Dental Implants or Dentures?

The Advantages of Implant Dentistry

If you ever catch yourself covering your smile, hiding your teeth from others, or are tired of going without a complete set of teeth, it's time to talk about your replacement options. Dental implants are an alternative to dentures that serve as a long-term, healthy treatment for tooth loss.

If you have enough jaw bone to support it, a dental implant can be placed anywhere your smile needs it. The jaw bone may have deteriorated if you have been missing teeth for a while, in which case our oral surgeons can place a bone graft to help regrow bone in that area.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the experts in restorative dental treatments. During residency, oral surgeons gain hands-on experience restoring many types of smiles with advanced technology and techniques. At The Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of San Diego, Dr. Koshgerian and Dr. Shelton design a custom treatment plan for every patient. With many options to choose from for replacing one or more missing teeth, our board-certified surgeons will help you select the right choice for your smile, health, and financial needs.

Your Options for Tooth Replacement

Restorative dental work can rebuild your confidence in your smile, and certain procedures can benefit your oral health for life. Dentures and dental implants may look similar in some aspects, but offer very different health benefits and patient outcomes. Our team will discuss your options for replacing missing or failing teeth, and together we will design a treatment plan to get you smiling with confidence again. These options may include:

• Single Tooth Replacement. A dental implant consists of a post, abutment, and crown. You can have a dental implant placed anywhere that you need to restore a single missing tooth, both in the front and back of your mouth.
• Implant-Supported Bridge. Dental implants can be placed where multiple teeth are missing beside each other to support a bridge. This protects your healthy teeth from being altered to fit the prosthesis.
• Full-Arch Restoration. By using multiple dental implants to support a fixed complete denture, Dr. Koshgerian and Dr. Shelton can completely restore the look and function of your entire smile.
• Traditional Bridges or Partial Dentures. Removable appliances and false teeth do not integrate with the jaw bone to prevent bone loss. They rely on other teeth for support, often requiring them to be sanded down to fit the bridge or partial.
• No Replacement. If you leave a missing tooth untreated, the jaw bone that area will weaken overtime in. Nearby teeth could shift into the open space, causing misalignment and bite problems.

Prevent Jaw Bone Loss

Implant-based restorative solutions are the only replacement teeth that protect the jaw bone and preserve facial structure. The roots of natural teeth are embedded into the jaw bone. These roots stimulate the jaw during chewing, keeping the bone strong and healthy. When a tooth is missing, there is nothing in its place to stimulate the jaw. Over time, this causes the jaw bone to deteriorate, which can lead to facial sagging, bite problems, and adjacent teeth shifting into the open space.

Traditional bridges and dentures sit on top of the bony ridge and do not integrate with the jaw bone. While these options may be cheaper upfront and restore the appearance of your smile, they do not offer long-term oral health protection and must be replaced about every five years. Dentures that are not fitted properly often slide around in your mouth, causing sores. Removable oral appliances may save you money in the beginning, but can lead to extensive bone repair treatment and oral surgery procedures in the future.

When you choose dental implants to replace missing teeth, you are choosing the healthiest solution that will benefit your oral health for years to come. The implant post fuses to the jaw bone, mimicking the function and health benefits of a natural tooth’s root. The jaw receives the stimulation it needs to remain strong, and you enjoy the long-term benefits of a complete smile.

Find Us in San Diego

We have an office in Coastal San Diego near Pacific Beach and another office in East San Diego near La Mesa, CA. Both of our offices proudly serve the San Diego community and these surrounding areas: