Dental Implants vs. Dentures

Implant Dentures vs. Conventional Affordable Dentures:

Our Dentists in Lincoln, NE Explain

It’s not easy to lose your teeth. Finding affordable tooth replacement options can be difficult. We also know it can be embarrassing to go for any length of time without teeth. Whether you’re looking at dental implants vs dentures, or other options, we understand your pain.

So, what can you do?

Luckily for you, Preserve Family Dentistry and their Lincoln dentist has a handful of options to offer. We’ve got you covered for everything from affordable dentistry options to tooth replacement.

Here we’ll answer a few of the most common questions including:

What is the difference between implants and permanent dentures?

Why are implants a better choice than dentures?

What’s cheaper dentures or implants?

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The Main Types of Tooth Replacements

Types of Dentures

While there are many different approaches to tooth replacement, it’s ideal to know the options that are out there. In general, we offer two main types of whole-mouth tooth replacement options: implants and dentures. When comparing the two, we can see many obvious differences. However, if you are looking for the “best dentures near me” it’s important that you take a deeper look.

Image of partial dentures from a dentist near me in Lincoln, NE at Preserve Family Dentistry.

Partial
Dentures

Removable partial dentures are widely used to replace a small gap of missing teeth surrounding any remaining natural teeth. They use a person’s natural teeth as abutments to prop the denture up over the gap. Although they fill in the gap where teeth once were, partials must be removed and cleaned daily.

Image of dentures from a dentist in Lincoln, NE.

Conventional
Affordable Dentures

Conventional affordable dentures (or full dentures) make up the entirety of a person’s mouth or at least one full jaw of teeth. Similar to removable partial dentures, conventional affordable dentures must be removed and cleaned daily. These include two separate denture arches; one each for the top and bottom jaws. It’s also possible to get a complete denture on just one jaw, but it’s more common to have both. Unlike partials, complete dentures rest on top of a person’s gums.

As you probably realize, a person’s needs will often dictate the kind of dentures they will need. If you’ve decided on dentures, you’ll have to converse with your dentist in Lincoln, NE about what option will be necessary for you.

Image of implant retained dentures from a dentist in Lincoln, NE.

 Implant
Retained Dentures

An overdenture or an implant denture is a removable implant retained denture that snaps onto implant attachments. It is considered the standard of care for a lower denture.  The main advantage of implant dentistry is that implants keep the denture in place and they preserve the lower bone from resorbing over time.  This type of denture is custom made for your mouth and takes several appointments to fabricate the denture. Learn more about implant dentures in Lincoln, NE.

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Pros and Cons of Conventional Affordable Dentures

Before we get ahead of ourselves with choosing options, let’s take a look at what our dentist in Lincoln, NE and their dentures have to offer.

It’s important to remember that dentures, like any other dental treatment, has benefits and drawbacks.

Benefits of Conventional Affordable Dentures

Affordability
Conventional affordable dentures are the cheapest tooth replacement option, especially for those who need to replace many teeth.

Minimally-Invasive
 Creating dentures is convenient, easy and does not require any kind of surgery.

Easy to Fix
It isn’t hard to make minor adjustments or fixes to conventional affordable dentures.

Drawbacks of Conventional Affordable Dentures

Less Natural In Appearance
Conventional affordable dentures don’t look nearly as natural as some other tooth replacement options.

Awkward To Wear
Conventional affordable dentures often click around in a person’s mouth. This can make it hard to eat and present awkward social situations for the wearer.

Require Removal Often
Conventional affordable dentures aren’t meant to be worn full-time, the wearer must take them out and leave them out for a time. The wearer must also clean them and keep them stored in a particular cleaning solution.

Prohibit Certain Foods
With conventional affordable dentures, wearers can only eat certain foods.

Easy to Break
Although they’re easy to fix, they’re also easy to break. With conventional affordable dentures, any dentist in Lincoln, NE will need to perform lots of maintenance over time. You’ll also need to replace them often.

No Prevention of Bone Loss
When you lose your teeth, it causes your jawbones to deteriorate over time. With conventional affordable dentures, this bone loss will still occur over time.

