Dentures – Carrollton, TX

Effects of Missing Teeth

Teeth are very strong. In fact, the enamel is the strongest substance in the entire body. However, it isn’t completely vulnerable to damage. The most common causes behind tooth loss include tooth decay, gum disease, and trauma to the mouth. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, there are a multitude of negative effects of tooth loss. They include facial sagging difficulty speaking, difficulty eating, and lower self-confidence. When you replace your missing teeth with dentures, you can improve all of these things, therefore improving your quality of life.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

Dentures are ideal for people who have experienced significant tooth loss. People who get dentures must also be committed to their oral hygiene routine and willing to properly care for their new replacement teeth. The number of teeth that you are missing and where they are located in the mouth will determine which type of denture is ideal for you. One of the great things about dentures is that they are more affordable than other options, like dental implants. This makes them great for people who aren’t able to invest a lot of money into their smile at this time.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

If you aren’t a good candidate for dentures, or they don’t sound like something that you are interested in, you may want to consider other tooth replacement options that we offer. Here’s how they work:

• Dental Bridges: A dental bridge works by “bridging” the gap with a replacement tooth using dental crowns on the adjacent teeth. This is good for patients who are only missing one or a few teeth. This method requires healthy teeth surrounding the missing one to support it.
• Dental Implants: A dental implant is a screw-like post that is surgically inserted into the jawbone to support a replacement tooth. This requires that the patient has a strong and sufficient jawbone structure. This option is more costly than dentures, but it is intended to last for a lifetime.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures fill the gaps created by a few missing teeth. Conventional partial dentures use metal clasps to grip the backs of your remaining natural teeth, seamlessly fitting into your smile like a lost puzzle piece.

Full Dentures

Also known as complete dentures, full dentures replace an entire arch of missing teeth. The part of a full denture that replaces the upper teeth has a flesh-colored acrylic base, which covers the gums and the roof of the mouth for a firm fit. The base for full dentures that fit over the lower jaw is shaped like a horseshoe in order to avoid covering the tongue.

Dental Implant-Supported Dentures

Implant dentures are attached to dental implants that are surgically placed into the jawbone. The titanium posts are placed over the course of a few visits to our practice. Implants provide a stable fit for your dentures to prevent them from slipping out of place. People with healthy gums and enough jawbone density are good candidates for implant dentures. Bone grafting may be needed for those who do not have enough bone density to safely support implants.

Implant dentures can be ball-retained or bar-retained. With bar-retained dentures, two to five implants in the jawbone are attached to a thin metal bar, and clips or other attachments are used to affix the dentures to the bar. Ball-retained dentures contain sockets which fit into ball-shaped connectors on the implants.

What are Dentures Made Of?

What kind of materials will be used to create your denture? To answer this question, it’s important to realize that the prosthesis will include a base and a number of artificial teeth. Here’s a look at what each component will be made out of:

• Denture Base: There are actually a variety of materials that can potentially be used to create a denture base, but acrylic is the most common option. Acrylic is known for its ability to closely mimic the way your natural gum tissue looks. A partial denture will often have an acrylic base that also includes metal clips for keeping the prosthesis attached to your remaining teeth.
• Artificial Teeth: The goal is to make the teeth of the denture look as natural as possible. To that end, porcelain is often used due to how it can mimic the color and light-reflecting properties of natural enamel. Porcelain is also an excellent choice because it is strong enough to withstand the forces of biting and chewing.

The Denture Creation Process

The first step of creating your denture takes place at our office. We’ll take detailed impressions of your gums before creating a model of your mouth. Said model will be sent to a laboratory where the denture will be made.

Using the model for reference, the technicians at the lap will create a wax version of your gums. The next step is to place artificial teeth in precisely the right spots with the help of an articulator. Once any necessary adjustments have been made, the wax denture will be sent to us.

We’ll have you come in for another appointment so that we can confirm that the wax denture fits properly. Assuming there are no problems, we will then return them to the lab. The next step is to get rid of the wax; this is done by putting the denture in a special flask that will be exposed to hot water. Plaster will be used to help the denture keep its shape even after the wax is gone.

Acrylic will be injected into the flask, taking the place of the wax in order to act as the new base for your denture. The plaster will be removed, and the completed denture will be carefully polished. The final prosthesis will be sent to our office, and we’ll schedule one last appointment so that you can receive your denture.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

New dentures may feel slightly uncomfortable to wear in the beginning, but rest assured that it will only be a matter of time before your mouth gets used to them. Be sure to follow any tips we give you for a smoother adjustment, such as only eating soft foods.

Psychological Benefits

Self-confidence and self-esteem can be fragile, especially if you don’t have a full set of teeth. You may not show your smile as often, which can negatively affect your mood and mental health. Studies show that the act of smiling signals the production of “happy hormones” in the brain, meaning that hiding your teeth or lack of teeth may deprive you of positive feelings. Dentures can give you the confidence to smile freely without hesitation, in turn helping you have more joy in life.

Clearer Enunciation

Regardless of what language(s) you speak, your teeth are needed to make pronounce certain sounds and words clearly. When they’re properly fitted, dentures should be quite comfortable in your mouth. They should be secure enough to not slip around when you’re talking; as a result, you can speak and laugh without the fear of your teeth moving. At first, it’ll take some adjustment, but given a little time and practice, you can be understood and talk comfortably.

