Dentures vs. Full-Mouth Implants

Choosing the Right Tooth-Replacement Option for You

If you’re missing teeth, both dentures and dental implants can restore your smile—but they offer very different experiences. Understanding the differences in comfort, stability, longevity, and overall function is key to choosing the right option for your lifestyle. At keith + associates dentistry implant center, we’re here to help you compare your options and find the solution that best fits your goals, so you can eat, speak, and smile with confidence again.

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Pros of Full-Mouth Dental Implants

• Feel natural: Compared to other tooth replacement options, full-mouth dental implants feel the most natural. With permanent implants, there is no way for them to move around like with traditional dentures, making them feel even more comfortable and natural.
• Strong material: Full-mouth dental implants are made from a very strong material, making them exceptionally durable. This means that they are able to stand the test of time—data has shown that they can last for 20 years or even longer with the proper care.
• No diet restrictions: Seriously, none! You can eat all your favorite foods again with ease and comfort. We do advise against things like chewing ice, but we also advise against it with natural teeth.
• Not removed from the mouth: This gives you peace of mind. No more having to worry about your dentures falling out when speaking or leaving them on your bedside table at night. With full-mouth dental implants, once they’re in, you can forget that they’re not your real teeth.

Cons of Full-Mouth Dental Implants

• Difficult to clean: Even though your new teeth will not be able to get cavities, it’s still important that you practice excellent oral hygiene. This helps to keep your gums healthy. While cleaning under the arch can be difficult, using a Waterpik makes it much easier.
• Requires maintenance: You will still need to come in for regular dental checkups so that we can ensure that everything looks okay with your implants. We will likely remove them once per year for a deep clean to ensure that everything looks good with the actual implants in your gums.
• More expensive: It’s true, full-mouth dental implants are the most expensive option for teeth replacement. However, the cost equates to the quality. The quality of full-mouth dental implants is vastly superior to that of traditional dentures, and the implants will last much longer. Additionally, there are many financing options that can make them more affordable.

Pros of Traditional Dentures

• Less expensive: Traditional dentures are the less expensive tooth replacement option—at least at first. Dentures require lots of maintenance, regular repairs, and need to be replaced every 7-10 years.
• Can look nice: Dentures can look very nice. They can vastly improve the aesthetics of your smile.

Cons of Traditional Dentures

• Difficult to eat with: Since traditional dentures are not secured in place, they will move around a lot when you bite and chew.
• Loss of taste: Since dentures cover the roof of your mouth, they can reduce your sense of taste. They can also reduce the ability to sense temperature.
• Gum and bone loss: Over time, you will see significant gum and bone loss supporting the mouth. This causes skin sagging, facial drooping, and the appearance of premature aging.
• Bulky: Many denture wearers complain that they feel bulky in their mouths. This causes them discomfort whenever their dentures are in
• Need repair: Dentures are not made of a super durable material like full-mouth dental implants are. This means that they will need many repairs due to accidental damage and normal wear and tear.