You may be in two different paths of life. Perhaps you already have dentures and they are no longer serving the exact purpose you need, so you may wonder about opting for dental implants instead. On a different path, maybe you are to the point of losing your teeth or wanting to swap them for a set of artificial teeth to better your oral health or ability to eat. Here we will walk you through the differences of the two; dentures vs. dental implants.

Dentures Key Facts

Dentures are a teeth and gum set made of artificial material. The sets are carefully formed to your mouth and have a unique shape to sit in place without causing you discomfort. Dentures can be full or partial, so they can replace all of your teeth, or some of your teeth that may be missing or extracted. Most dentures are made of porcelain, plastic, or hard resin and they last roughly 5 years but will need replacing as they wear away over time or may chip if dropped.

Dental Implants Key Facts

Dental implants are surgically placed systems that sit in the jaw bone. They are used to change a person’s smile or to restore your ability to chew and eat regular, solid foods. The implants hold fake teeth securely into place. They can last up to a lifetime but it does depend on the materials used and how well they are cared for once put in place.

Conclusion

The choice of what to do with your teeth is always a decision that should be up to you and based upon your oral surgeon’s expert recommendation. Whether you decide to get dentures or dental implants, you can trust Shawn B. Davis at Oral & Facial Surgery Institute to take good care of you. Contact the office today to get started: (435) 238-7083

All-on-4 are dentals implants that can replace an entire set of teeth with only 4 implants. This modern, simple design makes for a speedy recovery and a beautiful smile. It is also one of the most cost effective options to restore a smile to a healthy, attractive state. If you plan to have this surgery, knowing how to prepare for it is important. 

Before All-On-4 Surgery

Before your surgery be sure to talk to your surgeon about how you can best prepare for the upcoming procedure. Your oral surgeon wants the procedure to be as successful and painless as possible so they will have specific instructions on what to do before entering the office on your surgery day.

Immediately Following All-On-4 Surgery

Immediately after your oral health surgery, your surgeon will have careful instructions for you to give your mouth the best chance at recovering fully and quickly. You can expect to:

• Avoid hard, solid foods. You will need to be one a liquid diet for a time period following the surgery in order to not irritate, damage, or injure your gums and implants.
• Use all of the prescribed medication or mouth rinses you receive from your surgeon.
• Gently brush the new teeth but be sure to avoid sore gums and incision points. Keeping regular oral hygiene practices in place will avoid future complications and infection.
• Regularly rinse your mouth after eating and throughout the day. A warm water and salt mixture typically does the trick and fights bacterial growth.

Final Procedure

After your first procedure receiving the implants and prosthetic teeth, you will again visit your oral surgeon to have your permanent dentures implanted. This final surgery takes place typically months after your first visit to give your mouth time to heal from the implants. You again will need to keep your mouth consistently clean and follow all of your oral surgeon’s instructions.

Conclusion

All-On-4 surgery requires several visits with your oral surgeon and will carry a recovery time of a few months. Still, it is a simple, safe procedure that will give you a permanent, gorgeous smile that can last a lifetime. If you are interested in getting All-On-4, contact Shawn B. Davis at Oral & Facial Surgery Institute (435) 238-7083 to answer your questions and discuss your future!