The comparison that matters
| Implant-supported arch | Conventional denture | |
|---|---|---|
| Held by | Four or more implants in bone | Suction, and the ridge shape |
| Removable | No, fixed | Yes, daily |
| Bone underneath | Stimulated, largely preserved | Continues to resorb |
| Eating | Close to natural teeth | Restricted, especially lower |
| Palate covered | No | Upper denture, yes |
| Relining | No | Every few years as the ridge changes |
| Surgery | Yes | No |
| Relative cost | Considerably higher | Lower |
The bone argument, stated fairly
Bone that is not loaded resorbs. A conventional denture rests on the gum, so the ridge underneath slowly shrinks -- which is why dentures need relining and why a face changes shape over years of wearing one.
Implants transmit load into the bone and largely stop that. It is the strongest argument for the implant option and it is a real one.
But it is not an argument that every person should have implants. It is an argument to understand what happens with each, over a timeframe that matters to you.
Who each one actually suits
Implants suit people with enough bone to place them, no medical contraindication, who can manage the surgical stage and the cost, and who eat in a way a denture would constrain.
A conventional denture suits people for whom surgery is unwise or unwanted, where cost is decisive, or where an existing denture is genuinely working. A well-fitting upper denture is a good appliance, and being told otherwise by someone selling implants is worth noticing.
There is a middle option that gets skipped: an implant-retained overdenture, which clips onto two implants and still comes out. Fewer implants, considerably less cost, and most of the stability improvement.
What this practice does and does not do
Brightside places implants and restores them, and provides conventional and implant-retained dentures. Full-arch cases are assessed here with a CBCT scan.
Complex surgical cases are referred to an oral surgeon. That referral is made at the assessment, not discovered halfway through.
Common questions
Asked at the front desk.
Are All-on-4 implants better than dentures?
They function closer to natural teeth and largely stop the bone loss that continues under a conventional denture. They also cost considerably more and involve surgery. A well-fitting denture is a good appliance and not everyone needs implants.
Do dentures cause bone loss?
Bone under a denture continues to resorb because it is not loaded, which is why dentures need relining every few years and why the fit changes over time.
Is there an option between the two?
Yes. An implant-retained overdenture clips onto two implants and still comes out. Fewer implants, much lower cost, and most of the stability improvement.
Am I too old for dental implants?
Age itself is not the deciding factor. Bone volume, medical history and medications are. A CBCT scan and a health review answer it.
Next step
One phone call, and someone answers it.
3608 Carrington Rd #204, West Kelowna. Thursdays until 7pm, Fridays from 7am. Accepting new patients of every age.