Dentures – Wilton Manors, FL

Effects of Missing Teeth

Adult teeth can fall out for a few different reasons, but according to the American College of Prosthodontists, gum disease is the leading cause. Once it progresses, your gumline recedes, which exposes the roots. Without enough connective tissue holding them in place, they can become loosened or dislodged. Other common causes include tooth decay, which can spread to your jawbone if left unaddressed, and physical trauma, like sustaining a blow to the face.

Whatever the reason, tooth loss can detract from your daily quality of life. Your teeth play a crucial role in your ability to speak clearly, chew sufficiently, and smile genuinely. That means having gaps in your grin can lead to communication challenges, dietary changes, and lowered self-esteem.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

Although almost anyone who has lost teeth is a possible candidate for dentures, they are an ideal solution for those who have:

• Lost most or all their teeth. Your restoration can refurbish some or all your teeth simultaneously.
• Tooth sensitivity. Your prosthetics cover your gums and shield any remaining teeth from foods that might trigger discomfort.
• Severe tooth decay. Your artificial teeth can restore your smile’s appearance and functionality.
• Healthy gum tissue. Dentures form a tight suction against your gums to remain in place, so they must be strong enough to withstand the constant pressure.
• Sufficient jawbone density. After teeth fall out, your body reabsorbs bone mass from your jaw that’s no longer needed to support them. If it’s already overly thin, the ridges in your mouth may be too flat to serve as a foundation for your restoration.

Also, dentures are usually more cost-effective than other types of replacement teeth, so if you’re hoping to conserve resources, this may be the best option for you.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

If you’re not able to receive dentures, our experts will discuss other possibilities with you to refurbish your smile, such as:

• Dental bridges. These are best for people who lost one or more teeth in a row. They contain the correct number of pontics (artificial teeth) situated between a dental crown on each end. These are anchored to healthy teeth on either side of the gap in your grin to fill the open space.
• Dental implants. These are the only restorations that are surgically inserted into your jawbone for added strength and resilience. Although it costs more than dentures, it’s a more permanent solution.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

What Are Dentures Made Of?

Your dentures will be made up of two main components:

• Denture base – This gum-colored foundation provides the support your new teeth will need. The base can be constructed out of different materials like acrylic, resin, nylon, porcelain, or even metal. That said, most full dentures are made from acrylic due to their ability to match your natural gum tissue.
• Prosthetic teeth – Most artificial teeth are made of resin or porcelain due to their appearance matching natural enamel. Porcelain, however, is the more popular choice because it’s durable and longer-lasting.

The Denture Creation Process

Most denture processes take several weeks to a few months to complete. One of the first steps your dentist will make is to take impressions of your smile, which will allow us to make a mold of your mouth so that your prosthetics will be the proper shape and size.

We’ll then have this mold sent to a trusted dental lab for fabrication. Your prosthetic teeth will usually be made of acrylic resin or porcelain and placed in the wax replica of your gums. The technician will shape the wax to match your exact gum line with a special device. Once finished, this replica will be sent to us for a fitting. If this mock-up is approved, we’ll send it back for finalization.

The technician will then boil the dentures by placing them in a flask, using plaster to maintain the custom shape of the prosthetics. They’ll make holes in the artificial teeth to attach them to the material. Any extra wax will be trimmed and cut before the dentures are molded to perfection. The dental lab will send the final product to our office once they’ve completed your new teeth.

