Alternatives to Dentures in 2021
Dentures have been around for a while, and this old-fashioned tooth replacement method certainly has its fair share of pitfalls. The palatal coverage of a denture can be very uncomfortable, and it is not as stabilized as other tooth replacement options. Even more, dentures are very susceptible to wear and tear and breakage, and they need to be replaced every 5-7 years, assuming they aren’t lost or broken before then.
Dentures just might not be right for you. If this is the case, you are in good company. That said, there are alternatives to dentures that might be a good fit for you depending on your individual needs.
This is your complete guide to the best alternatives for dentures that will still get the job done.
Looking to skip the mediocre options and get straight to the best denture alternative on the market? Click here to see why Stabili-Teeth™ is the best (and most affordable) modern-day solution to missing teeth!
What Options Are Available as Alternatives to Dentures?
There are two traditional options when it comes to denture alternatives: bridges and dental implants. Within these categories, there are several different types of products available in cosmetic dentistry, and it can be hard to figure out which options are the best to help you find the right new teeth, if any -- this is why we have done the work for you. Let’s take a look.
Bridges
Dental bridges work by filling the gaps where you have missing teeth, and they consist of one or several artificial teeth that are attached to each other and then attached to your healthy, adjacent teeth. In most cases, getting a bridge means that your adjacent teeth will need to be prepared, either be grinding them down or putting dental crowns on them, and then the bridge is cemented into place. This means you will have to sacrifice two of your healthy teeth to replace the teeth you’ve lost, and once those adjacent teeth are themselves lost, you’ll need to continue grinding down more and more healthy teeth to replace your dental bridge.
Before getting into the different kinds of bridges, there are two main components of a bridge:
Abutment teeth, which are the adjacent teeth that get prepared, usually with crowns, before a bridge is placed. Abutment teeth can be thought of as the supporting teeth that anchor the bridge.
Pontics, which are the false teeth of the bridge that fill the gaps between your missing and remaining teeth. The pontics are what make up the bridge itself, and these artificial teeth get attached to your adjacent abutment teeth.
There are a few different types of bridges available:
Traditional fixed bridge: Traditional fixed bridges are the most common type of bridge, and it is made of several artificial teeth that are attached to each other. This type of bridge usually uses crowns on your adjacent teeth that hold the bridge in place, and the bridge might be made out of metal, porcelain-fused metal, or ceramic materials. Like all bridges, this type of tooth replacement is not as stable as dental implants or Stabili-Teeth™.
Cantilever bridge: Cantilever bridges are a type of bridge that requires the pontics to only be attached to one adjacent tooth, rather than two. Because of this, there is a higher risk of debonding or cracking. There’s also a larger probability of failure if this bridge isn’t attached to a sturdy tooth at the back of your mouth.
Resin-bonded bridge: This kind of bridge is made of porcelain fused to metal, and it has wings on either side that attach it to your adjacent teeth. That said, this type of bridge is really only used for front tooth replacement because it is not intended to withstand the same kind of biting and chewing that your back teeth endure. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the less natural-looking bridge options, as the abutment tooth will look translucent and greyish, and there may be a visible metal structure in your mouth.
Implant-supported bridge: Implant-supported bridges are similar to traditional fixed bridges, but they have an extra level of security and stability because they are held in place by dental implants. These are more expensive, take longer, and like all bridges, do not prevent bone density loss in your jaw resulting from tooth loss.
If you take great care of your mouth after getting a bridge, your bridge can last up to about 10 years, but you may still need to have it replaced every 5-7 years, especially as the teeth the bridge are connected to wear down from the pressure of the bridge—yikes.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are another denture alternative, but they are pretty expensive.
There are two main kinds of dental implants:
Endosteal implants: Endosteal implants are the most common type of implant, and they are generally shaped like small screws. Endosteal implants get placed into your jawbone, and the bone eventually grows up and around the implant and holds it in place. If you do not have enough natural bone or have experienced bone loss, this kind of implant will require you to undergo a bone augmentation procedure. This increases both the overall cost of the replacement and the time you will have to spend without a tooth.
Subperiosteal implants: Subperiosteal implants are a good alternative to endosteal implants if your natural jawbone is insufficient for implants but you do not want to undergo the extra bone augmentation procedure. This type of implant is still placed below your gums, but it does not go into your actual bone itself. Instead, subperiosteal implants sit on top of or above the jawbone. These implants have a higher failure rate, from 30 to 50 percent.