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Pros and Cons of Dental Implants for Implant Dentures

Dental implants consist of posts which dentists surgically mount onto your jawbone. These implants become fixed in your mouth, unlike conventional affordable dentures. Here are some pros and cons of dental implants for Implant dentures.

Benefits of Dental Implants for Implant Dentures

Natural Appearance
Implants look almost identical to real teeth. We’re able to match your gum color and place them in a way that they appear totally natural.

Comfortable, Easy To Get Used To
Unlike conventional affordable dentures, implants help to make an Implant Dentures stable and comfortable inside a person’s mouth.

Permanent
You’ll never need to remove implants. Instead, you simply clean them by brushing and flossing, like with real teeth.

Limitless Food Options
While conventional affordable dentures limit what foods you can eat, implant dentures allow you to enjoy your favorite foods.

Fortify Bone Structure
Overall, Implant dentures are much more healthy for your jawbones. They’ll prevent bone loss from happening, just as real teeth would.

Drawbacks of Dental Implants for Implant Dentures

More Costly
Implants Dentures are typically more expensive than conventional affordable dentures.

Require Surgical Placement
Implants for an implant retained denture do require a procedure, whereas conventional affordable dentures only need to be fabricated.

While it can seem intimidating, modern technology has made the process of placing dental implants significantly less invasive than in the past. At Preserve Family Dentistry, we offer a state of the art procedure called Hybrid Prosthesis. It’s also sometimes called “teeth in one day” or an “all on four implants.” We work with Nebraska Facial and Oral Surgery to place permanent implants, so you won’t need to remove them. Instead, you’ll brush and floss just like real teeth. Our dentist in Lincoln will make your smile appear supremely realistic. Along with that, you’ll get used to your implants in no time.

smiling woman from From dentists in Lincoln

Cost of Dental Implants (Implant Dentures) vs. Conventional Affordable Dentures

We’ve established that Implant Dentures are more expensive than conventional affordable dentures, but to what extent?

To answer this question, it’s important to think about the short term as well as the long term.

Cost of a Conventional Denture

For a single arch of teeth, the cost of a conventional affordable denture falls between $300 and $500.  Most dentures include a limited warranty, a particular, pre-fabricated size, and a shorter lifetime.

Instead, high-quality cosmetic dentures use high quality materials and tend to cost about $2,000 per arch. This cost usually includes follow-up visits. These follow-ups help our dentist near me in Lincoln, NE give you a completely custom smile with a perfect fit and 10 years of warranty. Click here to read and learn more about our dental payment plans in Lincoln, NE.

Cost of Partial Dentures

The cost of removable partial dentures can be as low as $300 to $500, but most fall between $700 and $1,800. However, those with metal framework can expect to pay as much as $2,500.

Cost of Implant Dentures

If you’re hoping to replace both the upper and lower economy denture with implant dentures, it may cost anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000. While they may seem like a lot, dental implants are always worth it in the long run. Remember that many, if not all of your teeth will be replaced in this process, leaving you with a full set of teeth.

If you still have questions about choosing dentures or implants, know that you’re not alone. Choosing your new smile is a big deal. It takes though, preparation, and complete understanding of your involves. Here are a few commonly asked questions that are team often hears:

What's the difference between implants and permanent dentures?

There are a few noticeable differences between permanent dentures and dental implants. But, the biggest difference is that oftentimes permanent dentures can be removed.

Implants, however, cannot be removed. Once the implants are placed, they are not removable.

Why are implants a better choice than dentures?
Overall implants are a much better choice because of bone preservation. For those who choose traditional dentures, there is no implant to stimulate the bone, which ultimately leads to a facial structure that appears “sunken-in”. Ultimately, this leaves the patient looking much older than their actual age. This can have a huge impact on confidence and self-esteem.

In the end, implants leave your smile looking more natural. Dental implants are also much easier to care for than traditional dentures in the sense that you will no longer need to by creams, gels or paste to keep them in place.

What's cheaper dentures or implants?
Dentures are cheaper than dental implants, especially if you are looking to replace a full mouth of teeth.

But, as previously discussed, in the long run implants are likely to be more cost effective because they eliminate the need for denture creams. Implants also don’t need to be relined or adjusted like dentures, which in turn means more dental visits that cost you money.

Check out the “What is the difference between hybrid prosthesis and dentures” video.

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