You’ll come back to our practice for a final fitting. We’ll make any necessary changes to your prosthetics to ensure they’re well-fitted, functional, and comfortable. Once we’ve confirmed that you’re satisfied with your results, you’ll be free to enjoy your renewed smile.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

The first time you wear your dentures, you might expect to experience some mild discomfort for several days while your mouth gets used to them. This may involve soreness in the gums as well as difficulty in eating and speaking. Fortunately, with some time and practice, this should only be temporary and your replacement teeth should begin to feel more natural. Here are several ways that you can make this adjustment process smoother:

• Use a small amount of denture adhesive
• Stick to eating softer foods at the beginning
• Exercise your facial muscles every day

Psychological Benefits

Tooth loss is known to take a toll on a person’s psychological health just as much as it does on their physical health. Lacking self-confidence can eventually cause problems at home and work, and you may even find yourself pulling away from social situations among family and friends. But once you receive full or partial dentures, you’ll find that living life with a complete smile can turn your embarrassment into confidence. Not only will you like your overall appearance, but you’ll also begin to have a more positive outlook on life.

Clear Enunciation

Trying to give a presentation at work without a full set of teeth can be challenging. Attempting to carry on a conversation with your spouse without slurring your words can feel impossible. This is why asking your dentist about dentures is important. With these customized prosthetics, you will begin to form words and sounds that were once difficult. You’ll be able to converse with others without having to repeat yourself or slow down so that they can understand you. While you may experience a short adjustment phase with your new dentures, you’ll begin to speak with ease and clarity before you know it.

Improves Nutrition

You may not realize it until you experience tooth loss, but an incomplete smile can affect what you eat. Your teeth are essential to ensure the foods you consume are properly digested. Being unable to chew thoroughly can make it harder to eat certain snacks and meals that you once enjoyed. But with dentures, you retrieve a portion of your original bite force, allowing you to eat nutrient-rich foods that promote better overall health and well-being.

Preserves Oral Health

Whether you’re missing all or some of your natural teeth, you will notice that the longer you go without treatment, the greater your risk of bone resorption and dental shift. Over time, your jawbone will start to shrink because of a lack of stimulation, and any remaining teeth will shift to try and fill in the gap. Choosing dentures allows you to not only keep your existing pearly whites in place but also spread out the pressure placed on your teeth while eating, which can help reduce the potential for enamel wear and tear.

Expands Opportunity

When applying for a job or meeting someone new, your smile is likely to be the first thing they notice. If it appears dull, incomplete, or misaligned, you may find that your first impression is not received well. However, if you wear dentures, you may discover that others are more receptive to you and are willing to give you a chance. With statistics showing that poor oral health can play a role in whether a person gets a job or not, it’s important not to neglect treatment but instead present yourself in the best possible way with a full set of beautiful, natural-looking teeth.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures

There are three main variables to consider when discussing the price of dentures:

• Preparation: Do you need teeth extracted or gum disease therapy? Your preparatory treatments will add to your cost, however they are important for your oral health, and they will positively impact the longevity of your new smile.
• Base material: The gum-colored base of dentures can be made of various types of acrylics, which will impact your total price. It’s important that this material matches the natural color of your gums.
• Replacement teeth: The teeth attached to your dentures will also influence their cost. Your replacement teeth can be made of porcelain or acrylic. Our dentures are designed to be beautiful and lifelike.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

While implant dentures come with a higher cost compared to traditional ones, their unique advantages are well worth it. Dental implants secure the denture to the jaw, creating a smile that looks, feels, and functions just like your natural grin. This means you can enjoy all your favorite foods while also speaking and smiling with total confidence. Implants also stimulate the jawbone to prevent it from shrinking, which allows you to enjoy a more youthful facial appearance. Additionally, because dental implants can last for decades with proper care, they actually pay for themselves by helping you avoid replacements and the cost that comes with them.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Yes! The good news is that most insurance plans consider dentures in Wilton Manors as a major procedure so you can expect around 50% of the cost covered. However, no two plans are the same, which is why you should speak with your provider to see what your specific benefits are. Our friendly front desk team is always happy to communicate directly with your insurance provider to make sure we can maximize your savings. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us and learn more.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

If you don’t have insurance coverage, there is no need to worry! At Island City Dental, we are committed to affordable, quality dentistry. That’s why we proudly offer our own in-house dental membership plan. With this option, you can choose to pay in small monthly fees or a simple annual payment to enjoy serious savings! Our membership plan includes 15% off procedures completed at our practice, which is a deal that insurance would never offer.

