Implants and Dentures: What Is Right For You?

When there is a choice — dental implants or dentures — you should first determine what goals are pursued in this case.

The question of choosing a method of replacing missing teeth sometimes is hard for solving without professional dental examination.

When choosing between dentures and dental implants, remember that dental implants are more expensive, time and the forces consuming for patient.

The adequacy of dental implant procedure depends on the specific situation and patient’s dental health.

Dental implants can be treated as “cosmetic dental procedure” in dentistry, because denture in most cases can replace it functionally.

The main contraindications relate to the most labor-intensive way of dentures — implant supported dentures, they require more time, efforts and patience.

Indications and contraindications to dental implant procedure are set on the basis of medical history, examination and evaluation of psycho-emotional condition of the patient.

The indications to dental implants are:

• single defects of dentition (without preparation of healthy adjacent teeth);
• included defects in the dentition (without preparation of teeth limited to defects);
• terminal dentition defects (allow putting non-removable dentures, implant supported dentures);
• complete absence of teeth (allows for implant supported dentures or provides a more secure fit of removable dentures).

Relatively small defects in the dentition are the indications to dental implants.

There are many contraindications to dental implant therapy, significantly greater than to dentures, so contraindications to dentures serve respectively as contraindications to dental implants.

Contraindications to dental implants may be absolute and relative. Absolute contraindications are directly related to health. They may occur during the dental implant procedure itself or in the form of various complications at different periods after it, as well as shorten the life of dental implant. Relative contraindications are related to the nature and limitations of systemic disorders that may not affect in a pure form the process of integration of dental implants, and depend on the corrective treatment before dental implant surgery.

Absolute contraindications to dental implants

• Chronic disease (tuberculosis, rheumatic disease, diabetes, oral diseases, stomatitis, etc.).
• Blood diseases and blood forming organs diseases
• Skeletal system diseases, reducing its regenerative capabilities.
• Central and peripheral nervous system diseases
• Malignant tumors during the period of special treatment and some time after its completion.

Relative contraindications to dental implants

• Periodontitis (acute and subacute forms).
• Malocclusion and increased abrasion of teeth.
• Poor oral hygiene habits and lack of maintenance.
• Precancerous and tumor diseases of the mouth and jaws.
• The presence of metallic implants in other areas (screws, wire joints, artificial joints, heart valves, cardiac stimulator, etc.)
• Temporomandibular joint disorder
• Bruxism (teeth grinding, especially at night).
• Anatomical features of jaw structure, excluding the possibility of dental implant procedure (bone atrophy, impacted teeth, etc.), which requires bone reconstructive surgery.
• Temporary contraindication is pregnancy and lactation.

Social contraindications to dental implants

• Negligent attitude to health, smoking, regular alcohol use, irregular meals, drinking coffee in large quantities.
• The nature of professional work – heavy exercise, the extreme and traumatic sports.