Are Dentures A Thing Of The Past?

With dental implants gaining in popularity, do dentures still have a role to play?

There is a reasonable chance that some of us will lose a tooth or a number of teeth at some point in our life. Whether that is in a sporting accident or just general wear and tear as we get older, it still leaves us with a decision to make about what to do when this happens. Particularly where a gap in the teeth is visible, it is unlikely that we will leave it as it is and will instead, look to one of the tooth replacement options currently available.

At the moment, there are three main options for replacing a missing tooth, they are dental implants, a bridge and of course, dentures. Of these, a dental bridge is perhaps the least popular as it often requires preparation of what may be otherwise healthy adjacent teeth. Dental implants have certainly become more popular, and for very good reason too. They do provide an excellent and realistic tooth replacement which is strong and has a long life too.

With teeth implants gaining ground, we are going to take a look, in today’s Acton Vale Dental Centre  blog, at whether dentures are likely to be used much longer, and if so, what are the main reasons that people choose them over implants.

Denture history

The earliest evidence of dentures being used goes back as far as 700BC when human or animal teeth, secured by gold bands were used in Northern Italy. Their use has continued through history with perhaps one of the most macabre versions being used after the battle of Waterloo, where teeth were removed from deceased soldiers for this purpose.

There have been many improvements over the years of course (thankfully), and modern dentures with acrylics, composite resins and porcelain being among the materials used today. Modern technology has also enabled dentists to make dentures more natural looking and better fitting than in the past.

Denture issues

There have been a number of concerns from patients over the years about dentures being unstable and uncomfortable. It is a fact that dentures will never be as stable as dental implants as they sit on the gum and have no replacement tooth roots to anchor them into place (although dental implants can be used to stabilise dentures, but we will look at this in another blog).  Improvements over the years though has certainly made them more secure than they used to be and this has probably encouraged some people to opt for dentures instead of implants, with other factors also playing a role in their decision.

Affordability

There is no getting away from the fact that dental implants are more expensive than dentures, and this is likely to play a role in some people’s decisions. If cost is a barrier to you and you would prefer to have implants though, please do talk to us about our payment plans that can help you spread the cost, before making your final decision.

Although the initial cost of dentures is usually lower than implants, it is worth remembering that they will probably need repairing and adjusting over the years so it is important to factor this in as well.

Generally though, improvements in the appearance and stability of dentures has made them a more than acceptable option for patients whose budget doesn’t stretch to having implants placed.

Non invasive procedure

Dental implants do require a significantly invasive procedure and this can be a bigger barrier for some patients than for others. This is probably especially the case for patients who suffer from dental anxiety. Where multiple teeth are being replaced with dentures, it may occasionally be advisable to remove a natural remaining tooth or two, especially if they are in poor condition themselves. This is rarely a complicated procedure though and, if required, we will do all that we can to make this as comfortable as possible for you.

In most cases, there will be no need to make an extraction and impressions will be taken of your mouth for the dentures to be made. These will then be fitted by our dentist in a completely non-invasive manner.

No bone grafts required

While most patients can have implants placed by one of our experienced Acton dentists with no prior procedure being needed, some patients who may not have sufficient bone into which to place the implants might need a bone graft or sinus lift before the implant procedure can take place. This is not a problem for dentures and they can usually be used even if the bone structure in the jaw has been compromised.

A ‘temporary’ solution?

One advantage of dentures is that you can have them as a temporary solution, with the intention of having dental implants at a later stage. This could be for financial reasons, but it is also a useful option if, for example, you regularly play football.  While you can play football and other ‘rough’ sports with implants, a blow to the face by the ball or a boot could damage the implant and cause it to fail.

If you do play football or other similar sport and are looking to replace a missing tooth or teeth, dentures are a good option as they can be removed before the game and replaced afterwards. You can then consider dental implants later on when you have retired from playing.

If you have missing teeth and are undecided about the best way to replace them, our friendly local team will be happy to offer advice. For this, or any other dental related issue, you can get in touch with us by calling the Acton Vale Dental Centre on 020 8749 3267.