Dentures – Marshall, TX

Effects of Missing Teeth

While you can lose teeth for various reasons, this loss’ effects are pretty consistent. Namely, going without pearly whites will cause severe harm to your oral health.

The causes of missing teeth vary by patient. For some, the condition stems from hygiene-related conditions like tooth decay and gum disease. Others, meanwhile, lose a tooth or two due to injury – accidental or otherwise. Given this range, a dentist must personally assess you to see how your future denture should work.

Still, most with tooth loss suffer the same effects. For starters, such people face greater difficulty speaking, eating, and even smiling. They also tend to have crooked smiles, as tooth gaps tilt your other teeth. These physical changes then cause dips in confidence and self-esteem.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

As stated before, you’ll probably qualify for dentures if you have major tooth loss. Other relevant signs, though, include dental sensitivity, advanced decay, and good gum and bone tissues. Wearers must tend to oral hygiene and denture care, too.

The denture that suits you depends on the number of missing teeth. A partial one could be ideal if you only lack a few pearly whites. In contrast, those lacking all the teeth along an arch could qualify for full or complete dentures.

Besides your dental needs, though, another candidacy factor is your budget. Dentures could be your best bet if you’re looking for restorations with a low upfront price.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

Of course, there are alternatives for tooth replacement. Those who aren’t good candidates for dentures could benefit from other options. We at Marshall Denture Clinic, for instance, offer two such services. They are:

• Dental Bridges –  Bridges are restorations that only replace one or a few teeth. In particular, they’re made up of crowns fused to either side of a pontic. Because these prosthetics connect to surrounding teeth, they require that you have decent oral health. They’ll lack stability otherwise.
• Dental Implants – Unlike dentures or bridges, implants replace tooth crowns and roots. To that end, they permanently fuse with your jawbone. While these features make implants more expensive than other choices, they also ensure the new teeth stay secure.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

What Are Dentures Made Of?

Dentures are made up of two different components – the base and replacement teeth. Here is what each of these parts consists of:

• Base: The base of the denture is the structure that supports the replacement teeth. It can be made from a variety of different materials, including acrylic, nylon, and resin. Most of the time, acrylic is used because it can be easily tailored to match natural gum tissue. Partial dentures often use metal clips with an acrylic base.
• Teeth: The replacement teeth are secured to the denture base. Most of the time, they are made from resin or porcelain because they both have a natural appearance. Porcelain tends to be more popular because it looks and feels just like natural tooth enamel. It is also highly durable, so it is much less likely to become damaged.

The Denture Creation Process

Here is the step-by-step process for the creation of your dentures:

1. Your dentist will begin by taking measurements of your jaw and impressions of your mouth. This is used to create a model that is the exact size and shape of your mouth. The model is then used to ensure that your final dentures fit how they should.
2. The model is sent to the dental lab where your dentures will be crafted. They will begin by creating a wax replica of your gum line.
3. The replacement teeth will be set in place using a mechanical device called an “articulator.” Adjustments are then made by a lab technician.
4. Your wax dentures are sent to the dental office for a fitting. If everything looks good, they are sent back to the dental lab.
5. Once returned to the dental lab, the lab technician will place the dentures into a flask. Plaster is poured in to maintain their shape. The entire flask is placed in hot water to melt the wax. Holes are made in the teeth and acrylic is inserted into the flask to replace the wax.
6. The plaster is then carefully removed from the denture with special tools. The dentures are placed in an ultrasonic bath to clear the rest of the plaster off.
7. Any excess acrylic is cut from the dentures. Then, it is polished for a finished look.
8. Now that your dentures are complete, they will be sent to your dentist. Then, you will return to the office for a fitting. If everything looks and feels as it should, you can leave the office ready to show off your new and improved smile!

