Life without teeth can be difficult. This is especially true if there are multiple gaps throughout your mouth or if an entire arch is gone. Fortunately, an entire grin can be restored with one simple prosthetic. Dr. Song offers both partial dentures and full dentures that patients in Flower Mound can use to eat all their favorite foods again and greet people with a smile during important events. Give Bridlewood Dental of Flower Mound a call today to learn more about the process of getting a full set of dazzling new teeth!
A denture is a special kind of prosthetic meant to replace multiple teeth. The gum-colored base is typically made from acrylic while the teeth themselves will be composed of resin or porcelain; these latter materials can be shaded to very closely match natural tooth enamel. Traditional dentures can be removed, although in some cases they might be permanently fixed in place by dental implants. If you do have a removable denture, it’s recommended that you take it out before bed so that you can give your gums a chance to recover from the stress that was put on them throughout the day.
Most people have likely heard of full dentures, which can replace a full arch of teeth. However, you could also get partial dentures if only a few teeth are missing. Furthermore, depending on how healthy your jaw is, you could give your new teeth additional stability with implants.
When you still have plenty of healthy teeth in your mouth, full dentures aren’t typically appropriate. Partial dentures, on the other hand, are much more versatile. Depending on their design, they can be used to replace a single tooth, or they might fill in multiple gaps in a single row. The base will include a special framework that attaches to your natural teeth via clasps or similar devices; this is how they’ll stay in place whenever you laugh or bite down on something.
By themselves, partial dentures can’t stop the jawbone from breaking down, which means your mouth might change shape over time. As a result, your partial dentures will eventually need to be adjusted so that they continue to fit perfectly inside your mouth. After several years of use. you may eventually need a new prosthetic entirely. Fortunately, the fitting process is straightforward and painless, and the end results are beautiful.
Of course, full dentures remain a reliable option for replacing an entire arch. You don’t have to wait until every single tooth has fallen out on its own; instead, your dentist might recommend having extractions performed as needed.
The base of full dentures will have a different shape depending on whether it’s meant for the upper jaw or the lower jaw. Dentures for the upper jaw will cover the roof of your mouth, but a prosthetic for lower jaw is instead horseshoe shaped so that it doesn’t get in the way of the tongue. In either case, unlike partial dentures, full dentures don’t rely on any kind of attachment to stay in place; they are instead held against the gums by natural suction. However, while you’re getting used to biting and chewing with full dentures, it might help to give them some extra stability by applying a special adhesive.
Partial dentures and full dentures can both rest on dental implants that have been surgically inserted into your jaw. Implants are unique as they interface with the jawbone itself, providing it with stimulation that normally would need to be provided by natural teeth. Said stimulation signals to the rest of the body that jaw is still in use, preventing resorption of the bone. In other words, implants don’t just act as roots for a dental prosthetic; they also help you maintain a stronger, healthier jaw over the long term as well.
Unfortunately, implants aren’t an option for every patient. You need to have a certain level of bone density in your jaw, and you can’t be suffering from gum disease or another oral health issue that could lead to implant failure. Fortunately, these issues can all be addressed with appropriate preparatory procedures such as bone grafting or a periodontal treatment.
If you’re missing any teeth, you know the situation is a hard one. Tooth loss makes everyday tasks like eating, speaking, and smiling difficult. Still, you can trust dentures as a life-changing tooth replacement option. They could (and would) restore your full grin and boost your quality of life. If you’d like the details, we at Bridlewood Dental will happily tell you more. Read on then, to learn some of the major benefits of dentures.
As you might know, being without teeth is often hard to accept. The resulting smile changes can make you self-conscious and insecure. From there, you might struggle to socialize and have feelings of sadness. Some patients even develop major depression.
Thankfully, dentures can help you avoid these outcomes. The prosthetics restore your smile and thus raise your confidence levels. With this change in attitude, you’d feel calmer in social settings and more at ease with your looks, speech, chewing ability, etc.
Sadly, speaking well is tricky when you lack a full smile. Your tongue needs a full set of teeth to form words properly. Consequently, missing even a few pearly whites can result in speech problems.
That said, dentures would let you enunciate clearly again. Since they act as substitute teeth, your tongue can use them to form words. You would, however, need time to adjust first. It takes practice to speak with dentures naturally.
Of course, missing teeth also make meals challenging. A mouth needs all its chompers to chew tough foods. That being the case, tooth loss usually results in a restricted diet. Those who suffer from it will only eat softer foods, a habit that can trigger malnutrition or indigestion.
Fortunately, dentures can remedy this situation as well. Their artificial teeth are fairly durable, so they chew food almost as well as natural ones. This trait means they’ll widen your dietary choices, improving your nutritional health.
When you’re missing teeth, it isn’t just your mouth’s appearance that suffers; its health declines as well.
Fundamentally, the gaps left by tooth loss are harmful. They normally serve as breeding grounds for nasty oral bacteria, raising your risk of gum disease and similar problems. Left untreated, they also tilt surrounding teeth until the latter fall out.
Naturally, dentures would prevent such issues by “filling in” the smile gaps. In doing so, they’d keep bad bacteria from multiplying too much. Better yet, closing the spaces would keep your other teeth from tilting or falling.
If you socialize at all, you know that a nice smile is vital to good first impressions. A full grin of gleaming teeth can make a conversation much smoother and more enjoyable. So, it’s only natural that beautiful teeth expand your social and career opportunities. When others feel better around you, they’re likelier to treat you well.
As it happens, dentures can provide you with pretty pearly whites. They’d then enhance your connections with friends, family, co-workers, and more. Should you be especially lucky, the restorations might help you get a promotion or a raise at work!
Do you want to make sure that you get the most out of your dentures? Don’t forget to follow these special maintenance tips:
Your financial situation should never stand in the way of replacing your missing teeth. Many things affect the cost of dentures, but Bridlewood Dental of Flower Mound strives to keep a complete, beautiful smile within everyone's budget. You'll benefit from a high-quality prosthetic that looks great and fits comfortably without spending your life's savings.
There's no one-size-fits-all denture because every mouth is as unique as fingerprints. Therefore, there's no flat fee for a new set of teeth. Instead, many factors affect the amount you'll pay. Although every treatment plan differs, you can expect your estimate to include:
Implant dentures cost more upfront than traditional prosthetics, but they are the most affordable overall. Dental implants have over a 95% success rate and are proven to last for 30 years or more with the correct care, like brushing and flossing. You’ll never have to budget for replacements, unlike a fixed bridge that needs to be replaced every 5-15 years. Implant dentures also stop bone loss caused by missing teeth, which a regular bridge can’t offer. A dental implant recreates the entire tooth structure, including the root. This will preserve your facial structure and improve your oral health to avoid costly treatments down the road.
You can use your dental insurance to cover specific steps of your treatment, like your consultation or any prep work. Your benefits may also cover 50% of the cost of dentures after meeting your annual deductible. We will work on your behalf with your dental insurance to maximize your coverage to lower the amount you will pay out-of-pocket.
Besides using your dental insurance, our office offers many financial solutions to keep dentures affordable, like:
If you have any questions about the cost of dentures or your payment options, contact our office today.
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