Partial Denture Versus Dental Implant

If you are missing a single tooth, you’ll likely be faced with two choices, a fixed partial or a dental implant. There are several factors to consider and your decision is ultimately up to you – after all, it’s your smile! To help you make the best tooth replacement selection for your lifestyle, preferences and budget, consider the following:

Cost
Dental implants are generally more costly than a fixed partial. In fact, they can easily cost twice as much. It is also quite possible that your insurance doesn’t cover you implant. However, before you avoid dental implants based on funds, it is important to consider that a dental implant will last a lifetime, whereas a partial may only give you 5 years before it needs to be replaced.

Appearance
If you’re seeking the most natural-looking solution, dental implants are undoubtedly superior. A fixed partial is likely to have metal hooks or attachments to anchor it in place.

Maintenance
You can expect some extra cleaning involved when you get a partial denture. However, a dental implant can be cared for just like a real tooth. How much time are you willing to spend on your restorative solution?

Bone Loss
When a tooth is missing, the underlying bone will shrink over time if it is not stimulated by a tooth root. Dental implants are the only way to prevent this bone loss, which can eventually cause premature aging in the lower face due to the diminishing jaw structure. Patients are still at risk for bone loss when wearing partial dentures.

At the office of Dr. Wayne Suway, we help you weight the cost of dental implants against the unrivaled advantages they provide for your smile and quality of life. We also offer ways to help you finance you dental implant at our Marietta location.