Your smile is one of the most unique things about you — that’s why choosing the best dentures is an important decision. In general, most people prefer fixed dentures, but there are some cases where removable dentures are the best option. Here’s an analysis comparing the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Anyone can see your dentures, but only you can feel them. Therefore, you need to think about how the dentures will fit in your mouth after installation. When dentures don’t fit properly, they cause prolonged, often painful, oral discomfort.
When fitted correctly, fixed dentures will have a stable, comfortable fit. They also offer aesthetic benefits that make them feel more like natural teeth.
Fixed dentures will allow you to eat and speak more comfortably than removable dentures. You don’t have to worry about them loosening unexpectedly, even after several years. They are also usually better conductors of heat than removable dentures, giving patients a better sense of food temperature.
The main reason a patient is not a good candidate for fixed dentures is that their jaw is not healthy enough to support surgery. Although removable dentures should ideally function like their fixed counterparts, their detached nature is more likely to cause pain and discomfort.
Keep in mind that dentures take several weeks or even a month or two to really settle into the mouth. This adjustment period is when patients most often report pain or discomfort. Although removable dentures may feel less natural at first, most patients get used to them over time.
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The type of denture you ultimately choose should be designed to serve you best for years to come. Dentures should fit your lifestyle in terms of causing minimal intrusion into your daily activities. While both fixed and removable dentures are viable options for long-term wear, there are some differences in their care and maintenance that may be helpful to discuss with your dentist.
While removable dentures can be thoroughly soaked and cleaned in a specialized solution, their insertion and removal exposes them to more germs and bacteria than fixed ones. Because of this, patients with removable dentures may experience higher rates of tooth decay, tooth fracture, and periodontitis over time. When considering removable dentures, patients will find them most successful by adhering to best hygiene practices. Some tips include:
- Store your dentures in a clean glass of water or a dentist-approved soaking solution.
- Brush your dentures with brands that specify denture maintenance.
- Run your dentures under water to clean debris between overnight soaks.
- Be gentle with your dentures—cracks, bends, or any other handling of the set can affect the comfort of the appliance and allow more bacteria to slip inside.
Fixed dentures are brushed like regular teeth and require the same attention and care. They remain bonded over time, even in cases that also support acrylic teeth (which are removable dentures it may not bind well with time). In fact, most reported failures of fixed dentures are related to pre-existing sepsis in and around the denture area – in other words, the caries was already causing damage that led to the denture failure, rather than the fixed denture itself failing.
Once again, the biggest disadvantage of fixed dentures is that they can exacerbate existing oral health problems by attaching to a weakened bone structure. Despite the advantages of fixed dentures in other areas, patients with poor general oral health may not be good candidates.
If you were to ask a dentist, or even an internet search engine, “Which is cheaper — fixed or removable dentures?” you may find it difficult to find a concise answer that describes the immediate and long-term costs associated with each process.
The truth is that your specific situation will determine the cost-effectiveness of different approaches to your dental care. While determining your options is part of the care your dentist provides, it helps to have a little background on what to expect in the conversation.
Removable dentures tend to be the most affordable option in the short term. Their low levels of invasiveness allow cost reduction in many influencing factors, including the numbing agent required for their installation (for example, local numbing from novocaine versus full anesthetic sedation).
While fixed dentures tend to be consistently more expensive than removable dentures, many patients prefer them in a quality-of-life comparison as they allow for easier chewing and speaking.
While some people may benefit from replacing entire rows of teeth, there are cases where some patients’ original teeth can be saved. In this scenario, dentists are likely to recommend removable dentures. Research shows that healthy teeth (without cavities) are viable candidates for removable dentures. They are the least invasive options for jawbones that do not have surgery as a viable option.
According to the International Journal of Prosthodontics, the procedural invasiveness associated with the installation of fixed dentures “It requires the sacrifice of healthy hard tissue.” This makes the procedure much more invasive than removable dentures. may not be a viable option for many consumers. But the advantage is that it only needs to be installed once and is generally safe afterwards, with light dental maintenance in the office.
Dental research points to one growing need worldwide for fixed and removable dentures. If you have experienced tooth loss or significant tooth decay, discuss all of your available options with your dentist and don’t be afraid to ask questions. The right choice is the one that best supports your overall oral health.
