Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
You’ll be happy to know that most people missing one, several, or all of their teeth are eligible for dentures. These custom-made prosthetic teeth can be designed to fit your smile perfectly! Of course, the only way to know for sure whether or not you’re a good candidate for dentures is by scheduling a consultation with our team at Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry of the Keys. Even if this method is not a viable option for you, we may be able to help by restoring the health of your jawbone structure and gum line.
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Effects of Missing Teeth
First, it’s important to understand why tooth loss occurs and what can happen if you fail to replace the gaps in your smile. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, some of the most common causes of missing teeth include gum disease, tooth decay, and physical injury.
No matter the cause of your missing teeth, you need to replace the gaps in your smile as soon as possible. Otherwise, your jawbone could begin to shrink due to a lack of stimulation of blood flow. This can cause the bone tissue to weaken, increasing the risk of further tooth loss. As such, you could experience complications like facial sagging, difficulty eating, trouble speaking, and lower self-confidence.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
If you suffer from extensive tooth loss, have sensitive teeth, or a lot of decay, you are likely eligible to receive dentures. The prosthetics have helped countless patients eat, speak, and smile with greater confidence for centuries. During your consultation, our team will make sure you have sufficient healthy gum tissue and jawbone to ensure this treatment will be successful.
Don’t worry – there are ways to get your oral health up to par if you don’t initially qualify for dentures. We may recommend certain preliminary treatments before getting dentures. Our team will assess your situation to determine which type of denture fits your case best (i.e., full, partial, or implant). As long as you’re in good general health, you should be good to move forward with the process!
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
Not a good candidate for dentures? That’s okay! You can explore alternative tooth-replacement solutions to restore your smile. Some of our most popular options include:
- Dental Bridges: If you are missing one or more consecutive teeth, you can replace the gaps with a dental bridge. For successful treatment, you’ll need to have nearby healthy teeth on either side of the gap to support the bridge.
- Dental Implants: Thanks to their unique placement in the jawbone, dental implants can provide unmatched stability and durability. All you need to have is a strong facial structure and sufficient bone density! With proper care, you can expect to enjoy your results for a lifetime.
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What Are Dentures?
A denture is a restorative treatment that is used to replace missing teeth in either the top or bottom jaw. Typically, they consist of a gum-colored acrylic base and enough ceramic or acrylic teeth to fully restore your smile. There are three main types of dentures, which are:
Full Dentures
Used to replace an entire arch of missing teeth, a full denture sits on top of the gums with natural suction. A bit of denture adhesive can be used for added security.
Partial Dentures
For patients with some natural teeth left, a partial can fill the gaps in your grin. These artificial teeth are held in place with metal clasps behind your remaining teeth.
Implant-Retained Dentures
Small titanium posts called dental implants can be surgically placed into your jawbone, providing sturdier and longer lasting support for a full or partial denture. Dental implants also prevent your jawbone from deteriorating and support your facial muscles.
The Process of Getting Dentures
For traditional dentures, the process is fairly quick. First, we take impressions of your top and bottom jaw to create a mold of your mouth. You’ll try on this mold a few times and we’ll adjust it to help it fit more accurately. The final mold is sent to a dental lab. When it arrives at our office, it should fit in your smile like a glove!
Implant-retained dentures take a little longer. Once the implants are placed in your jawbone, you’ll spend the next three to six months healing while the posts integrate with the bone. After that, we’ll take molds of your mouth and attach your new teeth to your implants.
The Benefits of Dentures
Whether you’re missing several teeth or all of them, it can be quite difficult to navigate daily life without a full set of functional pearly whites. Not only is your ability to eat and speak greatly diminished, but you probably won’t feel much pride or joy when looking at yourself in the bathroom mirror! Fortunately, dentures can assist patients who are missing a few, a majority, or even all of their teeth—and better yet, these restorations are also accompanied by many notable benefits! Here are some of the advantages you’ll gain access to when you rebuild your smile with dentures.
