Dentures – Port Charlotte, FL

Effects of Missing Teeth

Before anything else, keep the causes and effects of tooth loss in mind. Doing so helps you see how dentures can benefit your smile.

As a matter of fact, people often lose teeth for various reasons. One person’s tooth could decay to the point that it falls out or needs extraction. Meanwhile, someone else may have gum disease that wears down the tissues securing their teeth. A few others could get their teeth knocked out from a sports injury or accident.

While its causes are various, tooth loss’ effects are fairly severe. Being without teeth makes everyday tasks difficult, including eating, speaking, and smiling. This condition also results in smile gaps, which cause jawbone erosion. (An eroded jawbone results in facial collapse if left alone.) Spaces between teeth can even trigger further tooth loss.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

Again, patients without teeth normally qualify for dentures. Even so, there are several other factors a patient could consider.

For example, just look at your current oral health. Patients need healthy gum and jaw tissues for dentures to work. Therefore, a good treatment candidate needs a strong commitment to dental care. At the same time, dentures can treat issues besides tooth loss. The restorations are able to replace sensitive or decaying teeth.

The number of teeth lost is also worth noting. Based on the total number, you will need one of two possible dentures. The first type is the partial denture, which only replaces a few teeth. In contrast, the second is the full denture – an appliance that replaces all the pearly whites along an arch.

Lastly, you should take your budget into account as well. After all, it’s not as if dentures are free; they cost money as everything else does. Fortunately, dentures are cheaper than most other restorations. They’re thus ideal for patients with limited funds.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

If you’re not a good dentures candidate, don’t worry; Caring Way Dentistry has other restorative options. In particular, there are two other procedures you could try. They are the following:

• Dental Bridges – Dental bridges are fixed restorations made of crowns fused to a pontic. Because they only replace a few pearly whites, they rely on your surrounding natural teeth for support.
• Dental Implants – Dental implants are metal posts placed in the jawbone. Since they’re made of titanium, they gradually fuse with the jaw. (This fusion, though, depends on a patient having healthy bone tissue.) In many cases, implants tend to be expensive.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

What are Dentures Made Of?

No matter the type, every denture has a base and artificial teeth. These two parts are crucial to the device, ensuring it works well and comfortably. Consider them in more detail below:

• Denture Base – A denture’s base is its foundation, the part that keeps its artificial teeth secure. This component is often made of pink-colored acrylic or substitutes like nylon.
• Artificial Teeth – Artificial teeth are tooth-replacing parts of dentures. As such, labs make them from resin or porcelain to match your smile’s color.

The Denture Creation Process

Because every denture is tailored to a patient’s mouth, creating one is a multi-step process. The key steps are:

• Step 1: Dr. Villescas will use a dental impression to design a plaster model, which is made to match your final denture’s size and shape.
• Step 2: We’ll send the model to a lab, which will use it to make a wax gumline.
• Step 3: Once the wax gumline is ready, workers will set artificial teeth in it; doing so forms a prototype denture.
• Step 4: Our practice will check the prototype against your mouth after we get it back. We’ll then return it when we’ve confirmed its fit.
• Step 5:  A worker will place the prototype in a flask after removing wax from it. Next, they’ll apply plaster to the flask and have it sit in hot water.
• Step 6: A separator will go into the plaster layer, keeping the acrylic from sticking. This acrylic will be injected into the flask to replace the wax.
• Step 7: The dental lab will remove all plaster to reveal the final denture. Then, they’ll place the restoration in a bath to remove its residue.
• Step 8: The lab’s workers will remove your denture’s excess acrylic and polish its surface.
• Step 9: To ensure it works smoothly and easily, our office will fit your final denture for you.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

While your mouth will feel sore as you adjust to dentures, this effect is temporary; it’ll fade over time. Your new teeth will become more familiar to you as you spend time using them.

