What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are titanium posts surgically placed into your jawbone. They act as artificial tooth roots and support a crown, bridge, or denture on top. At our Tumwater, WA office, we place and restore implants entirely in-house — no referrals needed.
Key benefits:
- Look and feel like natural teeth
- Preserve jawbone and prevent facial sagging
- Last 20+ years with proper care
- No adhesives or removal needed
What About Dentures?
Traditional dentures are removable prosthetics that sit on your gums. Modern dentures look much better than they used to, but they come with trade-offs.
Considerations:
- Lower upfront cost ($1,000–$3,000 vs. $3,000–$5,000 per implant)
- Require adhesives and daily removal
- Can slip during eating or speaking
- Don't prevent bone loss over time
Which Should You Choose?
Choose implants if: You want a permanent solution, have adequate bone density (or are a candidate for bone grafting), and want to preserve your jawbone long-term.
Choose dentures if: You need a full-arch replacement on a tighter budget, or have health conditions that prevent surgery.
The hybrid option: Implant-supported dentures combine the best of both worlds — a removable denture that snaps onto 2–4 implants for stability. Many of our Tumwater patients choose this route.
Ready to explore your options?
Schedule a free implant consultation at Yamaguchi Family Dentistry. We'll take 3D scans and walk you through every option — no pressure, just answers.