Dentures are a cost effective means of replacing lost teeth, but they often require the regular application of denture adhesives in order to provide stability while wearing. Like most fixatives, dental adhesives require to be reapplied at intervals in order to maintain their effectiveness; however, some tasks are beyond even the strongest of dental adhesives and dentures often can – and do – slip when you least want them to. One means of dental restoration which is guaranteed not to slip is dental implants.
Natural teeth are anchored into our jawbone via tooth roots for maximum strength and stability; dental implants can be anchored in similar fashion through osseointegration, which sees the titanium used by a periodontist in the dental implant procedure bond with the jawbone, and mimics the natural function of a natural tooth root. This helps not only to give greater strength to the implant, it also helps preserve the jawbone mass and gum tissue through continued stimulus.
Once in place and the osseointegration process is complete, the implant won’t move. Its position is fixed, creating a strong foundation for the replacement artificial tooth, or teeth. The patient will be able to eat the foods they enjoyed before, without fear of their prosthetic slipping or falling out.
Dentures, on the other hand, are reliant on support from the much softer gum tissue. Because they are glued into place, and are not attached symbiotically, over time the gum tissue will begin to recede, impairing any support given to the dentures. This can lead to dentures becoming loose, uncomfortable, and present an ever-increasing challenge to keeping them in place, as well as limiting the wearer’s diet.
The confidence granted by dental implants over other forms of tooth replacement treatments has seen them grow rapidly in popularity, thanks to their many benefits. Not only are they stronger and more stable than dentures, they are less prone to damage, and easy to maintain through a regular dental health program.
So, why not throw away that denture adhesive bottle and consider the benefits of dental implants? You’ll enjoy greater oral support, a new-found confidence in your smile, and all without fear of an embarrassing and mis-timed denture malfunction!