Credit where credit is due: dentures were a huge technological advance when they were first developed. People who had previously been restricted in their diet to soft foods and liquids were suddenly able to chew again, and the overall health of the elderly population improved dramatically.
But times have changed. Technology has pushed the field of dental replacement and orthodontia further than anyone could have dreamed possible just three decades ago. And the improvements just keep on coming.
Dental implants have made it possible for replacement teeth to be securely anchored in the jawbone itself, exactly as a natural tooth would be. Grooved titanium posts are surgically implanted into the jawbone, and act as surrogate roots for false teeth. These implants boast a 98% success rate and, with proper care, can last a lifetime.
And it’s becoming easier for patients to find dentists who perform full mouth dental implants, and even the One Day Smile Solution. The One Day Smile Solution provide patients with a complete set of upper or lower teeth attached to only four implants. Previous systems required six implants, or sometimes as many as eight.
The One Day Smile Solution require less time in surgery, need less time to heal, and offer fewer opportunities for infection than previous techniques. All these benefits add up to a smoother, less painful experience, as well as a slightly lower cost, for the patient.
For anyone trying to decide between traditional, adhesive-held dentures and modern dental implants, be sure to take all aspects into account. Implants may seem, at first glance, to be far more expensive than dentures, but when you consider the life-long benefit, the low maintenance, and the more natural look and feel of implants, the investment begins to look more and more worthwhile.
