Cosmetic Dentistry: Implants Versus Dentures

All aspects of your appearance are important but without a doubt your face is the one physical feature that will be noticed more than others. Your face identifies you and each part is so unique that often they can become the main focus of attention. For instance, you may have heard people describe themselves as having a “pug” nose or “sleepy eyes.”

But perhaps even more than the eyes, the mouth draws attention when you speak, laugh or cry, and throughout all of these actions your teeth are on display for the world to see. As you progress through life and the different the stages of development, it is natural for your body to change. In addition, every person has experienced physical trauma which sometimes involved the face and resulted in damage to or the loss of teeth.

The solution for many people who have had their teeth chip or break has been to have crown and bridge restorations made to repair the damage. On the other hand, if the physical trauma was severe and teeth were lost, until as recently as ten years ago, your only option was to be fitted with either removable or fixed dentures.

Traditional dentures continue to be chosen by many people, but they have their limitations; removable dentures can be difficult to manage, sometimes they do not fit properly which causes problems speaking and eating. Wearers of fixed dentures which are attached directly to the jawbone and can only be removed by a dentist experience the same problem of achieving a comfortable fit that plagues the removable type of denture as well.

These problems led to the development of dental implants, which like fixed dentures are attached to the jawbone, with the difference found in the techniques used to secure them in the mouth. Rather than feeling like foreign objects in your mouth, dental implants quickly become one of the “pearls” in your mouth.

One of the main reasons why dental implants are the better choice today is because they are made of titanium, an exceptionally strong but lightweight material that is impervious to damage from the acids used to digest food in the mouth. Especially in the case where a person has lost a tooth which has created a gap between their teeth, dental implants are the ideal solution to restore the curvature of the face to its original position.

Dental implants are designed to become part of your natural array of teeth. You do not experience the problems encountered with this traditional dentures such as slipping or discomfort. The main reason why dental implants are growing in popularity is because they free you from the anxiety caused by improper fitting dentures and they allow you to have a beautifully confident smile.

The cost of quality dentistry, especially cosmetic dentistry is best considered as an investment in your health. When you have experienced physical trauma and need to have teeth replaced, keep in mind that the cost of dental implants is based on their prominent function. Teeth play a role in your ability to speak clearly, prepare your food for digestion by your body and support your facial features. Your mouth is the gateway to your body and oral hygiene or the lack of it can be a contributing factor to the support or the deterioration of your health as a whole. Many dentists have flexible plans to accommodate credit cards, insurance and cash payments. But beyond financing the procedure, the most important thing is for you to discuss with your dentist whether cosmetic dentures or dental implants are the best choice for you.