When you have one or more missing teeth, your dentist has several treatment options. Two of those options are dental implants and denture implants. Of those, dental implants are, by far, the most popular and the most widely used. Still, denture implants have their purposes, too. Here are the main differences between them.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are made up of three components; a dental implant, an abutment, and a crown. The dental implant component is the only part that’s technically an “implant.” This piece is implanted into the jawbone above (or below) the missing tooth. Next, an abutment piece is attached to the implant. You can think of this piece as a “joiner” because it joins the implant and the crown. The final piece is the crown. The crown is a fabricated tooth that attaches to the abutment. Crowns are custom manufactured to look, feel and function like a normal tooth. Their appearance is so genuine that most people can’t tell the difference if you have a dental implant tooth in place of a real tooth.
What Are Denture Implants?
Denture implants are very much like dental implants, but they are somewhat different. Denture implants are also called “implant-supported dentures.” There are two basic types of denture implants; removable and fixed. Removable denture implants are sometimes called snap-on dentures or overdentures. This type is basically a snap-on, snap-off type of assembly. One of the biggest benefits to this type of denture is that there is no discomfort from the dentures sliding around while you’re talking or eating. The dentures snap into a fixed position in the mouth. Another benefit is that this is a viable option for patients who have severe bone loss in the jaw and may not qualify for traditional dental implants. The other kind of denture implants—fixed denture implants—consist of dentures complete with gum tissue that is fixed securely in place with the use of strategically placed implants. Fixed denture implants help preserve the structure and form of the jawbone, which can result in a better overall appearance.
Dental implants and denture implants are both possible treatment options for those with one or more missing teeth. For more information about these treatment options, please contact us today.