All that said, you can speed up the adjustment process. One good method would be to eat soft foods to avoid irritated gums. On the other hand, you could apply adhesives (to keep your dentures secure) or exercise your facial muscles. These approaches would help your new teeth feel familiar more quickly.

Please call our office if the pain from adjustment lasts a long time. In that case, your dentures may need further alterations to fit your mouth well.

Psychological Benefits

If you’ve been missing any number of teeth, then you can understand the negative downsides the situation can have on your mental and emotional well-being. Most people feel self-conscious about the way they look or even tend to hide their mouths when talking or laughing, making it difficult for them to engage in social interactions. With dentures, you can feel proud to show off your beautiful smile without worrying much about things like your appearance, speech, chewing ability, and more.

Clearer Enunciation

Did you know that pronouncing most words and sounds requires us to properly position our lips and tongue against our teeth? This means that missing some or all of your teeth can make it extremely challenging to speak or converse with others. By renewing your smile with dentures, you can get the necessary support to properly enunciate what you wish to express. Although this can take an adjustment period, constant repetition and practice can help make the process much smoother.

Improves Nutrition

Some of the more nutritious foods out there can often be tough in texture, including veggies, fruits, and lean protein. While it’s important to consume the nutrients you need to promote better oral and overall health, it can be difficult to do so if you aren’t able to chew your meals effectively. This can lead to complications like indigestion and malnutrition. By getting dentures, you can regain sufficient biting power, which can then expand your diet so that you can enjoy healthier options to strengthen your bones, soft oral tissues, and the rest of your body.

Preserves Oral Health

If you still have some of your natural teeth, they may be susceptible to shifting out of place. This is because missing tooth roots can cause the jawbone to deteriorate due to a lack of stimulation in the bone tissue. However, by getting well-fitted dentures, you can help prevent your remaining pearly whites from trying to fill in the gaps. Your prosthetics can even share the pressure of chewing, minimizing the wear and tear on your existing natural teeth.

Expands Opportunities

Whether you’re preparing for a job interview, trying to get a promotion, or getting ready for a first date, you’ll want to look your best for the occasion. Since your smile is one of the very first things people notice about you, it’ll benefit you greatly to be able to show off a beautiful and healthy set of pearly whites. Restoring your smile with dentures will not only renew your bite but can even boost your success in both your professional and social life.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures

Every mouth is as unique as fingerprints, so a one-size-fits-all denture just won't do. A denture is carefully crafted to fit your mouth like a glove. Every treatment plan differs, but you can expect your estimate to include:

• Consultation: Your first step to completing your smile is a consultation. Besides a visual examination, your dentist will review diagnostic images to have a complete picture of your oral health.
• Preliminary Procedures: It's not unusual to need a little prep work, like gum disease therapy or tooth extractions.
• Type of Denture: You have many types of dentures to choose from, like traditional prosthetics and implant-supported methods.
• Materials: It's better to focus on quality instead of price. Discounted materials may not be as durable or authentically pleasing.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Dental implants cost more upfront than dentures, but they are the most affordable overall. They replicate both the roots and the crowns of teeth, which isn't possible using any other method. As a result, they preserve your jawbone to prevent many common issues caused by missing teeth. You're less likely to need costly procedures later to save money down the road. Not to mention, dental implants can also last for decades with the correct care, so you'll never need to budget for replacements. With the support of your jawbone and over a 95% success rate, you can't put a price on the benefits you'll gain. Dental implants are the next best thing to real teeth.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Dental insurance can cover many aspects of your treatment, like your consultation and imaging. Your benefits may pay some of the cost of any preliminary procedures after meeting your annual deductible. Dentures are considered a major service, so they are covered by 50% until reaching your yearly limit. A member of our team will work on your behalf with your dental insurance to maximize any appropriate benefits to lower the amount you will pay out of pocket.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

Besides using your dental insurance, we offer many payment options, like:

• Traditional Payments: We accept all traditional payment methods, including cash, personal checks, and credit cards.
• Financing: Pay any dental expenses using a monthly payment plan through a third-party financing company, like Cherry. You can benefit from little or no interest in financing based on your credit approval.

