Implant-Supported Dentures vs Traditional Dentures

Understanding Traditional Dentures

Traditional dentures are removable replacements for an entire arch of missing teeth. They’re made of a plastic base that sits on your gums and hold artificial teeth. They rely on suction and the fit against your gums to stay in place.

Dentures have been used for many decades and remain a common solution for missing multiple teeth. They’re more affordable than other options and don’t require surgery. However, they have significant limitations that affect comfort, function, and appearance over time.

The Problems with Traditional Dentures

Dentures can slip or shift during eating or speaking, which is uncomfortable and embarrassing. The suction that holds them in place depends on a good fit against your gums, but your gums are constantly changing shape due to bone loss.

Bone loss under dentures is significant. Without a tooth root to stimulate it, your jawbone resorbs rapidly. This bone loss is inevitable and continues indefinitely. Over years, significant bone loss occurs, and the denture no longer fits well. The denture must be adjusted or remade repeatedly.

The bone loss also changes your appearance. Your face becomes more sunken as the jaw shrinks. Your cheeks lose support and sag. Wrinkles and age lines become more pronounced. This progressive change in appearance is often distressing.

Chewing power is limited with dentures. Dentures rest on soft tissue, not bone, so the chewing force they can tolerate is much less than your natural teeth. Many patients with dentures need to avoid hard or sticky foods.

Speaking clearly is sometimes difficult with dentures because they can move or cause changes in speech patterns. Eating is sometimes awkward because of the risk of the denture slipping.

Some patients report that eating feels less satisfying with dentures because they can’t feel pressure and texture the way natural teeth do. Food taste is sometimes affected because the denture covers the roof of your mouth.

Implant-Supported Dentures

Implant-supported dentures address many of the limitations of traditional dentures. Rather than relying on suction against your gums, an implant-supported denture is anchored to 2, 4, or 6 implants surgically placed in your jawbone.

The denture attaches securely to the implants, so there’s no slipping or shifting. It’s stable during eating and speaking. You can enjoy foods you couldn’t eat with traditional dentures because the stability and support are so much better.

The implants stimulate bone, preventing bone loss. This means your face maintains its shape and fullness over time. You don’t experience the progressive bone loss that happens with traditional dentures.

Implant-supported dentures can be fixed permanently or removable. A removable implant-supported denture can be taken out for cleaning but is much more stable than a traditional denture. A fixed implant-supported denture is permanently attached and never removed, though professional cleaning is needed.

Comparing Bone Loss

Traditional dentures cannot prevent bone loss. No matter how well-fitted the denture is, bone loss continues because there’s no root stimulation. Your jawbone shrinks over years, and the denture fit worsens.

Implant-supported dentures preserve bone. The implants act like tooth roots and stimulate bone. Bone loss is minimal. Your jawbone maintains its height and width. Your facial profile and appearance don’t change as dramatically over time.

This difference becomes increasingly apparent over years. Patients with traditional dentures show progressive bone loss and facial change. Patients with implant-supported dentures maintain relatively stable bone and facial anatomy.

Comparing Chewing Power

Traditional dentures provide about 25 percent of the chewing force of natural teeth. This makes it difficult or impossible to eat many foods.

Implant-supported dentures provide 70 to 80 percent of natural chewing force. This is significantly better and allows patients to eat a much wider variety of foods.

For many patients, the improvement in chewing ability alone makes implant-supported dentures worth the investment.

Implant Numbers and Stability

The number of implants used affects stability and cost. All-on-4 dentures use 4 implants and are often used for cases where bone is limited. All-on-6 or similar approaches use 6 implants and provide additional stability, particularly in the back of the mouth where chewing forces are greatest.

More implants generally provide better stability and distribution of forces, but they also increase cost. Your dentist recommends the number of implants appropriate for your situation.

The Procedure

Implant-supported dentures involve multiple appointments and a longer treatment timeline than traditional dentures. First, implants are surgically placed in your jawbone. These heal and integrate with bone over 3 to 6 months.

Once implants have healed, the denture is made and attached to the implants. This process involves taking impressions or digital scans, making the denture, and then adjusting and fitting it on the implants.

If the denture is removable, you take it out for cleaning and sleep. If fixed, it stays in place permanently.

Maintenance and Care

Traditional dentures require daily removal, cleaning, and soaking. The denture must be removed at night to allow your gums to rest.

Removable implant-supported dentures require similar care. You remove it daily, clean it, and the implants must be carefully cleaned.

Fixed implant-supported dentures require professional cleaning because you can’t remove them. Regular office visits ensure they’re cleaned properly and any complications are addressed early.

All require regular professional maintenance visits to ensure the dentures are properly fitted and the implants are healthy.

Cost Comparison

Traditional dentures are the most affordable option upfront. A basic denture is significantly less expensive than implants and dentures.

Implant-supported dentures cost more because they involve implants, implant surgery, and specialized denture construction. The cost is more than a traditional denture but often less than individual implants with crowns on each tooth.

When you consider the cost per year over the expected lifetime of the treatment, implant-supported dentures often become more affordable than traditional dentures when you factor in the repeated adjustments, repairs, and remakes traditional dentures require due to bone loss.

Who Is a Good Candidate

Traditional dentures are appropriate for most people who are missing all their teeth, particularly those with limited budgets or those who prefer a non-surgical option.

Implant-supported dentures are appropriate for most people missing all their teeth who also have adequate bone or are willing to have bone grafting. They’re ideal for patients who want better function, appearance, and long-term stability.

Your individual situation, bone situation, health status, and budget all factor into whether implant-supported dentures are right for you.

Making Your Decision

At Bonin Dental Care, Dr. Bonin discusses both traditional and implant-supported denture options during your consultation. If you’re missing all or most of your teeth and you’re interested in options beyond traditional dentures, implant-supported dentures might be ideal for you.

The improved stability, chewing ability, bone preservation, and appearance make implant-supported dentures worth consideration. If you’d like to explore this option or learn more about what’s involved, contact us to schedule a consultation in Windsor.