If you’re dealing with missing teeth, you’ve probably heard of acrylic dentures, or acrylic fake teeth.
They’re a common solution, but be warned, they have some hidden downsides. Let’s dive into the truth about acrylic dentures and explore a solution that might just save you some headache, time and money.
What Are Acrylic Dentures?
Acrylic dentures are removable dental appliances made primarily from acrylic resin. Think of the stuff they use for acrylic nails at a nail salon.
They are a temporary solution to replace missing teeth and, while they seem to be a popular option, it’s important to understand their benefits, drawbacks, and permanent alternatives before making a decision.
Pros and Cons of Acrylic Dentures
Let’s break down the pros and cons of acrylic dentures, and compare them to their permanent alternative - full mouth dental implants.
Full mouth dental implants are a permanent solution to replace missing teeth and are one of the closest substitutes for natural teeth.
They involve a surgical procedure to place 4 or more dental implants in the jawbone. These implants are where full upper and lower fake teeth are attached, offering security, durability and a level of comfort that isn’t possible with acrylic dentures.
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Without further ado - pros and cons of acrylic dentures:
Durability:
There's different kinds of acrylic that can be used for dentures. Some are stronger and some are more aesthetic or nicer looking.
But at the end of the day, acrylic is going to be similar to the acrylic used on fake nails.
Acrylic is not typically long lasting. When people do have acrylic dentures or fake teeth, they end up getting them replaced fairly often.
This is in part due to the wear, tear and staining of the material, but it can also be caused by the fit changing over time. The fit tends to change because, without dental implants to hold the bone volume, it deteriorates and shrinks with time.
The longer-lasting and stronger option is getting titanium implants with prosthetic teeth made from zirconia- a highly durable material. Zirconia teeth are stain resistant, won’t need to be refitted overtime, and are designed to last a lifetime with proper care.
Comfort and Fit:
As a restorative dentist, I have witnessed many patients deal with the discomforts of acrylic dentures. The upper denture covers the entire palate, or roof of the mouth, and can make speech more difficult, reduce how well patients taste their food, and can trigger the gag reflex.
Additionally, patients with acrylic dentures often need to replace them due to them no longer fitting. When you’re missing teeth and there is nothing in the jawbone to help maintain the structure, your bone begins to deteriorate and the shape of your jaw actually changes.
This means that acrylic dentures often need to be replaced because the jawbone changes shape over time. This is not the case with dental implants.
Dental implants are placed in the jawbone, helping it keep its structure and volume, and ensuring that there are no “fit” changes needed.
There is also nothing covering the roof of a patient's mouth with dental implant prosthetics, so they don’t experience the gagging, loss of taste, and the same difficulties with speech that acrylic dentures can cause.
Cost:
Acrylic dentures are typically less expensive than more permanent solutions. Though the upfront cost may be cheaper than a permanent solution that requires a surgical procedure like dental implants, they will also not last nearly as long and will need replacements over the years.
Full mouth dental implant prosthetics made from zirconia may have a higher upfront cost; however, patients with this solution won’t need to continually replace their fake teeth or have them refitted the same way acrylic dentures would necessitate.
While dental implants may seem to have much higher upfront costs, there are often payment plans available to make the treatment affordable.
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Maintenance
Maintaining acrylic dentures involves daily cleaning and periodic adjustments. They need to be removed and cleaned regularly to prevent bacterial build-up and to keep them looking their best.
This can be seen as an inconvenience compared to more permanent solutions.
Dental implant maintenance is similar to taking care of your natural teeth; however, it’s important to also be sure that the area between the false teeth and where they attach to the gums is clear from any particles of food. Many patients use a waterpik and floss for this.
One benefit of acrylic dentures is that when there is a small chip, your dentist will likely be able to easily repair it by painting on acrylic and letting it bond to itself. Because acrylic is not the most durable material, this could happen frequently.
Alternatives That Might Just Save You Some Headache
As previously mentioned, dental implants are a permanent alternative to acrylic dentures that help keep your jawbone healthy and free you from the frustrations of acrylic dentures.
Permanent Teeth in 24 Hours
At Nuvia, not only can you get fake teeth made from zirconia- you can get these permanent, custom-made teeth 24 hours after your dental implant procedure.
Your experience at Nuvia will be a stark contrast to traditional methods of dental implants that may take up to 10+ months to get you your permanent teeth. Zirconia also isn’t offered everywhere, so there could be a chance you find yourself with fake teeth made from a less durable material when you get implants through traditional methods.
See if you may be a candidate for permanent teeth in 24 hours with this 60-second quiz
