Are Dental Implants Uncomfortable Like Other Teeth Replacements Can Be?

Posted on: 11 May 2021

Losing a tooth isn't something that anyone wants to go through. Thankfully, people have many options for replacing one or more missing teeth these days. However, if you're trying to decide between dental implants and something else like dentures or bridges, you may be curious if they could be uncomfortable. If you're worried about your comfort level, here's what you should know about these three teeth replacements and how dental implants fare against dentures and bridges.

The Biggest Difference

While all three of these methods replace missing teeth, the similarities pretty much end there. Each method is unique and utilizes a different way of staying where they belong, which can influence how much comfort or discomfort you experience.

For example, one of the biggest problems people experience with denture discomfort is rubbing on the gums. Since dentures sit on top of the gums and are applied with adhesive, any friction and pressure on the dentures can potentially cause irritation of the gums after long-term use.

Bridges typically don't have this problem, but they come with their own issues. Bridges are mounted onto surrounding real teeth and rely upon them to keep the bridge in place. So when you bite down and chew, especially on hard things, this puts slight pressure on those supportive teeth. While it won't cause any problems initially, over a long period of time, this can potentially pull the supporting teeth out of alignment, which may be uncomfortable.

Dental implants, on the other hand, are designed to support themselves in the same way as real teeth. They go under the gums and don't rely upon surrounding teeth or the surface of your gums to stay put.

Using Your Body's Natural Mechanisms

Part of the reason why dental implants are so comfortable is because they use your body's own natural support system for teeth. The implant is inserted under the gums and rests in the jawbone, where the body grows new strong bone cells around it. From this point, the jaw is responsible for supporting the implant, just like it would a real tooth. Unlike surrounding teeth or the surface of your gums, your body is meant to do this with real teeth, so it doesn't cause wear, tear, or pain like other teeth replacement methods sometimes can. 

If you're interested in dental implants, you will be happy to know that they're one of the most comfortable and longest-lasting methods of teeth replacement out there. Talk to a dentist if you want to start the process.

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