Are you having trouble deciding between dentures and dental implants? Your East Lansing, MI, dentist, Dr. Thomas Faiver can help you consider the pros and cons of each method and make the best choice for you.

Denture basics

Dentures are synthetic teeth attached to a pink base that looks like gum tissue. Your dentures rest against your gums and are removed every night for cleaning. Dentures are held in place by the bony ridges in your mouth, suction, and denture adhesive. Replacing your lost teeth with dentures restores your biting and chewing ability, reduces facial sagging, and improves your appearance.

As your mouth heals, the fit of your dentures will change. Fortunately, the fit can be improved by relining or rebasing the dentures. Dentures must be replaced every five to 10 years, due to wear and tear. You'll probably experience a decline in biting power after you start wearing dentures and may not be able to chew and bite hard or tough foods easily.

If you'd like to wear dentures, you can opt for full dentures, which you'll receive after your mouth heals, or immediate dentures, which are placed in your mouth right after your teeth are extracted. Partial dentures replace several missing teeth in a row.

Dental implant facts

Implant-supported dentures offer another option if you've lost teeth. Dental implants are small titanium posts added to your jawbone during a minor oral surgery procedure in East Lansing. The posts bond to your jawbone and take the place of your tooth roots. If you've just one tooth, a dental implant is connected to a dental crown to restore your tooth.

Dental implants can also be used to anchor dentures. As few as four dental implants can be used to connect a denture. Dentures may be attached directly to implants or to a metal framework connected to the implants.

Because your dentures are securely attached to dental implants, you won't have to worry about irritation caused by slipping and sliding. Implant-supported dentures also offer better biting power than full or immediate dentures and help keep your jawbone strong. Although your dental implants will probably never need to be replaced, you'll still need to replace your dentures periodically when they become worn.

Ready to replace your missing teeth with dentures or dental implants? Call your dentist in East Lansing, MI, Dr. Thomas Faiver, at (517) 351-7222 to schedule an appointment.