The main differences between a tooth-supported prosthesis and a dental implant

When a patient suffers the loss of one or more teeth, his or her daily life is immediately affected: chewing becomes more difficult, he or she may have difficulty speaking because he or she does not vocalize well, and even smiles and laughs less because he or she is embarrassed, which affects his or her self-esteem and confidence.

But fortunately nowadays there are different techniques to replace missing teeth, such as removable dentures, fixed bridges and dental implants.

We are often asked about which is the best option. The answer for us is clear: we should not decide based on economic criteria, i.e. we do not recommend choosing the option that we think will be the cheapest in the short term. The decision has to be based on medical and clinical criteria, on what each patient needs according to his or her case and his or her oral health and general health conditions.

Even so, there are some considerations that make more and more cases opt for a dental implant instead of a prosthesis. In this post we will explain what a prosthesis and an implant are, and what are the main differences between these two techniques.

What is a removable dental prosthesis?

It is an acrylic prosthetic structure with an extensive seating base (palate) and a series of metal hooks that will serve to hold it to the adjacent teeth. As its name suggests, it is removable. With the passage of time, between five and seven years, it becomes loose both at the level of the gum and the clasps that retain the prosthesis. Its great disadvantage when chewing is that it can move and swing, as well as food can penetrate under the palate. Nowadays we only recommend this prosthesis if there are health limitations that contraindicate the implants, or if the limitation is economic.

What is a fixed dental prosthesis?

A fixed prosthesis is a prosthetic restoration that consists of replacing missing teeth with a prosthetic structure that is attached to adjacent teeth. The adjacent teeth are lowered to make room for the framework, and the prosthesis is cemented to secure it. It is a type of design that has been in use for almost a century, and its chewing comfort is excellent. The main disadvantage is that healthy teeth must be sacrificed to fix the missing teeth. It is not currently recommended if there is a possibility of placing dental implants.

What is a dental implant?

It is a titanium screw that is placed in the bone of the maxilla or mandible and acts as an artificial root. On this root is placed a cover that mimics in color and shape to the natural teeth of the person. It can be performed on a single tooth or on several teeth, even on a complete maxilla or the whole mouth. The chewing sensation is the most similar to natural teeth, surpassing the comfort of the removable prosthesis, and sometimes the fixed bridge.

Differences between a prosthesis and a dental implant

• Materials. Prostheses are usually made of acrylic, resin and ceramic materials, so that they are light and affect the natural teeth to which they are attached as little as possible. Implants are usually made of titanium, a highly biocompatible material, resistant to chemical attack and lightweight. In addition, after a few months the titanium allows the bone to grow around it, which is called osseointegration. The material of the prosthesis on the implants can be zirconium, titanium, palladium-gold and cobalt-chromium.
• Esthetics. Aesthetically, both a fixed prosthesis and an implant respond very well to the aesthetic requirements of the patient, although advances in implantology techniques and materials make the latter look and feel more like natural teeth.
• Functionality. At the functional level, implants respond much better than prostheses, since they do not move or run the risk of becoming detached, they are firmer and more secure. In addition, with immediate loading implantology, the patient can eat, drink and lead a normal life in a single day.
• Adaptation. As a general rule, patients with dental prostheses require a longer adaptation time than those with implants. Implants feel and function like natural teeth, while prostheses are a foreign body that requires getting used to. Although each case is different, since it will depend to a great extent on the anatomical conditions of the bone and the person’s ability to adapt to the change.
• Independence. Implants are placed directly on the bone, so they do not depend on the adjacent teeth, nor do they overload or affect them in any way. On the other hand, prostheses are attached to the adjacent teeth, limiting the number of teeth that can be replaced on the one hand, and requiring healthy teeth in perfect condition on the other.
• Duration. Both interventions require adequate aftercare and maintenance, such as proper dental hygiene and periodic check-ups. In the best conditions, a prosthesis lasts between eight and twelve years, while implants can last a lifetime, if properly cared for.

Thus, it is not strange that in most cases dental implants are recommended instead of prostheses or bridges. In the case of immediate load implants, not only do we obtain a more immediate and natural result, but the intervention itself is faster and less invasive for the patient, and recovery takes place in just 24 hours.