Dentures – Derby, KS
The Tried-and-True Way to Replace Missing Teeth
Missing permanent teeth can detract from your daily quality of life because it negatively affects your ability to eat, speak, and smile confidently. Once-simple tasks like chewing food and enunciating specific sounds become more challenging. Furthermore, gaps in your grin can leave you feeling self-conscious about the changes to your appearance.
Fortunately, Dr. Clark can help by providing lifelike dentures, the tried-and-true way to replace missing teeth. Whether your condition requires a partial or complete set, she can restore your mouth’s functionality and appearance with fully customized prosthetics made just for you. Continue reading to learn more about dentures, and feel free to contact us for additional information.
Why Choose Illuminate Family Dentistry for Dentures?
- Member of the American Dental Association
- Customizable, Lifelike Prosthetics
- Advanced Technology for Enhanced Patient Comfort
Who is a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Patients who have lost several teeth or an entire arch may struggle with day-to-day activities until the spaces are filled in. After all, without a full set, it’s hard to eat a wide variety of healthy foods or enjoy conversations without feeling self-conscious about changes to your speech patterns.
Potentially, anyone who has lost adult teeth can benefit from dentures. However, that doesn’t mean they’re the best solution for every circumstance. You must meet with Dr. Clark to ensure your mouth is healthy enough to support a partial or complete restoration.
Types of Dentures
At your initial appointment, Dr. Clark will examine your mouth and recommend an appropriate solution to refurbish your grin. If we find signs of oral issues like tooth decay or gum disease, we’ll work with you to address them before fitting you with prosthetics. Then, based on your unique situation, we might suggest one of the following options:
Partial Dentures
If you’ve lost several teeth sporadically throughout your mouth, your oral health could be in danger. Your remaining teeth are prone to shifting out of alignment to fill in empty spaces left behind, which can prematurely wear down your enamel. This leaves you vulnerable to cavities, chips, cracks, or other injuries.
Partial dentures contain the correct number of pontics (artificial teeth) connected to an acrylic base with metal clips. These connect to healthy teeth to anchor your prosthetics in your mouth.
Full Dentures
Full dentures are a simple and effective way to restore one or both arches in your mouth. They consist of any acrylic, gum-colored base that relies on a firm suction against your gum tissue to remain in place. They are fitted with the necessary number of pontics, usually made of resilient ceramic, and are molded and carved to look just like your natural teeth and connective tissues.
Implant Dentures
If you’re looking for a more permanent solution that doesn’t require removing or reinserting your restoration, you might benefit from implant dentures. For this method, you’ll have four to eight titanium rods surgically placed in your jawbone to keep it active and healthy. Then, our team will provide specially designed prosthetics to connect to them that aren’t intended to be taken out.
The Benefits of Dentures
There are several advantages to getting dentures in Derby, KS, including:
- Natural-looking materials. The gum-colored acrylic base of your dentures can be shaped to look just like your gums, and the pontics can be designed to match the size, shade, and shape of the teeth you were born with.
- Fully customized solution. Your dentures are individualized at every stage of creation to fit your mouth like a glove.
- Improved nutrition. With them in place, you can enjoy various foods to support your dental and overall well-being.
- Cost-effective method. These prosthetics are often less expensive than alternatives like dental bridges or implants.
- Easy to clean. Remove your dentures twice daily to gently scrub them with a soft-bristled brush and mild dish soap to remove plaque and bacteria.
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
What can you expect to pay for new dentures? This is a question that our team can only answer for you after completing an examination of your mouth and learning more about your situation. The cost of dentures can vary for each patient, but you can count on our team to give you a trustworthy estimate before you have to commit to anything. Read on for a closer look at the financial aspect of getting dentures.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures
The number of teeth that need to be replaced will determine whether you get a partial denture or a full denture, which will naturally influence the amount you pay. On top of that, you may have to make room in your budget for tooth extractions and any other type of dental work that is deemed necessary.
