Dentures
Missing teeth can take a serious toll on your quality of life by compromising your appearance and making eating and speaking a challenge.
Dentures can replace several missing teeth or an entire dental arch, restoring the function and appearance of your smile.
So why should you choose dentures?
Dentures Make It Easier
TO EAT, SPEAK, AND SMILE
Designed to look like natural teeth, dentures can be customized to complement the shape of your face and improve the appearance of sunken cheeks and puckered lips.
Dentures can renew your ability to eat comfortably, enunciate clearly, and chew properly. With a fully functional smile, you can enjoy life more completely.
You can elect to secure your dentures with dental implants. This solution keeps your dentures firmly in place and prevents the jawbone recession that occurs after tooth loss.
Take a look at how partial dentures fit into your smile...
Tooth Loss
AFFECTS MANY OLDER ADULTS
It can most likely help you too.
According to the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors
Dentures can address many needs…
A Range of Conditions Can
AFFECT YOUR CANDIDACY
Bone Density
For an implant-supported restoration, you must have enough jawbone tissue to support dental implants. A bone graft can restore lost tissue if you have experienced jawbone recession. Even for a traditional restoration, your doctor may recommend pre-prosthetic surgery to prevent issues and make your restoration fit more comfortably.
Gum Disease
While early stages of gum disease can be easily treated, the condition can reach a point at which the solution may require tooth extraction. Once the teeth are removed, your gums can heal and a denture can replace the extracted teeth. You must be free of gum disease and tooth decay prior to receiving dentures.
Feelings of Self-Consciousness
If an incomplete smile is making you feel self-conscious, you should speak to your dentist about dentures. A restoration can improve both the appearance and function of your smile and allow you to feel more confident.
Your Dentist Can Tailor
YOUR RESTORATION TO YOUR NEEDS
Complete Tooth Loss
If you have lost all of your teeth in one or both jaws, a full denture can restore an entire arch of teeth.
Localized Tooth Loss
If you have lost more than three teeth in a row, your dentist may recommend a partial denture rather than a bridge.
Multiple Areas of Tooth Loss
If you have lost teeth in different areas of your smile, a partial denture can fill these gaps using a single restoration.
Infected or Rotting Teeth
You may be a candidate for a denture if you have teeth that are too decayed, broken, or infected to repair. Replacing these teeth with dentures can prevent infection from spreading to other areas of your body.
Loose or Shifting Teeth
Often a symptom of gum disease, your dentist may recommend addressing loose or shifting teeth by removing and replacing them with a custom denture.
From Planning
TO PLACEMENT
Planning
Your dentist will assess the health of your teeth and gums and design a treatment plan.
Preparation
You will undergo any preparatory procedures, such as tooth extraction.
Implant Placement
If you are receiving implants, you will undergo placement surgery and then wait three to six months for the implants to integrate with the jawbone.
Impressions
Your dentist will take impressions to design your dentures.
Fabrication
The lab will fabricate your dentures.
A Restored Smile
Your dentist will provide you with the finished dentures and make any necessary final adjustments.
What happens next?
New Technology Makes
GETTING DENTURES EVEN EASIER
Many dentists now use advanced tools to take digital impressions of your smile. These systems eliminate the need for messy, uncomfortable impressions taken using putty and allow your dentist to customize your denture with greater precision. Some offices even have in-house milling systems which can fabricate your restoration on-site, making treatment more convenient.
What is involved in getting dentures?
It Can Take a Few Weeks
TO BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO DENTURES
Your new restoration may feel odd for a few weeks while your cheeks and tongue adapt. You may also experience increased saliva flow, which should diminish as you adjust. With a traditional denture, you may notice some minor irritation or soreness.
You should eat soft foods cut into small pieces so you can get used to the new dentures. Be cautious with hard or hot foods, which could damage your dentures. You may need to practice common functions, such as speaking, with your dentures for a few weeks until you become comfortable with your appliance.
Take a look at the difference a denture can make…
Dentures Can
FULLY RESTORE YOUR SMILE
Before — This patient had no teeth in the upper jaw.
After — Dentures restored both function and appearance.
Dentures Can Make
A BIG DIFFERENCE IN YOUR APPEARANCE
Replacing decayed, damaged, or missing teeth with dentures can create a dramatic change in your appearance. In addition, dentures can provide support for your facial tissues, which can give your features a healthier and more youthful look.
I’ve heard dentures need a lot of replacements…
Proper Care
HELPS DENTURES LAST LONGER
“Thorough daily cleaning and routine professional follow-up can prolong the life and comfort of dentures…” – Clare Van Sant, RDH, BS
I’ve heard dentures are expensive…
The Cost of Dentures
With several options to choose from in terms of materials and other features, you can select the type of denture that suits your budget, lifestyle, and personal goals. Premium materials such as zirconia and options such as dental implants will increase the cost of your dentures. Most insurance plans will cover at least a portion of the cost.
What can you expect to pay for dentures?
Budgeting for
FEEL LIKE YOURSELF
Insurance
Insurance will contribute to at least a portion of your dentures cost.
Financing
Third-party lenders can help to place premium options within your budget.
Credit Cards
Your existing credit lines may have better interest rates - it pays to compare.
Save Time and Money
Time
Durable dentures mean less time spent waiting on repairs.
Money
Implant dentures can save you money on adjustments.
Quality of Life
Dentures that look and feel right just make life better.
Explore Your
Options Today
Don’t let tooth loss ruin your smile. Dentures can replace missing teeth and last for five years or more with proper care. Schedule an exam today to find out how you can live better with dentures.
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