Newer types of dental implants are also available. Examples include the following:
Immediate load implants: Immediate load implants are also known as same-day implants, and they allow for prosthetic teeth to be placed during the same appointment as your initial implant placement. These also require expensive augmentation and bone grafting, and there is a high probability that the process of fusing the implant to the bone will fail.
Mini implants: Mini implants, sometimes referred to as narrow-diameter implants, are smaller in width than conventional-sized implants. Narrow diameter implants also get placed through less-invasive techniques, and they are sometimes also used to stabilize a lower denture. There is limited knowledge about their long-term survival rates, and more implants will be required to replace multiple teeth, increasing the cost.
Although traditional dental implants can be effective, the healing process generally takes many months and there is no guarantee that your body will accept the implant. Getting dental implants involves having multiple dentist appointments with healing time in between each appointment, because the procedure is done in steps. Because of this, traditional implants may not be ideal, especially if your situation is more dire and you cannot wait months and months to have some tooth functionality back.
That said, if you do decide to move forward with dental implants, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the process so that you know what to expect in terms of procedures and healing.
During recovery, you may experience a few different symptoms, such as:
Swollen gums and/or swelling of the face around the mouth
Bruised gums and skin
Pain around the areas where the implants have been placed
Slight bleeding in the areas where implants have been placed
Stitches, either self-dissolving or removable
Implants can also be very expensive, priced at several thousand dollars per tooth. Full mouth implants can even cost over $40,000 or $15,000 for one arch, which may still be beyond what you are hoping to spend.
With dental bridges being more affordable but less stable, and implants being very expensive but with great results, there may seem to be no perfect solution… This is where Stabili-Teeth™ comes in.
Stabili-Teeth™: A Modern and Affordable Solution
Stabili-Teeth™ was created as an alternative to the traditional DENTURES AND FIXED DETACHABLES (as in Clear Choice or All-on-Four) because although dentures have their downfalls, they have been proven to work marginally, while Fixed Detachables work great but the cost remains very high. Stabili-Teeth™ builds off of the concepts that have been successful and improve upon the aspects of a denture that have failed in the past.
The Stabili-Teeth™ protocol was created by Dr. Carl Medgaus as an affordable upgrade from traditional overdentures, and it uses a unique combination of narrow diameter implants and conventional sized implants for optimal comfort and stability as well as an easier surgical procedure to replace your missing natural teeth.
With Stabili-Teeth™, you get immediate stabilization of a provisional set of prosthetic teeth on your day of surgery, and then the final prostheses are placed once your mouth heals- but you keep the provisional teeth as a backup option. This ensures that you do not have to go without any tooth functionality during any stage of the implant process.
Stabili-Teeth™ comes with a 5-year warranty, and the all-inclusive price of $12,500 for one arch or $21,500 for full-mouth restoration is much more affordable than conventional options. These prices include bone grafting, tooth extraction, and sedation, which also means there are no surprise fees.
If you are ready to get your life back, you can schedule your Stabili-Teeth™ consultation with our office online using our form so that Stabili-Teeth™ professionals can accurately assess your individual needs. Missing teeth can be discouraging, as can the cost to replace them, but Stabili-Teeth™ can help you bring that confident, genuine smile back onto your face.
The Bottom Line
Although traditional dentures work to some extent, all dentures come with their fair share of faults. Palatal coverage, for example, is an infamous cause of denture-related discomfort, and the fact that dentures require lots of maintenance may be another reason why this method is not ideal.
Dental bridges and dental implants are two common alternatives to full or partial dentures that may be better suited to you depending on your needs and preferences. Unfortunately, bridges lack long-term stability, and implants are much more expensive.
The Stabili-Teeth™ treatment process offers a modern and cost-effective solution to these common concerns. Using this method allows you to enjoy the stability of dental implants for replacing missing teeth without the high cost.
Whether it's a single tooth or mouth full you're in need of, take back your self-confidence and find a permanent solution for your tooth loss with the affordable dental services from Stabili-Teeth™.
Sources:
Dental Bridges: Who Needs Them, Types, Costs, Procedure & Care Issues (clevelandclinic.org)
Types of Implants & Techniques - Types of implants & techniques (aiid-implant.org)
Dental Implants: Costs, Procedures and Types in the US (dentaly.org)