Dentures – Millersville, MD

Effects of Missing Teeth

First and foremost, it’s crucial to understand what causes missing teeth and what can happen if you fail to replace them. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, the most common reasons include tooth decay, gum disease, injury, and poor oral hygiene habits. However, certain systemic conditions can also lead to multiple missing teeth.

It’s incredibly important to replace the gaps in your smile. Otherwise, you could experience several negative consequences. For example, your natural teeth can shift to fill the space, your jawbone may begin to deteriorate, and your gums may start receding. Some other effects include facial sagging, difficulty speaking, trouble eating, and lowered self-esteem.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

Truthfully, almost anyone suffering from tooth loss can get dentures in Millersville. This method of tooth replacement is a great option for patients experiencing significant tooth loss, sensitive teeth, or decay. Of course, you must also have sufficient healthy gum tissue and jawbone density to ensure successful treatment.

Keep in mind the number of teeth you’re missing can also determine which type of denture you get. There are several options to choose from, including full dentures, partials, or implant dentures. Since dentures are typically more cost-effective than other solutions, they’re an excellent choice for patients on a budget.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

Not a good candidate for traditional dentures? Don’t worry – you have other options to explore! Some of those include:

• Dental Bridges: Are you only missing one or a few teeth? If so, a dental bridge may be the right option for you! All you need is healthy teeth surrounding the gap in your smile to support the bridge.
• Dental Implants: If you want a more stable solution, you can opt for dental implants! Each titanium post is surgically inserted into the jawbone, replacing the entire structure of missing teeth from the root to the chewing surface. You must have adequate jawbone density to be eligible for this option, which provides the foundation for implant dentures. While it’s more costly than traditional dentures, it’s permanent and life-changing!

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

Removeable Dentures

Remove After Eating

Firstly, remember to rinse your denture after meals. Doing so keeps food and plaque from sticking to them. As a result, the habit will lower your risk of dental issues.

That said, avoid hot water for the rinses. High temperatures can warp denture material. Therefore, a steamy rinse could ruin your denture’s fit.

Clean Your Restoration

Aside from post-meal rinses, always give dentures once-daily cleanings. These sessions remove germs and debris that you’d otherwise miss.

Such a cleaning is pretty simple. Once the dentures are out of your mouth, brush them with a toothbrush and some hand soap. (However, avoid normal toothpaste; it’s abrasive and erodes dentures.) You should then soak the prosthetics if there’s time. In the end, rinse the dentures before returning them to your mouth.

Keep Your Dentures Safe

Sadly enough, dentures aren’t invincible. They can break or fracture under strong forces. Given that fact, you should keep dentures safe when they’re not in use.

There are several great ways to protect dentures. For instance, you might place a towel in your sink during a daily cleaning. (This action would cushion dentures from falls.) Another idea is to store dentures securely in a case. That way, roughhousing pets or children won't break your artificial teeth.

Remove Dentures When You Sleep

You shouldn’t wear dentures to bed, no matter how lifelike they are. The better action is to remove them before you sleep. Ideally, you could place them in a soaking solution overnight.

You see, constant denture use damages your health. It restricts gum circulation and irritates your various mouth tissues. This habit also increases your tongue’s plaque levels, thus raising your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Wearing dentures overnight can even lead to pneumonia.

Notice Changes

After you start wearing dentures, watch for any changes in them or your mouth. These shifts might cause problems that need a dentist’s help. Conditions you might notice include mouth sores, gum irritation, and infections.

You’ll especially need a dentist if your dentures fit poorly or get damaged. After all, trying to fix them yourself will make things worse. Meanwhile, a qualified dentist will refit or replace the prosthetics.

All-on-4 Dentures

Since they aren’t removable, caring for All-on-4 dentures involves different methods. These include the following:

• Twice-Daily Brushing – Brush your dentures twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Make sure to use non-abrasive toothpaste, as other kinds will damage the prosthetics. (Getting a sulcus brush is also a good idea, as it would clean between the restoration and the gums.)
• Once-Daily Flossing – Floss your dentures once a day. If necessary, you can use floss threaders to reach beneath your denture. You might also try a water flosser.
• Regular Mouth Rinses – To prevent tartar growth, rinse your mouth with fluoridated mouthwash daily.

What Are Dentures Made Of?

The base of the denture – the foundation that supports the replacement teeth – can be made out of acrylic, nylon, and other materials depending on the situation. Acrylic is typically the most common choice when it comes to full dentures, as it can be designed to resemble the natural soft tissues in your mouth.

When it comes to the artificial teeth of the denture, you’ll naturally want them to be made out of a material that can mimic real tooth enamel as closely as possible. Porcelain can often be an excellent option; not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but it can be counted on to last a long time.

The Denture Creation Process

The process of creating dentures will begin with our team capturing the necessary impressions of your upper and lower gums. Said impressions will allow us to make a model of your mouth, which will then be sent to a dental laboratory, where technicians will start making your prosthesis.

A wax replica of your gums will be made, and the necessary number of false teeth will be placed. These wax dentures will be sent back to our practice. We’ll confirm that they fit in your mouth before sending them back to the lab.

