly implanted teeth won’t be going anywhere!

2. No Slippage When Eating, Talking, or Laughing

As you’re probably already aware, you have to be careful with your dentures. Properly fitted dentures don’t move around too much. However, it’s still possible for them to slip if you move your mouth or teeth a certain way when eating, talking, or laughing.

As you might imagine, with the teeth firmly anchored in your mouth via dental implants, you don’t have to worry about this at all.

3. Confidence & Better Quality of Life

Another big plus about no-slip tooth restorations is the confidence boost you’ll feel. With dental implants, you don’t have to worry that your smile will slip out of place. You can just go about your day, flashing your dazzling smile at everyone you see.

As another bonus, smiling lifts your mood and affects the people around you as well. With a ready smile in place, you’ll enjoy a happier and more fulfilling life.

4. No Messy Adhesive Creams

What do you think of the adhesive for your dentures?  Denture-wearers’ opinions vary from mildly disliking the adhesive to feeling severely repulsed by it. One thing is for certain, though, you’re not going to find anyone who likes it.

With dental implants, you can say goodbye to messy adhesives. Your teeth are always firmly rooted in your mouth.

5. No Special Cleaning

Dental hygiene should always be high on your to-do list. However, caring for dentures can be a pain. Instead of just flossing and brushing your teeth like everyone else, you have the extra step of popping your dentures out and scrubbing them separately.

With dental implants, dental hygiene goes back to just like it was before. You still have to be vigilant in the fight against gum disease, but your routine will be the same. Care for your implants just as you would natural teeth.

6. Long Term Solution

Dentures are not a long term solution. They need to be redone every few years as the material wears down and the shape and structure of your face changes. Your dentures will not always fit properly, especially over time.

Dental implants, however, typically last for the rest of your life with proper care. Your dental implant specialist or prosthodontist can give you more information in your specific case, but as a general rule, implants don’t need to be redone.

7. More Like Real Teeth

As we’ve already alluded to, dental implants are much more like real teeth than dentures. To the average person, it is virtually impossible to visually tell the difference between implants and real teeth.

For all intents and purposes, they look, feel, and function just like normal teeth. So you can feel more confident showing your smile without anyone knowing you’ve had implants put in.

8. Maintain Facial Structure and Bone Health

Did you know that your teeth play an important part in maintaining the structure of your face? Your jawbone and the bones in your face need the support of hard, strong teeth to maintain their structure. Without this support, the face will begin to sag and the jawbone will slowly erode.

This is part of the reason why dentures have to be redone periodically. Dentures slow this erosion process but don’t stop it altogether. As your face shape changes, your dentures become ill-fitting and are more likely to slip or click when eating or speaking.

The titanium implant takes the place of your natural tooth root and the crown on top firmly replaces your tooth. In other words, implants provide the same support for your face as natural teeth.

A Dental Implant Specialist in Boise, ID

If all of this sounds ideal for your specific situation, you might be asking yourself, “How much do dental implants cost?” There has to be a catch somewhere!

The upfront cost of dental implants is higher than dentures. However, over the course of your lifetime, dentures can actually become more expensive because they have to be redone every few years. This makes dental implants a more cost-effective tooth restoration for the long term.

Interested in learning more? Contact our dentist in Boise, ID to learn about your options!