Removable Dentures

Remove After Eating

Once you’ve enjoyed a delicious meal with your dentures, you need to get rid of any food particles that were left behind so that they don’t cause problems. Find a sink so that you can rinse off your dentures. Be sure to handle them with care; you don’t want to damage them by accident. Also, heat can warp dentures, so make sure that the water you use is cool or lukewarm.

Clean Your Restoration

You should set up a routine for cleaning your dentures. First, take them out of your mouth. Then, brush the entire prosthesis using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Toothpaste is too abrasive for this particular job, so use something gentler like unscented hand soap. The last step should be to rinse the dentures off; do not put them back in your mouth until you’re sure that all the cleaning materials are gone.

Keep Your Dentures Safe

Even a denture made out of the highest quality material available can break if you drop it or handle it too roughly. You therefore need to be very careful when removing your dentures. It’s recommended that you keep a towel under your head so that your dentures will have a safe place to land should you end up fumbling them.

Younger children and pets could easily end up damaging your dentures by accident. As such, you should always make sure that your dentures are stored somewhere safe whenever you’re not wearing them.

Remove Dentures When You Sleep

Dentures are not meant to be worn 24 hours a day. Keeping them in your mouth for too long could accelerate bone loss in your jaw and irritate your gums. Also, bacteria can breed in the space underneath your dentures, which can lead to all kinds of health issues – including an increased risk for pneumonia. There’s no need to take any unnecessary risks; give your mouth a break by taking your dentures out every night.

Notice Changes

Trying to wear a broken or ill-fitting denture could lead to further problems. As such, if you notice signs of damage, or if your denture has started shifting around, let us know immediately so that we can make the necessary repairs (or start the process of replacing the denture if necessary).

Can I sleep with my dentures?

Your denture dentist in Wilton Manors will instruct you to wear your new set of teeth for a full 24 hours after receiving them. After the first day, get in the habit of taking them out before calling it a night. No one wants to be caught without their teeth, but your oral and general health relies on their nightly removal. Your mouth is dark and moist, which is the perfect environment for bad oral bacteria that can lead to infections, including those affecting the lungs. Removing your dentures before bed allows you to clean your mouth and prosthetics to control bacteria. It also prevents unpleasant odors and extends the lifespan of your denture. You will also give your gums time to rest because your dentures will restrict blood circulation. Your tissues will get the necessary nutrients to avoid sores, irritation, and infections. Besides brushing your dentures before heading to bed, don’t forget to soak them in a nightly solution to kill any bacteria left behind by your toothbrush.

What qualifies you for dentures?

If you have severely damaged or missing teeth, you may be a candidate for dentures. Several types of dentures are available, depending on your needs, like a partial. Patients who have a few healthy teeth can benefit from a partial to fill the spaces of those they’ve lost for a complete smile. A full denture is used to treat an entire arch of missing teeth. It rests on top of the gum tissue and is held in place using suction or an adhesive. As an alternative to traditional prosthetics, patients with sufficient bone density can benefit from implant dentures. Dental implant posts are placed into the jawbone to anchor your denture in place.

Do upper dentures always cover the palate?

Dentures come in many styles, including palate-less options. Upper dentures that cover the roof of the mouth can diminish the way food tastes. Not to mention, some patients are concerned about potential discomfort. If you are concerned about either issue, you can benefit from a horseshoe-shaped solution. It looks like a denture used with dental implants or for the lower arch. Your dentist will explain all your options during your denture consultation.

Do I use toothpaste to clean my denture?

Your dentist recommends using mild hand soap or dishwashing liquid and a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your new teeth. You can also purchase OTC cleaning kits designed for denture wearers. Abrasive dental products can cause tiny scratches on your denture, which can affect their appearance and life expectancy. Bacteria and plaque can get trapped in the small crevasses, leading to odors. Besides daily brushing, use a nightly soaking solution.