If you’re missing teeth, you’re not alone! Luckily, there are plenty of replacement options, including dental implants and dentures. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, nearly 180 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. Further, approximately 40 million Americans are missing all their teeth. Fortunately, you can use dental implants and dentures to either fill in or replace your smile, gaining your confidence back!

Here’s Who Should Select Dental Implants

A dental implant is an anchoring device that is usually attached to the jawbone. It’s often made from titanium, which is an immensely strong metal, and the body adapts well to it. If you’re just missing a few teeth, you can have a partial dental implant inserted. Then crowns, which are artificial teeth, are attached to the implant. These crowns can be made from natural-looking materials and many people will fail to realize you even have artificial teeth.

You can also select full arch dental implants, which will replace all the teeth on the bottom or top of your jaw. However, if you smoke, have severe gum disease, are taking steroids, or are immunocompromised, your dentist may recommend against dental implants. Among other things, if your health is compromised, your body may struggle to heal from dental implant surgery.

Here’s Who Should Select Dentures

First, if your immune system or general health is compromised, dentures may be a better option. Generally speaking, dentures are easier on the body, and you won’t have to heal as much compared to implant surgery. Dentures are common among older people because seniors often have less bone density, and their immune systems may not be strong enough for implants.
It is very important to know that dentures will never feel like your natural teeth when it comes to chewing or speaking. The adhesive is commonly used to secure the plastic denture to the soft ridge of your bone that moves as you speak and eat.

If you’re immunocompromised, dentures may be the better course. Furthermore, other things besides age can result in low bone density in your jaws. If you or your loved one have low bone density due to any reason, dentures may be the best option. Should your health later improve, you could explore dental implant surgery. If you have only a few missing teeth, you could consider other options to fill in your smile. The possibilities are endless, and we’re here to help you feel confident in your smile again!

If you or a loved one are struggling with missing teeth, it’s time to complete your smile. Feel free to contact our dentists and prosthodontists in Asheville with Drs. Phillips and Schmitt, and we can explore the many solutions for completing smiles. We can also answer any questions or concerns you have.