Permanent false teeth, also known as dental implants, have become an increasingly popular solution for those seeking a reliable and lasting alternative to traditional dentures. Unlike removable dentures, which can be uncomfortable and inconvenient, dental implants provide a stable and natural-looking option that mimics the function and appearance of real teeth. This modern advancement in dental care offers improved comfort, enhanced confidence, and better overall oral health, making it a preferred choice for many patients.
Removable dentures tend to become loose over time and require fixatives to secure them. The loosening occurs because dentures lack roots, leading to gradual bone resorption and shrunken gums. In addition, food often becomes trapped beneath them, causing discomfort and embarrassment.
Options like bridging simulate the appearance of permanent false teeth but require modification to the healthy teeth that support them while failing to overcome the problem of bone resorption.
However, a cosmetic dentist can now offer patients with missing teeth a choice between two alternative solutions: dental implants or permanent dentures. The following sections will explain their differences, relative merits, and the treatment procedures involved.
Dental Implants as Permanent False Teeth
Implants are widely regarded as the ultimate, permanent solution for people with missing teeth and are suitable for a single tooth, a full-mouth restoration and everything in between. The implant consists of individual titanium posts embedded in the jawbone, where they become fused by osseointegration. Later, an abutment is attached to each post to support a custom-made crown, completing the procedure. Implants offer the following advantages:
- Durability and longevity: They can last many years and perhaps a lifetime with proper care.
- Natural look and feel: A cosmetic dentist will match the colour and size of a patient’s natural teeth, and because they are firmly anchored in the jaw, they also feel natural.
- Preserved bone health: The titanium post acts like a natural root, preventing bone loss.
- Oral hygiene: Implants can be brushed and flossed like natural teeth.
Fixed Dentures as a Permanent False Teeth Option
Also known as implant-supported dentures, they are an alternative solution for multiple missing teeth and consist of two parts. Four to six implants are used to support groups of prosthetic teeth, providing a rapid means to replace a full mouth of teeth.
Cosmetic dentists can offer fixed dentures as a genuinely permanent option or a hybrid solution known as “snap-on” dentures, which can be unscrewed and removed if required.
Fixed dentures are generally a less costly and quicker solution for replacing missing teeth than dental implants and offer similar advantages, including:
- Stability, comfort and improved oral function: Anchoring to implants avoids the instability and discomfort that often make it difficult to eat and speak when wearing removable dentures. Fixed dentures enable better chewing and digestion, improving nutrition and overall health.
- Aesthetic appeal: Any cosmetic dentist will assure you that fixed dentures have a natural appearance that is more aesthetically appealing than that of traditional dentures.
Permanent False Teeth from a Dental Specialist in Gauteng
Dr Ivan Marx is a leading cosmetic dentist with practices in Johannesburg and Pretoria, offering advanced dental implants and permanent dentures. If you are embarrassed by missing teeth, contact your nearest practice and book an introductory consultation.