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Psychological Benefits
Your teeth are more than just tools; they’re a source of confidence! People without teeth tend to have difficulty accepting tooth loss; their self-esteem often takes a hit, navigating social situations becomes more difficult, and sadness and depression can often ensue. But patients who restore the appearance and functionality of their smile with dentures are likely to experience increased confidence and self-esteem; the anxiety associated with missing teeth will dissipate and you can resume social outings with confidence and relative ease!
Clearer Enunciation
It goes without saying that having missing teeth can make it more difficult to speak. Your lips and tongue rely on the position of your teeth to pronounce and perform certain words and sounds, so if you’re missing teeth, your dictation will correspondingly suffer. Since dentures act as your missing teeth, once you’ve made it through the initial adjustment period, speaking should come more naturally.
Improves Nutrition
There are various types of nutritious foods that are tough in texture; certain vegetables, fruits, and even healthy proteins can sometimes be difficult to thoroughly chew and swallow. When you can’t chew your food properly, you can experience issues like indigestion and malnutrition. But dentures radically improve your ability to chew, which allows for a more expansive diet that includes all sorts of healthy options. In this sense, dentures can optimize your overall health by assisting you with your diet!
Preserves Oral Health
If you still have some of your natural teeth, you should know that they’re at an even greater risk of falling out. Dental drift, or the undesirable shifting of teeth, becomes a real possibility if there are gaps in your smile. The remaining teeth will slowly shift toward the gaps and eventually fall out themselves—unless the tooth loss is addressed. Dentures can fill out those gaps and ensure that your remaining natural teeth stay in place; not to mention, since dentures also bear some of the weight of chewing, they also reduce the amount of wear and tear on existing teeth.
Expands Opportunities
Your smile is usually the first feature that people notice about you, so when it comes to making memorable first impressions, having a complete and dazzling set of pearly whites goes a long way. This can provide you with incredible benefits in the professional world; in fact, according to a 2019 study, the probability of being employed was negatively associated with poor oral health—so if you’ve got a big interview, meeting, or presentation coming up, dentures might be able to give you an edge!
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
Are you thinking about getting dentures in Big Pine Key? Before moving forward with the process, you likely want to know how much it’ll cost. Since every case is unique, it’s impossible to provide an accurate cost estimate until you come in for an exam. During your appointment, we’ll explain which factors influence the overall price and what you can expect to pay. Rest assured – our practice offers additional financing options to help make your treatment as affordable as possible!
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Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures
When calculating the cost of dentures in Big Pine Key, there are several factors to take into consideration. Some of those include:
- Preliminary dental work (i.e., tooth extractions, gum disease therapy, etc.)
- Number of missing teeth
- Type of acrylic used for the base
- Material your replacement teeth will be made of (usually acrylic or porcelain)
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
Yes, but there’s a very good reason for that! They require oral surgery and the placement of multiple dental implants. Because each titanium post is surgically inserted into the jawbone, they’re far more reliable for day-to-day use. You don’t have to worry about them slipping or sliding around in your mouth! Additionally, implants help stimulate the jawbone to provide you with increased biting strength and longevity. With proper care and maintenance, your new smile can easily last a lifetime.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
Most dental insurance plans cover up to 50% of the cost of dentures in Big Pine Key. Of course, every policy is unique, which means the exact percentage can vary from patient to patient. You should contact your insurance provider and confirm the details of your coverage before committing to anything. If needed, our team is more than happy to help with that process!
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
We understand that not everyone has dental insurance. Fortunately, we offer additional financing options to help make your treatment as affordable as possible, such as:
- CareCredit Financing: This option allows you to split up the total cost of your treatment into smaller monthly installments. Best of all, there’s often little-to-no interest attached to these payment plans.
- Special Offers: Currently, we have a special offer for new patients. If you’re coming to our office for the first time, you can get $100 off treatment that costs $500 or more! That means you can save up to 20% on dentures with this deal.
