Are you missing some teeth? No need to worry! You can fix your smile with either dentures or implants. 

Don’t underestimate the effects of missing teeth! When there’s a vacant space between teeth, your remaining teeth may shift out of alignment to fill the gap, leading to chewing problems or a misshapen jaw. Left unprotected by a natural tooth, your gums become breeding grounds for bacteria that cause gum disease. Of course, the best reason to replace missing teeth is to complete your smile. Fortunately, both dentures and implants have been used for decades to give you a full set of natural-looking teeth.

The solution you choose depends on a number of factors, ranging from overall health to price. At Espire Dental, we offer both dentures and implants, and our dentists can help you pick the right option for you.

Dentures vs. Implants: A Brief Overview

Both dentures and implants replace one or more missing teeth. Before you decide on either, here’s a guide that explains the basic facts about each method. 

Dentures. Dentures are a set of prosthetic, removable teeth to replace all your teeth on the upper and lower jaw, along one jawline, or just a few teeth. If you’re filling in a few teeth, you can get a partial denture, as a full denture is meant to replace all your teeth. Your dentist will make an impression of your mouth and jawline to create temporary dentures, and you’ll try on the temporary dentures to ensure a proper fit. After any adjustments, you’ll be given your permanent set of dentures.

Dentures act like normal teeth. However, you will need to apply paste to adhere them to the gums. The adhesive allows you to eat a wide variety of foods without worrying about the dentures falling out. At night, you’ll brush and soak your dentures in a cleaning solution.

If cost is a concern, dentures are the less expensive option than implants. You can be fitted with dentures in fewer appointments compared to implants, which can take months to complete. As your gum line changes over time or if the dentures are damaged, you may need a new set. As such, you should factor in the price of a new set of dentures periodically into the overall cost.

Dental Implants. Dental implants are a permanent solution to missing teeth. Once they’re in, you can’t remove them. After the root of the damaged tooth is extracted, a hole is drilled into the jawbone. Into the hole goes a post made of titanium. Once the bone grows around the post, you’ll be fitted with an abutment from which the crown or artificial tooth will be attached. 

Because the implant is implanted into the jawbone, you need enough bone mass to secure the artificial root and tooth. You can have a graft to build up the bone mass, but that adds to what is already a lengthy procedure. People under age 60 are good candidates for implants because they’ll get many years of use from the prosthetic teeth. However, someone who doesn’t wish to go through extensive oral surgery like that required for implants may prefer dentures.

Implants are the more expensive alternative. But implants are permanent fixtures, so there’s no worry about them slipping out of place. If a crown becomes damaged, you can simply have it replaced with a new one. Other than that rare possibility, you’ll enjoy many years with your implants despite the initial high upfront costs, as long as you take care of your implants as you would your natural teeth.

Complete Your Smile!

Schedule an appointment at Espire’s Colorado Springs location today! Our highly trained dentists will help you decide between implants or dentures. Don’t live near our Colorado Springs office? Find one of our other locations near you.

Colorado Springs
8610 Explorer Drive #315
Colorado Springs, CO 80920