Did you know that more than half of society suffers from severe dental issues, which impair their oral health and affect their ability to eat and speak? One of the main factors for this is periodontal disease, which is caused by problems including infections, abscesses and other dental health conditions, all of which can lead to eventual tooth loss. Fortunately, there are several options for those who lose a tooth or teeth.

Dentures are a cost effective way of correcting dental health problems and have a significant impact on facial aesthetics. For those who want a stable solution, dental implants may be the answer, as they are able to restore a natural look to your smile and provide structure for the mouth and face.

Dentures can reform the mouth and even retrain the muscles in your mouth, which prevents the onset of wrinkles and sagging. No matter what your health condition, you will be able to benefit from dentures and your dentist can create a set personalised to you and your needs. Dentures can also help make eating and talking a lot easier.

Dental implants are a step up and can be used to stabilise and enhance the benefits of dentures, making the functionality of your dentures a lot more secure.

The procedure: Getting Dentures and Dental Implants

There are several types of dentures and your dentist will choose the best one for you after they have made a thorough assessment. This solution has a life expectancy of 5 to 10 years and is made of durable materials. The different types of dentures are complete dentures, immediate dentures, upper dentures, over dentures and partial dentures.

Dental implants may cost a little bit more than dentures, but they are a permanent, durable, safe and effective way to restore your mouth to full functionality. Dental implants may be a preferred alternative to ill-fitting dentures and bridges that tend to fall out. Generally composed of titanium, dental implants help to return the mouth to its correct form and alignment. The different types of dental implants are endosteal implants, subperiosteal implants and artificial bone substitutes, also known as bone grafting. These procedures surgically reproduce a healthy smile.

Health benefits of Dentures and Dental implants

Of course, there are many benefits associated with both dentures and dental implants. Dental technology has greatly advanced and today’s restorative methods are longer lasting and more aesthetically pleasing. When choosing to replace your missing teeth you will need something sturdy that can withstand digestive and lingual processes, whilst providing comfort, function and creating a beautiful smile.

As dental implants replace the missing root, as well as the missing tooth when used in conjunction with dentures or implants, the integrity of the jawbone is preserved, protecting the remaining teeth from movement and potential loss.

Risks associated with Dentures and Dental implants

Both dentures and dental implants have associated risks, but these are necessary to preserve the structure and appearance of the mouth. It is vital to attain dentures that fit well, as this directly affects the digestion of food and the absorption of nutrition. When you wear ill-fitting dentures, you put yourself at risk of infection and mal-absorption, which can lead to greater health problems.

The biggest risk of the dental implant procedure is the possibility of failure or infection. However, less than 1% of patients have suffered from this problem. Dental implants may also cause nerve damage, sinus issues (due to its proximity) and could injure the surrounding structures in rare cases.

Aftercare Practices for Dentures and Dental implants

Once your dentist provides a detailed description of the teeth that need to be replaced and the technique he is going to use, you will need to be aware of the healing times. Generally, it takes a few weeks to a month for your mouth to adjust to the changes and you must ensure that the affected areas stay cleaned and sanitised to avoid any after procedure infections. If there is swelling and pain, then ice, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial agents can be used to treat these conditions under the supervision of your dentist.