Partials vs. Dental Implants in Maryland

    WASHINGTON, DC, May 30, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dental implants and partials are both options for replacing missing teeth. Beyond that they have almost nothing in common. A dental implant is a permanent solution that looks and feels like a natural tooth, and you treat it like a natural tooth. Partials can be made to look very natural and beautiful, but they cannot compare in comfort, durability, convenience, or function.

Partials

Partials are partial dentures. They are removable replacements for a tooth or several teeth. In some cases they are they best option, and a highly skilled cosmetic dentist can create beautiful partials, but they have significant drawbacks.

Since partials are not permanently fixed in place, they can slip and rub, causing pain. They may affect how you chew or speak. They must be removed for proper cleaning. You may not be able to enjoy all the same foods that you eat now.

Because you must remove them frequently, there is also a greater chance of losing or damaging them, or simply being seen "without your teeth in", which can be very embarrassing.

Cosmetically, partials can have a long-term effect on your appearance. It is not the partials themselves that cause the problem, but the absence of the tooth root. With the tooth root gone, you can experience gum and bone shrinkage that causes a sunken, aged look.

These changes also mean that partials must be replaced on a regular basis because they no longer fit properly.

Dental Implants

A dental implant is a titanium screw that is surgically implanted in your jawbone. It fuses with the bone, making it permanent and stable. An artificial tooth (crown) is attached to the implant.

Once the implant and crown are in place and healed, you treat them just like your natural teeth. You can eat you normal foods, and you brush and floss normally. There is no effect on how you chew or speak. You never have to worry about your implant slipping out of place causing embarrassment. It is comfortable and durable. It looks and feels so natural, you may even forget it is there.

Immediate vs. Long-Term Results

The initial time and money invested in dental implants is greater than in partials. The process for a dental implant involves oral surgery and overall can take several months. An implant costs more than your first partial, too.

However, once you implant is in place and healed, you are done. You do not have to replace it, or have subsequent procedures. You do not have to spend time daily on special care, or money on special products to care for it.

To learn more about dental implants and your solutions for missing teeth, please visit the website of Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. oral and maxillofacial surgeon Daria Hamrah today at www.novasurgicare.com.

# # #