Tips for a Smooth Transition from Dentures to Dental Implants

Other than an occasional issue, your dentures have served your smile well in recent years. At the same time, you’ve been paying attention to potential alternatives and are becoming progressively more interested in an upgrade. Dental implants and the significant positive impact they can have on your quality of life are hard to pass up. Before you transition from dentures, keep reading for some information from your implant dentist in Midwest City that will help you prepare.

Why Make the Switch?

Dentures are a traditional solution for missing teeth and remain the preferred option for some people. They are affordable, easy to use, and require a lot less recovery time than a patient who just had a dental implant procedure.

However, they are not a permanent solution. They can slip, there can be issues with the adhesive, taking them out can hurt, and you might consider cleaning them to be a hassle. For one or more of these reasons, some patients decide to seek dental implants.

The Advantages of Choosing Dental Implants

When you are considering dental implants as a tooth-replacement option, remember that they:

• Have a natural appearance: Dental implants are created to look and function just like natural teeth. Other people will probably never know the difference if you don’t tell them.
• Preserve bone mass: When you get dental implants, it stimulates your jawbone and will help you retain your facial structure.
• Aren’t very expensive in the long run: While you can expect a high up-front cost relative to other options, dental implants will save you money in the years that follow because all you need to do is brush and floss as you would for natural teeth.
• Offer durability and stability: Dental implants fuse to your jawbone, so the stability is unmatched. You won’t have to worry about them moving around in your mouth, and you can eat all the foods you enjoyed with natural teeth.

What Should You Know About Pivoting to Dental Implants?

The first thing to consider is that you may potentially need a bone graft if you do not have sufficient bone mass in your jaw. Especially if you lost teeth and did not promptly seek a replacement, your jawbone naturally loses density. If you do move forward with the bone graft, a recovery period will be required before you can have the implant procedure.

Some patients ask if their dentures can be used with implants. It’s possible in some cases but not advisable. However, implant-supported dentures could be an option for you.

If you think the time has come to transition from dentures to dental implants, it’s definitely worth investigating. Talk to your dentist in Midwest City and ask any questions you’ve been wondering about, plus they can evaluate if the bone mass in your jaw is sufficient for the implant procedure. The first step is to schedule a consultation.

About the Author

Dr. Steven Kendrick earned his dental doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. He is a member of the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. He serves as a visiting faculty member for Spear Education. If you are ready to transition from dentures to dental implants, we can perform placement and restoration at our office location, plus CareCredit financing is available. Schedule a consultation on our website or call (405) 732-0431.