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

It’s not uncommon for patients to experience soreness when they first get their new dentures. However, this isn’t something that you need to worry about. It is perfectly normal and temporary. With a little bit of time, your mouth will adjust to your new prosthesis, and your dentures will begin to feel just like your natural teeth. Just remember to stick to softer foods and exercise your facial muscles. If discomfort persists or you have concerns about your replacement teeth, don’t hesitate to reach out so we can help you out!

Boost Your Confidence

Tooth loss can be tremendously damaging for a person’s appearance, making even the most casual social interactions sources of anxiety. With a denture from Dr. Parker, he can give you a smile you’re proud to show off again. Whether you’re missing just a few teeth or all of them, he can design a prosthetic that is custom-made to suit your face, leading to an attractive, natural look that will fill you with pride.

Say Goodbye to Oral Pain

This isn’t talked about a lot when it comes to tooth loss, but it can actually be  very  painful. Trying to chew can irritate exposed gum tissue, and the gums themselves are more likely to develop an infection and become sensitive. Gaps in the teeth can also throw off the alignment of the bite, leading to jaw pain and muscle tension that radiates throughout the entire head and neck. Dentures cannot only protect sensitive gum tissue, but rebalance the bite as well to instantly solve both of these problems, allowing a patient to avoid unnecessary discomfort on a daily basis.

Speak Your Mind Clearly

It can be extremely difficult to speak with missing teeth, as it can cause someone to slur certain words or trip up on the same syllables again and again. As a result, some people just stop talking altogether and socially withdraw. With a denture, a patient can regain the ability to speak clearly and interact with their friends and loved ones again, which can provide a big boost for mental health and overall wellness.

Enjoy Your Meals Once Again

Foods like grilled meats, fibrous vegetables, and hearty fruits can be almost impossible to eat after tooth loss, causing many people to consume a diet consisting of mostly soft, non-nutritious foods. This can often lead to malnutrition and even higher rates of obesity, lowering someone’s life expectancy. Thankfully, a rock-solid denture from Dr. Parker can help you eat whatever you like again, allowing you to enjoy a rich and varied diet that will improve your health from head to toe.

The Cost of Traditional Partial & Full Dentures

The price of a denture can vary quite a bit from patient to patient simply because they are always custom-made to fit with someone’s unique dentition. A traditional, removable partial or full denture for just one plate (top or bottom) is between $300 and $5,000. If you need both top and bottom dentures, this price range doubles. There are a number of factors that impact the costs of these prosthetics, including the materials used, manufacturer, included warranties, and more. Before we begin your treatment plan, we’ll review the total price and out of pocket costs of each option we provide and help you choose the best solution.

The Cost of Implant Dentures

The price of one dental implant supported partial or full denture plate will range between $3,500 and $30,000. Again, if you need both top and bottom implant dentures, this price range doubles. The pricing of implant dentures depends in large part on what comes with your implant denture, including the implant post material, denture material, number of implants, whether or not you receive a temporary prosthetic, warranty and maintenance plans, and more. We’ll help you find the best options to deliver a flawless, functional smile that will fit your budget.

Other Associated Costs to Keep In Mind

In addition to the costs of the partial or full dentures and/or dental implants themselves, you should keep in mind the following potential costs:

• Preparatory tooth extractions, tissue grafts, or oral health care
• Using dental sedation to ensure complete comfort
• Maintaining proper fit and function with regular repairs and relines

Dental Insurance & Financing Options

Luckily, the cost of partial and full denture prosthetics is usually covered between 30 and 50% by dental insurance plans. This significantly reduces the price of your treatment. Preparatory treatments like tooth extractions and tissue grafts often receive coverage too. Unfortunately, the dental implant posts and their surgical placement are not usually covered by insurance policies, so that makes implant dentures a little more expensive than their traditional counterparts. Whichever option you choose, our team also works with third party financiers to offer low and no interest financing options. This allows our patients to spread the cost of treatment across several months without accruing additional costs. We’re also happy to offer a FREE denture consultation so you can feel completely confident starting your journey towards a new smile.

