Many patients who have lost one or more teeth very often ask us what is the best solution. A dental implant or a traditional dental prosthesis.
The answer, as a dentist and from a functional point of view, is very easy, but there are other factors that also play a role in deciding how to restore the denture.
In this article we will look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of each method and why we recommend their use or not in a patient.
The risks of not acting on tooth loss.
Tooth loss is a serious problem, not only aesthetically, but also for health. The absence of teeth makes the bite difficult, favors the displacement of the rest of the teeth, in some cases makes it difficult to speak correctly, and the patient smiles and laughs less because he/she is embarrassed, which affects his/her self-esteem and confidence.
Luckily nowadays we have different techniques to replace missing teeth, such as removable prostheses, fixed bridges or dental implants. But what is the best choice for restoring teeth?
As mentioned above, we are often consulted by patients aboutwhat is the best option. The answer, as dentists, is clear: we should not decide based on economic criteria, what seems cheaper in the short term, but on other factors such as quality of life, ease of use, durability,…
And that makes more and more patients opt for a dental implant instead of a prosthesis. Let’s see what a prosthesis and an implant are, and what are the main differences between these two techniques to understand why more and more dental implants are placed every day.
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a prosthesis that is fully fixed to the maxillary or mandibular bone by means of a screw. It is a totally safe, durable and reliable system. in appearance and resistance which behavesal most like a natural tooth.
See Types of dental implants.. Everything you need to know
What advantages does the dental implant offer to the patient?
- All the advantages of a natural tooth. both in appearance, chewing and resistance, as well as in easy cleaning.
- Maintains stability of surrounding teeth and no bone loss
- It can last a lifetime, since its base is made of titanium and fully conforms to the bone.
- They prevent the onset of gum disease.
What are the disadvantages of dental implants?
Currently there are very few contraindications for implants, only 2% – 3% of dental implants are rejected. There are techniques that make it possible to place them in very unfavorable situations (such as gums with little bone) in a predictable and satisfactory manner thanks to advanced 3D surgery.
Its main disadvantage for some patients, its cost is higher than removable or fixed dentures. But, this with the dental clinic’s financing facilities is becoming less and less of a problem for patients.
What is a removable prosthesis or denture?
The removable dental prosthesis or denture is a prosthetic piece made of an acrylic material that fits the palate or lower jaw in the case of not having any teeth.
Its use is only recommended in the case of any physical impediment, such as the absence of bone or economic limitations. Contrary to implants, we do not find any advantages that would lead us to choose them for a patient at the present time.
What is a fixed dental prosthesis?
A fixed dental prosthesis is a prosthetic restoration that allows the replacement of missing teeth by means of a framework that is attached to the adjacent teeth, which must be lowered to make room for the f