Multi Specialty Dental Clinic & Implant CenterShort answer
Dentures are removable teeth that rest on your gums. They need no surgery and are the quicker option, but they can slip, they come out at night for cleaning, and they do not stop the jawbone shrinking, so the fit changes over time.
Dental implants are titanium posts placed in the jawbone that hold a crown, a bridge or a full arch of teeth. They stay put when you eat and speak and help preserve the jawbone, but they need surgery and three to six months of healing.
There is a middle option: anchored dentures, which clip onto implants. At DICC, every implant and denture case is planned by Dr. Kaushal Dhawan, prosthodontist and founder, starting with a free consultation.
Side by side
| Dentures | Dental implants | |
|---|---|---|
| What holds them | Rest on the gums (a partial also clips to your remaining teeth) | Titanium posts placed in the jawbone |
| Surgery | None | Yes, to place the posts |
| Time to finish | Shorter | Posts heal for three to six months before the final teeth |
| Eating and speaking | Can slip or rub, especially lower dentures | Stay put when you eat and speak |
| Jawbone | Does not stop the bone shrinking, so the fit changes | Help preserve the jawbone |
| Daily care | Taken out every night and cleaned | Brushed and cleaned like natural teeth |
| Medicaid | Health First Colorado covers dentures for many adults, with limits | Not always covered; depends on your case and medical necessity |
Who are dentures a good fit for?
Dentures suit patients who want to avoid surgery, need a quicker or lower-cost solution, or are not ready for implants yet. A partial denture fills the gaps between the natural teeth you still have, so they stay where they are; a full denture replaces every tooth in an arch.
Who are implants a good fit for?
Implants suit patients who want teeth that stay fixed, eat without worrying about slipping, and want to keep the jawbone they have. Low bone does not always rule them out: a bone graft can often rebuild it. A 3D scan at your consultation shows what is possible.
What about anchored dentures?
Anchored dentures clip onto dental implants. You still take them out to clean them, but they stay put when you eat and speak and help preserve the jawbone. Many denture wearers move to them.
At our offices
Dental implants: Cherry Creek, Boulder, Broomfield/
Dentures: Cherry Creek, Boulder, Broomfield/
Further reading
Questions & answers
Dental Implants vs Dentures: your questions
Are implants better than dentures?
Not for everyone. Implants are more stable and help preserve the jawbone, but they need surgery and healing time. Dentures need no surgery and are quicker. Dr. Dhawan explains both at a free consultation, based on your mouth, health and budget.
Can I switch from dentures to implants later?
Yes. Many patients do, either with anchored dentures that clip onto implants or with fixed full-arch implants. Bone loss over the years can mean a bone graft is needed first.
Does Medicaid cover implants or dentures?
Health First Colorado covers dentures for many adults, with limits. Implants are not always covered; it depends on your circumstances and medical necessity. We check your benefits and explain what is covered before any treatment. Medicaid at DICC.
Where can I get implants or dentures at DICC?
At all three offices: Cherry Creek, Boulder and Broomfield/
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Three Locations Serving Denver