Dentures vs Implants: Which Are Best for Seniors
April 7th, 2010
Seniors have two methods for replacing lost teeth: dentures or implants. Deciding which is better may seem cumbersome, but it really all comes down to assessing the benefits and disadvantages associated with a denture appliance or having an dental implant procedure performed. After assessing the pros and cons of both options, the senior can make a prudent decision on what treatment method is best.
Dentures Advantages
When a senior has dentures, they can smile with a greater degree of confidence. Being able to smile will allow the senior enjoy socializing with others, and he or she can also feel more comfortable during close communications with family and friends.
Dentures also help the wearer to maintain a natural face appearance: the face does not appear sunken or misaligned when dentures are in place. What’s more, when a senior wears dentures they are not forced to deal with the speech impediments associated with lost teeth.
Dentures offer practical benefits too since wearing them allows for the senior to chew foods with greater efficiency. Instead of having to avoid foods, the senior can consume many of the foods that they might not attempt to eat without teeth.
Financially speaking, dentures can be far less expensive than the cost of dental implant procedures.
Dentures Disadvantages
When a senior first gets a partial or a full set of dentures, it will take a period of time to adjust to the new appliance. One’s speaking patterns will change over time as the person gets used to wearing the appliance on a daily basis.
Dentures can sometimes float in the mouth, become loose, and cause problems with speaking and chewing. Dentures also have to be removed to be cleaned too so that mouth sores and gum irritations do not develop.
Sometimes, dentures can break and require repair or replacement. In addition, a denture appliance will eventually have to be replaced as one’s mouth changes over the years.
Dental Implants Advantages
Dental implants offer many of the advantages for seniors that dentures do and more. With dental implants, the teeth are individually replaced and attached directly to the jaw bone so that they feel and look like real teeth.
The patient has a better looking smile, more confidence, a greater ability to chew foods, and implants can help prevent issues like TMJ due to the misalignment of teeth in the mouth. Dental implants, once in place, can last the entire lifetime of the senior without requiring replacement.
Dental Implants Disadvantages
The primary disadvantage of dental implants is identified in cost factors. A single dental implant can cost as much as $3000.00 or more, and if you require several implants your procedure can prove very costly.
Dental insurance does not cover dental implants because it is considered cosmetic and elective. Crowns placed over the dental implants need replacement every ten years which means there are significant long term costs involved as well.
Finally, dental implants take a considerable amount of time to complete and the implants are put into one’s mouth in stages.
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Categories: Teeth
Where did you get the idea that crowns on implants must be replaced every 10 years. That is insane! I have been placing endosseous implants for almost 20 years and have never heard such nonsense. My patients are doing just fine with the crowns that were placed far longer than 10 years ago. It is this type of medicine show garbage that is destroying the profession.