Dentures Aftercare
Getting dentures can transform the appearance and function of your smile! However, even if you have few or no remaining teeth, this doesn’t mean that you should stop going to the dentist. You should still attend regular checkups for a variety of different reasons. Your dentist will continue to monitor your existing teeth and gum tissue. They will also watch for any abnormalities that could indicate oral cancer. When you have dentures, it is very difficult to notice these changes in your mouth on your own. To make a full recovery, early detection is vital.
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Remove After Eating
After every meal, you should remove your dentures and rinse them. This helps to prevent the buildup of food debris and plaque. When rinsing, don’t use hot water. Heat can warp the denture material and cause them not to fit.
Clean Your Restoration
To clean your dentures, take them out first. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a small amount of unscented hand soap, mild dish soap, or denture cleanser to gently brush your dentures. Don’t use regular toothpaste. The materials that dentures are made from are unable to stand up to abrasive products. If you won’t be wearing the dentures again right away, place them in a container of water or denture-cleansing solution so they don’t dry out and lose their shape. Remember to always rinse your dentures thoroughly before putting them back in your mouth.
Keep Your Dentures Safe
When you clean your dentures, place a towel underneath them just in case they slip out of your hands. This will reduce the probability of your dentures becoming damaged. Keep your dentures out of reach of small children and pets.
Remove When You Sleep
Before going to bed, take out your dentures. 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 as well as higher levels of gum and tongue plaque. Keep your dentures in a denture-soaking solution overnight. Allowing them to dry out will cause them to permanently lose their shape.
Notice Changes
Keep an eye out for changes so you can address them with us. This includes mouth sores, gum irritation, or signs of infection. If your dentures become damaged, don’t try to repair them on your own. You could accidentally damage them further. Instead, give your dentist a call. If your dentures are shifting, clicking, or showing other signs of not fitting properly, let your dentist know. Your restoration may need to be relined or replaced.
Dentures FAQs
If you’ve experienced significant tooth loss, dentures in Big Pine Key are a convenient, effective option to regain a complete smile again. Although you’re excited to replace your missing teeth, it’s normal to have a few concerns before you’re ready to commit to dentures. We understand your apprehensions, which is why we’ll explain everything during your initial consultation. To help ease your worries until your visit, here are the answers to a few of the most common questions our patients ask us about dentures.
Will my dentures feel natural?
Dentures have a bad reputation for looking and feeling fake; however, they’ve undergone several improvements over the years to enhance their fit and function. Although they will never quite feel like your real teeth, you’ll be used to wearing them in no time at all. You can chew, speak, and smile confidently because they will be comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. If you’re interested in a more realistic replica of your natural teeth, ask us how we can stabilize your denture using dental implants.
Should I wear my dentures at night?
No one wants to be caught without their teeth, but your dentist in Big Pine Key recommends removing your dentures at night. Your gums need time to rest after supporting them all day. It also gives you the opportunity to soak your replacement teeth overnight to preserve their longevity and remove odor-causing bacteria.
Will I still be able to eat my favorite foods?
You’ll be able to eat many of your favorite foods, but we recommend avoiding those that are overly hard or sticky. If you’ll be eating food that requires a lot of chewing, like meat, it’s best to cut it into smaller pieces to make it easier to chew. If you want a stronger biting force, you might be a candidate for implant dentures. You’ll never need to worry about any slipping or irritation to enjoy a wider variety of foods.
How much do dentures cost?
There isn’t a set fee for dentures because the cost is based on your individual treatment plan, like the number of teeth you are replacing and the materials used. We’ll provide you with a custom estimate during your consultation and discuss the fees associated with your plan. Our office accepts several payment options to keep your new smile within your budget, like third-party financing. We will help you find the solutions you need to rebuild your smile without draining your wallet.
Can I use my dental insurance to pay for dentures?
Every dental insurance policy is unique, but many plans offer some coverage for dentures. By paying your monthly premiums and after reaching your yearly deductible, you can use your annual allowance to offset the amount you need to pay out-of-pocket. A member of our team will file the necessary claim forms to maximize your dental benefits, so you have one less thing to worry about. We’ll take the time to explain how your coverage is being used and if there’s a remaining balance.