The wax dentures will be placed in a special flask. Then hot water will be used to melt away the wax while the flask ensures that the dentures retain their shape. Acrylic material will be injected into the flask in order to act as the new base for the dentures.

Once the prosthesis is carefully removed, an ultrasonic bath will be utilized to get rid of any plaster that may have been left behind. Unnecessary acrylic will be removed, and the replacement teeth will be polished. Once our office has received the final dentures, we’ll set up one last appointment so that we can make sure that they fit in your mouth.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

Trying to eat and speak with dentures may feel a bit unusual at first, and your gums may feel a little sore initially. It’s important to wear your dentures regularly so that your mouth adjusts as quickly as possible. It may make things easier if you only eat soft foods and take the time to give the muscles in your face some exercise. Please get in touch with us right away if the discomfort caused by new dentures doesn’t seem to be getting any better.

Psychological Benefits

Your teeth serve multiple purposes and aren’t solely tools for biting and chewing food; they’re also a huge contributor to your overall happiness and sense of confidence. People with missing teeth often have trouble accepting their tooth loss, and this has a negative impact on their self-esteem and how they present themselves. They might even hide their smiles from others, or prolong addressing the issue! But patients who receive dentures immediately experience an increase in confidence, which translates into more positive social interactions and increased feelings of acceptance.

Clearer Enunciation

Your teeth also play a very crucial role in speech and enunciation. This is because your lips and tongue rely on the position of your teeth to make certain sounds, so if you have missing teeth, there’s a good chance that you struggle to pronounce certain words or simply converse in general. But upon receiving dentures and making it through their initial adjustment phase (which usually lasts around a month or two), you’ll be speaking clearly and with elegance in no time!

Improves Nutrition

Simply put, if you can’t chew your food, your nutrition will suffer. Not chewing your food thoroughly can lead to indigestion and malnutrition, not to mention that certain foods are already pretty tough in texture and hard to chew. But since dentures greatly enhance your chewing capabilities and provide you with prosthetic replacement teeth, you’ll be able to bite and chew your food, optimize your diet, and enjoy eating again with relative ease. This means that all of those hearty and healthy fruits and vegetables that are normally tough to eat won’t give you any trouble at all!

Preserves Oral Health

Tooth loss can cause all sorts of problems for a person, but perhaps the two most notable ones are further tooth loss and jawbone resorption. When you have gaps in your smile due to missing teeth, your remaining teeth can actually shift toward the open spaces and fall out themselves. Additionally, since these areas without teeth now lack the stimulation provided by your tooth roots, your jaw can begin to shrink and deteriorate. But by getting dentures, you can enjoy a complete smile that isn’t threatened by these issues since they’ll replace teeth and the corresponding jawbone stimulation provided by them.

Expands Opportunities

Since your smile is the first feature that strangers notice about you, needless to say, it plays an important part in making positive first impressions—which can greatly benefit you and expand your opportunities! In fact, research shows that the probability of being employed significantly increases when you have a healthy and attractive smile. Not to mention, people will also feel inclined to approach you or feel comfortable around you, since you’ll exude confidence. For this reason, dentures can literally provide your career with a nice boost and give you an edge in the professional world.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures

When estimating the final cost of your new dentures in Millersville, there are several factors you must take into consideration. Here are a few major elements that can influence the price of your oral appliances:

• Any preparatory dental work needed before getting dentures (i.e., tooth extractions, periodontal therapy, etc.)
• Number of teeth you’re missing
• Type of acrylic used for the base
• Materials your dentures will be made of (usually porcelain or acrylic)

Some people may be tempted to opt for cheaper dentures as a way to save money. However, they’re not necessarily the ideal option. These oral appliances are often made of subpar acrylic or “teeth” and tend to break easily, meaning they’ll require replacement much sooner than you’d expect. When it comes to dental work, quality should always be of utmost importance regardless of cost.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Short answer: yes, they’re typically more expensive than traditional dentures. However, there’s a good reason for that. Implant dentures require oral surgery and the placement of multiple dental implants, making them one of the most permanent solutions for missing teeth. With this method, you can expect to reap numerous benefits like a fully restored bite, a boost of confidence, and preserved facial structure. Because implant dentures are designed to last decades, many patients find they’re a worthwhile investment that pays off in the long run.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Since dentures are considered a major procedure, most dental insurance plans will offer some level of coverage for it. In many cases, they’ll cover around 50% of the final cost. Of course, the exact amount of coverage varies from person to person depending on their unique plan. If you’re not sure what your policy covers, our dental team can review the details and explain how your plan works. We’ll do everything possible to maximize your benefits and reduce your out-of-pocket expenses significantly.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

Don’t have dental insurance? No problem. We offer an in-house financing plan to help make your dental bills easier to manage. With our plans, you can break up your out-of-pocket costs into budget-friendly monthly installments. We’ll tailor your plan to fit your exact budget, so you can receive and pay for the care you need without having to break the bank.

If you want to know more about your financing options, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Transcendent Smiles and schedule a consultation. We’ll gladly answer any questions you have and help you get started on your journey towards your new smile!