How Implants and Dentures Are Similar

• Appearance.  No matter which you choose, you can be confident that you will end up with a solution that looks like your natural teeth in shape and color.
• Number of Teeth Replaced.  Dentures don't need to cover your whole gum. Partial dentures are an option. Similarly, implants can be used to replace a single tooth or all your top or bottom teeth.
• Maintaining Space in Your Mouth. If you lose a tooth, your remaining teeth will shift to fill the gap, further changing your appearance. Both dentures and implants help you maintain the spacing of your smile.
  

How Implants and Dentures Differ

• Longevity. Implants do have a slight advantage over dentures here. Dentures will need to be replaced about every 10 years, while implants can last much longer.
• Inertia. Full dentures are held in place only by suction to your gums, making them more susceptible to motion. You can increase the adhesion by using dental paste. Implants are anchored to your jawbone, which makes them harder immovable after they've healed.
• Stimulation of bone growth. The fusion of implants to your jaw stimulates growth of new bone. In contrast, because dentures simply sit on the gum while you chew, the pressure causes accelerated bone loss.



At WestLake Dental Care, we want you to have all the necessary information to make the best possible choice for your teeth. Contact us with any questions about how implants or dentures can fit into your life.