The materials used to create your dentures can make a difference as well. Dentures made from cheaper materials may come at a lower cost, but they can also be more prone to breaking, meaning you’ll have to pay for a replacement sooner. In contrast, if you invest in a denture made from higher-quality materials, you will likely have to pay more, but you can typically expect your new teeth to last longer.
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
Yes, implant dentures are more expensive than traditional ones because you need to account for the cost of dental implant surgery. That said, many patients who get implant dentures are ultimately happy with their investment in the long term. Not only do implant dentures tend to have longer lifespans, but they also offer increased biting strength, and they won’t slip out of place when you’re trying to speak or chew.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
Many dental insurance companies will pay up to 50% of the cost of dentures. Of course, not all dental insurance plans are exactly the same; you should take the time to review your policy to confirm what sort of procedures are included as well as what you can expect your coverage to look like. If there’s anything you don’t understand about your dental insurance plan, don’t be afraid to speak to our team. We can go over your policy with you and help you figure out the best way to maximize your benefits.
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
We want to make sure that our patients have an option for saving money on important dental treatments even if they don’t have dental insurance. That’s why we offer the Illuminate+ Membership Plan. All you need to do is pay a flat fee, and you’ll be able to get a discount on many of the services that we offer. If you’re interested in our membership plan, please let our team know. We’ll be happy to answer your questions!
Dentures Aftercare
Dentures have allowed countless patients to transform their smiles with beautifully lifelike replacement teeth, and proper care and maintenance is essential to ensuring that these remarkable devices last for as long as possible. It’s still crucial to attend regular dental checkups at our Derby office even if you have no remaining natural teeth so we can treat issues like infections in their early stages and keep an eye out of problematic abnormalities. Early detection of serious issues is one of the best ways to reach their best possible outcome.
Removable Dentures
Remove After Eating
Take care to remove and thoroughly rinse your dentures after each meal to prevent accumulations of food debris and plaque. Never use hot water, as the heat can cause the appliance to warp and ruin the way it fits.
Clean Your Restoration
At least once a day, remove your dentures and carefully brush them with a soft-bristled brush and a little bit of unscented hand soap, mild dish soap, or denture cleanser. Don’t use regular toothpaste, as it is usually too abrasive for dentures. It’s also important to floss between the artificial teeth every day. If you’re not wearing your dentures right away, store them in a container with water or a denture-soaking solution to prevent them from drying out and warping. Always thoroughly rinse your dentures after cleaning or soaking them to eliminate any lingering cleansing agents that can be harmful if swallowed.
Keep Your Dentures Safe
Before removing your dentures to clean them, place folded towels across your countertop and fill your sink with cool or lukewarm water to create a cushion in case you drop them. It’s also important to keep your appliance far out of the reach of pets and small children.
Remove Dentures When You Sleep
Continuous denture wear restricts blood flow to the gums and can lead to nasty oral infections and possibly serious health issues like pneumonia. Remove, thoroughly clean, and soak your dentures before going to bed so your mouth can rest and clean itself. Soaking will prevent your dentures from drying out, which can make them brittle and cause them to lose their fit.
Notice Changes
Pay attention to how your dentures look and feel and bring anything strange such as oral sores, gum irritation, or signs of infection to our attention. Never attempt to repair damaged dentures on your own, as you may damage them further or injure yourself. Instead, contact our office so we can adjust or repair your restoration or replace it if necessary.
All-on-4 Dentures
Brush your all-on-4 dentures twice a day using a manual or electric toothbrush with soft bristles and a non-abrasive toothpaste. Refrain from using any pastes that contain whitening ingredients like baking soda or charcoal. It’s equally important to floss your artificial teeth at least once a day, and using floss threaders can help you clean beneath your appliance. You may want to invest in a water flosser or a sulcus brush to make cleaning your gums and restorations easier and more effective. It’s also important to use antibacterial mouthwash to prevent the growth of tartar.