Improves Nutrition

In addition to shifting while you talk, ill-fitting dentures can also make it difficult to bite or chew food. Those who don’t have properly fitting dentures often have to eat softer, more processed foods, which can impact their overall health, energy, and quality of life. On the other hand, when you have new, custom dentures, your chewing power will be restored, allowing you to enjoy a varied diet of healthy, crunchy foods like fresh produce.

Preserves Oral Health

Like other parts of your body, your face and jaw consist of muscles that require use to stay strong. Without functioning teeth, you won’t be able to eat tougher foods, which means the muscles in this area can start to wither and atrophy. As a result, your bite weakens even more. Well-fitted dentures can help you continue using these muscles and strengthen them as much as possible.

If you have a partial denture, this restoration also keeps your remaining teeth where they belong. Without a denture present, these teeth can shift out of alignment to compensate for the holes in your smile, which can lead to further tooth loss, inefficient eating, and an unappealing appearance.

Expands Opportunities

Whether you’re reentering the dating scene, are looking to make some new friends, or want to impress your boss for a chance to get your dream job, a confident, friendly smile can open doors that might otherwise be closed to you because of tooth loss. Giving yourself a full set of teeth may seem like a small change, but it can have a truly life-changing effect in many ways.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures

Multiple considerations can influence the price of dentures in Carrollton including:

• The type of dentures: full, partial, or implant
• The materials your denture will be made of (usually porcelain or acrylic)
• Any work needed beforehand like tooth extractions or periodontal therapy
• Whether you’re receiving dental implants

If cost is the top priority, you may be tempted to opt for cheaper dentures. Even though the upfront expense is certainly lower, they tend to break easily and require replacement much sooner than you’d expect. That’s why quality should always be of utmost importance, regardless of the cost.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Yes, implant dentures are generally more expensive than traditional ones. However, there’s a good explanation for that. They require oral surgery and the placement of multiple dental implants, making them more reliable for everyday use since they do not shift out of place.

Many patients discover this method of tooth replacement is well worth the investment because of several tremendous benefits. Not only do implants stimulate the jawbone, but they can last decades or even a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. That means you won’t have to worry about replacing your dentures nearly as often!

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Dentures are considered a major procedure which is why most dental insurance plans will cover approximately 50 percent of their cost. Certainly, every policy is unique, meaning the amount of coverage provided will vary from patient to patient. If you have any questions about your plan, contact your insurance provider or ask our dental team for assistance. We will gladly review the details of your policy and do everything possible to maximize your benefits and reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

Another Option for Making Dentures Affordable

We understand not everyone has dental insurance which is why we offer a financing option to make your dental bills much easier to manage:

• CareCredit Financing – With CareCredit, you can split up the total cost of your treatment into smaller, budget-friendly monthly installments. Some options even come with little-to-no interest.

Ready to begin down the path to a beautiful, complete smile? Contact us today to schedule a consultation so your denture dentist in Carrollton can answer any questions you might have.

Removable Dentures

Remove After Eating

After each meal or snack, you should take out and rinse your dentures thoroughly. This will help remove any food debris and help protect you from common oral health concerns, like gum disease. It’s important to use room temperature or cool water because hot water can warp your dentures, causing them to fit improperly.

Clean Daily

At least once a day, in addition to rinsing after each meal and snack, you should clean your dentures more thoroughly. This will remove plaque build-up, minimize the accumulation of harmful oral bacteria, and keep your dentures looking new. You can opt for special denture-cleaning products or a soft-bristled toothbrush and clear hand soap. Be sure to avoid abrasive products though, like regular toothpaste and hard-bristled toothbrushes, because these can scratch your prosthetic. Remember to avoid using hot water to clean them, being careful not to let them slip off of the countertop after you’re finished.

Store Safely

Whenever your dentures aren’t in your mouth, it’s important to store them in a safe place where children and pets can’t get to them. You can do this by placing your partials in their hard storage case, or if you have dentures, keeping them on a tall shelf or dresser where they’re inaccessible. This will drastically reduce the chances that they get damaged.

Remove When Sleeping

Each night before you sleep, you’ll need to remove your dentures to give your gums a rest. You can place them in a room temperature glass of water to help them hold their shape, or a special denture-soaking solution. You should never wear your dentures overnight, because this can lead to an increased risk of infection as well as foul-smelling prosthetics.

Notice Changes

As you wear your dentures, you may notice that with time they begin to feel different in your mouth. This is because your jawbone and facial structure will be changing. Take note of these changes, like if they begin to fit poorly, and make sure to bring them into your dentist to receive routine professional cleanings and ensure they’re functioning properly.

All-on-4 Dentures

All-on-4 dentures are anchored within the mouth using small titanium posts, called dental implants. These will allow your new replacement teeth to look and feel completely natural. Here are the unique care tips we recommend following if you have All-on-4 dentures:

• Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste, just like you would your natural teeth.
• Floss at least once a day using a water flosser, thread, or flossing picks to remove any food debris.
• Use a sulcus brush to clean the area between your restoration and gums.
• Rinse your mouth with non-alcoholic mouthwash once a day.