Remove After Eating

Try to remove and rinse your removable dentures after every meal. Doing so will prevent the buildup of food bits, plaque, and other debris. The alternative would be a higher risk of gum disease and similar infections.

With this removal and rinse, you’ll want to avoid using hot water. The heat from the latter can quickly warp your denture’s material. Should that happen, your prosthetics won’t fit well and will thus lose effectiveness.

Clean Your Restoration

Just as you do with natural teeth, you need to clean your dentures daily. It’s just that the latter, unlike the former, should be removed when you do so.

In particular, brush the dentures with a soft-bristled toothbrush and some soap. Avoid using toothpaste, as the prosthetics can’t stand up to abrasive products. You could then place the dentures in a cleansing solution when the brushing is done. This solution shouldn’t be in your mouth, though, so always rinse the prosthetics before reapplying them.

Keep Your Dentures Safe

If you aren’t careful, your dentures could get damaged when out of your mouth. Therefore, you’ll want to keep them safe during the cleaning process.

Thankfully, it’s simple enough to accomplish that goal. You could, for example, place a towel beneath the dentures in case they fall. On the other hand, you could store them in a place outside the reach of kids and pets.

Remove When You Sleep

Ultimately, it’s best to take out your dentures at night. Wearing them when you sleep will cause various long-term problems.

You see, dentures restrict your gums’ circulation when worn. This restriction, in turn, can lead to soft-tissue irritation if the gum tissue isn’t given a break. Sleeping without dentures thus gives your mouth some much-needed time to recover.

Still, don’t leave your dentures just anywhere overnight. Keep them in a soaking solution while you sleep, as they could dry out if you don’t.

Notice Changes

Lastly, remember to note any denture changes – sores, gum irritation, infection symptoms, etc. If these shifts are severe enough, you can have them addressed by your dentist.

If the changes involve actual denture damage, don’t repair the restorations yourself. You could just harm them further. Instead, have your dentist assess and fix the issue. They could have your denture relined or replaced as needed.

How Long Will You Have to Wait to Get Dentures After Your Teeth are Pulled?

Traditionally, the wait time between extractions and denture placement is 6 – 8 weeks. However, every case is different. You might be eligible for immediate dentures, which are provided right after tooth extractions. They can add to the total cost of your treatment, and they will need some significant adjustments as time goes on, but many patients feel that not having to go a day without teeth makes immediate dentures worthwhile.

If you opt for implant dentures, you may be able to get your prosthetic the same day as your implant surgery, or a few months later. It depends on your circumstances and the specific type of treatment that you undergo.

What Is the Average Age for Dentures?

Tooth loss can affect anyone; even some young adults have dentures, perhaps because their genetics gave them weak natural teeth or due to other reasons. However, dentures are much more common among seniors. According to data collected by the American College of Prosthodontists, about 23 million people in the geriatric population are edentulous (missing all of their teeth). Separate data, collected via a census by the American Dental Association, found that nearly 57% of people ages 65 – 74 wear some form of denture.

Will It Hurt to Get Dentures?

If you need to have your remaining natural teeth extracted, you can expect to feel sore and experience some minor bleeding after your procedure. However, most patients are fairly well recovered within a few days to a week. When you first get your new dentures, you can expect it to take a while for you to adapt to them. Gum soreness is common. Most people are fairly well adjusted within a few months. Of course, if you experience any significant pain or discomfort because of your prosthetic, you should contact your denture dentist in Marshall right away.

Is It Hard to Talk with Dentures?

Clear speech is dependent on interactions between your tongue and teeth, so dentures should make it easier for you to communicate clearly. At first, though, you might find that you have a lisp or that certain sounds do not come out like you want them to. You can get through the learning process by taking every opportunity to practice. Reading out loud and making small talk with family members can help. If your dentures move while you speak, you might need to use some adhesive or to get your prosthetic adjusted.