Dentures—Temple, TX

Effects of Missing Teeth

According to the American College of Prosthodontists, there are several reasons why you may have missing teeth. Some common causes include tooth decay, gum disease, and oral trauma. In addition, certain systemic conditions (usually inherited disorders) can result in tooth loss.

If you fail to replace the gaps in your smile, it could lead to many negative consequences. For instance, some complications include facial sagging, difficulty speaking, trouble eating, and lower self-esteem. Your natural teeth can also shift to fill an empty space, or your jawbone could start to deteriorate.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

The truth is, almost any patient with missing teeth is a good candidate for dentures in Temple. For decades now, this solution has helped countless people enjoy a complete and fully functioning smile once again. It’s a great option for patients with several missing teeth, sensitive teeth, or a lot of decay.

It’s worth noting that you must have adequate bone density to ensure successful results. Not only that, but the number of teeth you’re missing can also determine which type of denture is right for you. Depending on your needs, you may benefit from full dentures, partial dentures, or implant dentures.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

Not a good candidate for dentures? Don’t worry – there are other options you can explore! Some of those include:

• Dental Bridges: If you’re only missing one to three consecutive teeth, you may want to consider getting a dental bridge. It only requires healthy teeth adjacent to the gap in your smile. With proper care, you can expect your restoration to last around 10 to 15 years!
• Dental Implants: Considered the gold standard of tooth replacement, this option allows us to replace the root hidden beneath the gumline in addition to the crown that’s normally visible. Unlike other solutions, implants can easily last a lifetime with minimal maintenance.

Learn More About Dental Bridges Learn More About Dental Implants

What Are Dentures Made Of?

Dentures are composed of two main parts:

• Denture base: This is the gum-colored base that supports a set of artificial teeth. Usually, it is made out of acrylic, although in some cases, nylon might be used instead. With partial dentures, the base may include acrylic or metal attachments that will help the prosthetic stay in place.
• Artificial teeth: Denture teeth are usually made of acrylic or porcelain. Porcelain is the preferred choice for full-mouth replacement, whereas acrylic may be better in cases where a patient still has some natural teeth. That is because acrylic is a bit softer and is less likely to damage natural tooth enamel.

The Denture Creation Process

The denture creation process can vary from case to case. Here is an overview of how it usually goes:

• Our team will take detailed impressions of your teeth and measure your jaw. We can create a plaster model of your dental arches that will serve as the basis for designing your final denture.
• A dental lab will use the plaster model to create a wax version of your gumline. Then, a machine known as an articulator will place artificial teeth within the wax.
• The lab will send us the wax model so we can check how it fits in your mouth. We will make notes about any necessary adjustments so the lab can finish creating your denture.
• When your denture is ready, you will return to our office for another fitting. After any final adjustments are made, you can start enjoying your new teeth!

The denture creation process can take several weeks, so it is important to be patient as you wait for your new smile.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

Your dentures might feel strange or uncomfortable in your mouth at first. You may notice some soreness, as well as minor challenges when eating and speaking. Continue to use your dentures and strive to incorporate them into your daily routine. You may need to stick with soft foods for a while or experiment with adhesive to keep your prosthetic in place. Most patients are fully adjusted within a few weeks or a few months. If you run into any serious concerns with your dentures, contact us right away. We are always ready to help!

 

Psychological Benefits

Truthfully, losing your teeth affects your mood. That’s only natural – most people are used to having a full grin. When teeth go missing, you can easily start feeling anxious and insecure. From there, you may get sad and struggle to socialize. Some patients even develop clinical depression.

Luckily, dentures would prevent this low mood. In restoring your whole smile, they’d help you feel confident and self-assured. You’d then be at ease about your looks, speech, chewing ability, and so on.

Clearer Enunciation

As it happens, speaking is tricky without teeth. Your tongue needs pearly whites to position itself and form words. So, going without a few can result in speech problems. (For example, you could develop a lisp.)

Still, you can trust dentures to fix this issue. They’re designed to be substitute teeth, allowing your tongue to enunciate clearly. That said, you’d need to adjust to them first. Speaking naturally with dentures takes time and practice.

Improves Nutrition

If you start losing teeth, you can expect to have difficult meals. Having a full smile ensures you can chew correctly. Therefore, tooth loss may make you forego tough foods and restrict your diet. Should you take such actions, you’ll likely endure malnutrition or indigestion.

Of course, dentures can help you avoid this outcome. Their artificial teeth are durable and chew food fairly well. Consequently, they’d expand your food choices and strengthen your nutritional health.

Preserves Oral Health

Yes, missing teeth will ruin your good looks. More importantly, though, they’ll damage your oral health.

When you lose your teeth, the resulting “smile gaps” harm your mouth. Spaces between teeth are breeding grounds for harmful bacteria. As such, they’ll raise your risk of gum disease and similar problems. Worse yet, leaving them untended will cause your remaining teeth to tilt and fall out.

Thankfully, dentures can come to the rescue. By filling your smile gaps, they’ll deprive bacteria of a place to multiply. They’ll also prevent your other teeth from tilting or falling out.

Expands Opportunities

Remember: a good smile is crucial to good first impressions. After all, pretty teeth help your peers feel calm and enjoy conversation. It follows, then, that a beautiful grin will lead to better life opportunities. When you can show friends and family flawless chompers, they’ll share more social and work-related perks.

Dentures can provide you with such teeth. In doing so, they’d let you bond more with friends, family, and co-workers. The restorations could even prompt a promotion or a raise at work!

Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures

During the consultation, our team will assess if dentures might work for you. That process also reviews the factors relevant to your treatment’s price. In particular, these elements are:

• Your Need for Prep Work – If you need other procedures before denture placement, your overall treatment expense will rise. For example, getting a tooth pulled before receiving your restoration will add to the costs.
• Denture Base Material – A denture’s base is usually acrylic, but this material can come in different types. Treatment prices can increase or decrease depending on which is used for the denture.
• Quality of Replacement Teeth – Dentures’ artificial teeth are made of acrylic or porcelain. The former type is cheaper but wears quickly, while the latter variety costs more but is longer-lasting.

As our dentists explain these factors, remember: don’t just opt for the cheapest dentures. The lowest-cost models rely on subpar acrylic for their bases and teeth. Instead, ensure your new teeth work well by prioritizing quality in your selection.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

It’s true – implant dentures are more expensive compared to traditional ones. Even so, you should note that the higher price is justified. Implant dentures, you see, have many unique perks.

For starters, these dentures use dental implants – restorations that fuse with your jaw. As such, they’re highly stable and permanent. The prosthetics also look and act like natural teeth.

Furthermore, implant dentures save you money in the long run. Their implants can last 15-30 years, so they don’t need any repair or replacement visits. As a result, you don’t need to pay for many pricy follow-up treatments.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

In many cases, dental insurance will cover dentures. Most policies view these prosthetics as a major procedure, so they’ll match 50% of the treatment’s cost.

However, this rule doesn’t always apply. Insurance plans sometimes limit their coverage of dentures. Therefore, confirm your plan’s benefits before seeking treatment. If you’d like, our office can even assist you.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

Of course, dental insurance isn’t the only way to make dentures affordable; other options also exist. You just need to find the right dental practice with choices that suit your needs.

Look at our own Temple Choice Dental, for instance. We provide flexible financing via CareCredit. Through them, patients can pay for dental care with monthly low-interest installments. You’d then be able to cover denture costs gradually instead of all at once.

To learn more about our budget-friendly denture services, book a visit to our office. Our team will happily explain things during the consultation process!

Remove After Eating

After each meal, you should remove and rinse your dentures to wash away food debris. This will help to prevent buildups of food debris and plaque. When rinsing, don’t use hot water. The heat can warp the denture material and cause it not to fit properly.

Clean Your Restoration

Take your dentures out when it’s time to clean them. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a small amount of unscented hand soap, mild dish soap, or denture cleanser to gently brush your dentures. You shouldn’t use regular toothpaste because it is too abrasive for dentures. If you aren’t going to be wearing your dentures again immediately, place them in a container of water or denture-cleansing solution so they don’t dry out and lose their shape. Remember to always thoroughly rinse your dentures before putting them back into your mouth.

Keep Your Dentures Safe

When you clean your dentures, place a towel beneath you. This way, if you accidentally drop them, this will reduce the probability of your dentures becoming damaged. Keep your dentures in a place that is out of read of small children and pets.

Remove When You Sleep

It is best to take your dentures out at night when you go to bed. Wearing dentures restricts the circulation in your gums, leading to soft-tissue irritation. Sleeping with dentures has also been associated with a higher risk of pneumonia and higher levels of gum and tongue plaque. Remember to keep your dentures in a denture-soaking solution overnight. If you allow your dentures to dry out, they can permanently lose their shape.

Notice Changes

You should keep an eye out for changes so you can address them with us. This includes mouth sores, gum irritation, and signs of infections. If your dentures become damaged, you shouldn’t attempt to repair them on your own. You could accidentally damage them further. Instead, give us a call so we can help.

Can I sleep with my dentures?

Your denture dentist in Temple will instruct you to wear your new dentures for 24 hours, but then you’ll need to remove them nightly. No one wants to be caught without their teeth, but your oral health and the lifespan of your prosthetic rely on taking them out. Dentures will restrict blood circulation to your gums. If you don’t give the tissue time to get the nutrients they need, sores, infections, and irritation can occur. Not to mention, your mouth is dark and moist, which is ideal for bacterial growth. Harmful pathogens can accumulate on your denture that can affect your general health and your new teeth. Removing your denture before heading to bed will keep your mouth and body healthy and ensure you get the most from your investment. After brushing, soak your denture in a nightly solution to kill any bacteria. It will also keep your denture moist while you sleep to prevent warping.

Does an upper denture always cover the palate?

It’s not unusual to have concerns about an upper denture affecting the way food tastes, especially if it covers the upper palate. Thankfully, dentures come in many styles, including palateless options for the upper arch. It will have a horseshoe shape or look like one used for the bottom teeth, so it won’t cover your palate. Your dentist will explain all your options to find the perfect denture for your needs and preferences.

Can I eat steak with dentures?

It is entirely possible to eat steak with dentures, but your dentist will advise against it. Chewy meats put more wear and tear on your dentures, shortening their lifespan. Not to mention, prolonged chewing can lead to sores and inflammation of the gums, and jaw pain. If you can’t resist a juicy steak, cut it into small pieces to make it easier to chew. Take your time and chew slowly to prevent dislodging your denture. Consider a denture adhesive if you’re concerned about any slipping or irritation. It will provide added stability, so your teeth won't fall out at the dinner table.

Do dentures feel natural?

Dentures will never quite feel like your real teeth because they only replicate their surfaces; however, the difference will be minimal. It will take a few days to get used to wearing them, but they will closely feel natural in no time at all. Your dentist will design your denture to fit your mouth like a glove using advanced technology. Whether you’re smiling for a picture, chatting with a friend, or eating a meal, your denture will fit comfortably.