Missing multiple teeth affects far more than your smile. It can change what you are able to eat, how clearly you speak, and how confident you feel in everyday situations. If you are facing the loss of several teeth or are already wearing dentures, you may be wondering whether you should stick with a traditional denture or explore full arch dental implants.
At Montgomery Dental Care in Woodbury, MN, Dr. Marc Montgomery and Dr. Stacey Wolken help patients compare modern dentures and full arch dental implants so they can choose the option that best fits their health, goals, and lifestyle.
This guide will walk you through how each solution works, the benefits of each, and how to start deciding which one may be right for you.
What Are Modern Dentures?
Most people are familiar with dentures, but today’s versions are very different from what your parents or grandparents may have worn. Advances in materials and techniques allow dentures to look more natural, feel more comfortable, and fit more precisely than older styles.
Dentures are removable appliances that replace missing teeth and the surrounding gum tissue. They are custom made to fit your mouth and designed to complement your facial features so your new smile looks like it belongs to you.
Types of dentures
Depending on your situation, your dentist may recommend:
- Complete dentures
- Used when all of the teeth in an arch are missing.
- Conventional dentures are placed after the gums have healed from any necessary extractions.
- Immediate dentures are placed the same day teeth are removed, so you are never without teeth while you heal. These often need adjustments as the gums and bone change during healing.
- Partial dentures
- Recommended when you still have some healthy natural teeth. Replacement teeth are attached to a gum-colored base and may be connected with a thin metal framework that clips around existing teeth. Partials restore your smile and help prevent remaining teeth from shifting.
Benefits of modern dentures
Modern dentures offer several important advantages:
- Improved function: They restore basic chewing and speaking abilities, which can make everyday life more comfortable and less stressful.
- Better appearance: Tooth shape, size, and color can be customized, and the base can be shaded to blend with your natural gum tissue.
- Support for facial structures: By replacing lost tooth structure, dentures help support your lips and cheeks, which can reduce the “sunken” look that often comes with missing teeth.
- Non surgical and more affordable upfront: Dentures do not require a surgical procedure, which can be important for patients with certain medical conditions or those who prefer a less invasive option. They also have a lower initial cost than implant based solutions.
Things to keep in mind with dentures
Even with modern improvements, traditional dentures have limitations:
- They rest on the gums and rely on suction, anatomy, and sometimes adhesive, so they can move or shift, especially on the lower jaw.
- Over time, the jawbone naturally shrinks where teeth are missing. As the bone changes, dentures that used to fit well can become loose, sore, or unstable and may need frequent relines or remakes.
- Many patients find they cannot bite as strongly as they would like and still avoid certain foods.
- Dentures must be removed for cleaning and soaked overnight, which some people find inconvenient.
For patients who prioritize a non surgical approach or who are working within a specific budget, modern dentures can still be an excellent and predictable option. Others are looking for something more secure and more like natural teeth. That is where full arch dental implants come in.
What Are Full Arch Dental Implants?
Full arch dental implants are designed for patients who are missing most or all of the teeth on the upper arch, lower arch, or both. Instead of resting on the gums like a traditional denture, a full arch prosthesis is supported by titanium implants placed in the jawbone. These implants act like artificial tooth roots and provide a strong, stable foundation for a new set of teeth.
In everyday conversation, people sometimes call these solutions implant supported dentures, but the concept at Montgomery Dental Care is more precise. A small number of carefully planned implants support a custom designed full arch restoration that is made to be strong, functional, and highly esthetic.
How full arch implants work
A typical full arch solution uses four to six dental implants per arch. After careful planning and digital imaging, the implants are placed in strategic positions and angles to maximize available bone and support. Once the implants heal and integrate with the bone, they are connected to a custom prosthesis that replaces an entire row of teeth.
Depending on the design, this prosthesis may be:
- Fixed: Stays in place and is only removed by the dentist during maintenance visits. You brush and care for it much like natural teeth.
- Removable implant retained: Attaches to special connectors on the implants and can be removed at home for cleaning, but is still much more secure than a traditional denture.
Benefits of Full Arch Dental Implants
Compared to conventional dentures, full arch dental implants can offer several powerful advantages:
- Superior stability and confidence: Because the teeth are anchored to implants in the bone, patients often describe their full arch restoration as feeling solid and secure. There is no need for adhesive, and you do not have to worry about your teeth slipping when you talk or laugh.
- Stronger chewing power: Full arch implants allow many people to enjoy a significantly wider range of foods. Crunchy fruits and vegetables, many meats, and more varied textures are usually easier to manage, which can improve both nutrition and enjoyment of meals.
- Jawbone preservation: When teeth are lost, the jawbone in that area no longer receives the stimulation that natural tooth roots provide. Over time, this leads to bone loss and changes in facial shape. Dental implants help stimulate the bone and can slow down or prevent this kind of shrinkage.
- Natural-looking esthetics: Because the prosthesis is well supported, the design can focus on ideal tooth size, shape, and positioning, as well as natural gum contours. For many patients, full arch implants offer one of the most life-like smile options available.
- Day-to-day convenience: Fixed full arch restorations do not come in and out at home. You brush them as you would natural teeth and follow a specialized cleaning routine recommended by your dentist. Many patients appreciate not having to remove their teeth nightly.
Is a Traditional Denture or Full Arch Dental Implants Better for You?
There is no single solution that is best for everyone. The right choice depends on your health, anatomy, goals, and budget. Here are some key questions to consider.
What are your priorities?
- If you want the most secure, natural feeling option and are comfortable with a surgical procedure and a higher initial investment, full arch dental implants may be the better choice.
- If you prefer a non surgical solution with lower upfront costs, modern dentures may be the right place to start.
How do you feel about surgery and healing time?
Dental implants require a minor surgical procedure and several months of healing for the implants to fully bond with the bone. Many patients do very well with this, but it is important to review your medical history and medications with your dentist.
What is your bone health like?
Jawbone volume and density affect which implant options are available. With today’s imaging and planning technologies, more patients are candidates for implants than ever before, but a comprehensive evaluation is essential.
How do you feel about daily maintenance?
- Traditional dentures must be removed, brushed, and soaked, and you will typically not sleep in them.
- Fixed full arch implants stay in place, but require careful brushing and cleaning around the implants as well as regular professional maintenance to keep the gums healthy.
How Montgomery Dental Care Helps You Decide
Choosing between dentures and full arch dental implants is not something you have to decide on your own. At Montgomery Dental Care, the process begins with a detailed consultation with Dr. Montgomery or Dr. Wolken.
You can expect:
- A thorough review of your oral and medical history.
- Digital imaging and examination to assess your teeth, gums, and bone.
- A clear explanation of all appropriate options, including partial dentures, complete dentures, full arch dental implants, and other restorative choices.
- An honest discussion of the benefits, limitations, timelines, and investment involved with each approach.
Their extensive experience in esthetic, implant, and complex restorative dentistry means they are looking beyond simply replacing missing teeth. The goal is a solution that supports your long term health, comfort, and confidence, while creating a smile that looks natural for your face.
Schedule a Consultation in Woodbury, MN
If you are living with missing teeth or dentures that no longer feel secure, now is a good time to explore your options. Whether modern dentures or full arch dental implants turn out to be the best fit, you deserve a solution that lets you eat, speak, and smile with confidence.
To schedule a consultation at Montgomery Dental Care in Woodbury, MN, call 651-738-1880 or request an appointment online today. The team will help you understand your choices and design a plan that fits your lifestyle and your goals for a healthy, beautiful smile.