We will help you find the solutions you need to replace your missing teeth without it costing you an arm or a leg.

Remove After Eating

After every meal, be sure to remove and rinse off your dentures. This will help prevent the buildup of food debris, bacteria, and plaque. When cleaning them, never use hot water, as this can cause them to warp and ruin their fit.

Clean Your Restoration

Always remove your dentures to deep clean them. We recommend lining the counter and sink with a towel to protect them in case they are accidentally dropped during cleaning.

Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a small amount of hand soap, dish soap, or dentures cleanser, gently brush your dentures.

Don’t clean them with regular toothpaste, as they are not meant to stand up to abrasive products.

If you won’t be wearing them again right away, place them in a container of water or denture soak. This will help keep them moisturized and prevent them from drying out and losing their proper shape.

Always be sure to rinse them well before returning them to your mouth, as cleansing products are not meant to be ingested.

Keep Your Dentures Safe

Remember to line your sink and counter with a towel in case you drop your dentures during cleaning. Furthermore, be sure to keep them out of reach of pets and small children.

Remove When You Sleep

Be sure to remove your dentures each night before you go to bed. Wearing them restricts the circulation in your gums, which can cause soft-tissue irritation. Sleeping with dentures has also been associated with an increased risk of pneumonia as well as gum and tongue plaque.

Leave your dentures soaking in either water or a denture soak overnight. Never let them dry out completely, as this can cause them to permanently lose their shape.

Notice Changes

Be on the lookout for any changes in your mouth that should be brought to the attention of Dr. Villescas. This includes mouth sores, gum irritation, or any signs of infection.

Should your dentures become damaged, never attempt to repair them yourself. You can easily cause more damage if you don’t know what you’re doing. Instead, call Dr. Villescas for further instructions.

If you notice your dentures are shifting, clicking, or showing any other symptoms of improper fit, let Dr. Villescas know as soon as possible, as they could require a reline procedure or a complete replacement

How Long Does It Take to Get Dentures After Your Teeth Are Pulled?

While the length of time you’ll need to wait to get your dentures depends on your situation, most patients require six to eight weeks before receiving their restorations. Your gums will need to recover sufficiently, and the jawbone can change during this period. The healing process is especially important if you’re getting implant dentures, as the metal posts will need to fuse with your jaw before your denture dentist in Port Charlotte can attach your new smile.

Will It Hurt to Get Dentures?

You may experience mild discomfort or soreness for some time if you require teeth to be extracted beforehand. This can generally be dealt with by taking your prescribed pain medication as instructed. Once you’ve recovered and received your dentures, you’ll likely go through an adjustment period to get familiar with your new teeth. During this period, it’s natural to feel mild irritation in your gums. This should go away over time, but it can take a few months for some patients.

Is It Hard to Talk with Dentures?

Since traditional dentures rely on the suction with your gum line, it can be challenging to speak with them for the first time. You’ll have to get used to how they feel and work when moving your mouth. You might even develop a slight lisp or muffle your phrases. However, the more you practice talking and pronouncing words, the better you’ll get at conversing clearly. Try reading aloud in private as well as speaking with friends and family to build your confidence in your speech. And if you need additional help, you can always ask us about denture adhesives to help make your process run smoother!

Can I Sleep with My Dentures?

No one wants to be caught without their smile, but you shouldn’t sleep with your dentures in. Instead, it’s important that you take them out before bed and soak them overnight every day. This serves a few essential functions! Firstly, it’s the best way to clean all the tiny spaces in your dentures where plaque and bacteria can hide. Secondly, it relieves pressure from your gums and encourages circulation, keeping your gums healthier and free of sores. Avoid using harsh chemicals or hot water to soak your dentures, as this can damage them!

If you have any other questions about dentures in Port Charlotte, be sure to reach out to our dental team today! We’ll be happy to walk you through the treatment process and how to make the most of your new smile.