Dentures – Ellicott City, MD

Effects of Missing Teeth

Common causes of tooth loss include injury, infection, certain medications, and genetics. Missing teeth can lead to negative consequences such as:

• Facial sagging: Without the teeth to fill out and maintain the patient’s profile, the cheeks and lips can take on a withered and sagging appearance.
• Difficulty speaking: The teeth play an important role in forming certain words, so tooth loss can make it harder to speak clearly.
• Trouble eating: Tooth loss makes it more difficult to chew many nutritious foods, making it harder to maintain a healthy diet.
• Diminished self-esteem: Missing teeth can make a person less willing to show off their smile, leading to difficulties in the social scene and professional worlds.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

Dentures can be an excellent solution for patients who have lost one, a few, or many teeth as well as those with sensitive teeth or extensive decay as long as the gums and jawbones are sufficiently healthy. People who wear dentures must also commit to a special dental hygiene routine to keep their appliances in great shape and mouths free from infection.

The number of teeth you are missing will ultimately determine which type of denture is the best treatment for you. Possibilities include partial dentures to replace one or a few teeth, full dentures to restore a whole arch, and implant dentures to ensure a strong and reliable fit. Dentures are often a more economical tooth replacement option for patients on a budget.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

Some patients who aren’t good candidates for dentures may be better suited by other tooth restoration methods. A few of these include:

• Dental bridges: These are best suited for patients with only one or a few missing teeth in sequence, and they require healthy teeth on either side of the gap to be placed.
• Dental implants: These titanium posts are inserted directly into and naturally fused with the jawbone. While these can be quite costly, they are permanent.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

What Are Dentures Made Of?

Here are the two main components that personalized dentures consist of:

• The Base: This is the structure made to look exactly like your gum line and will support your artificial teeth. The denture base can typically be constructed by using materials such as nylon, resin, and acrylic. For the most part, acrylic is the popular choice due to its ability to closely mimic natural gum tissue, allowing you to enjoy a more natural look.
• Artificial Teeth: These will be the brand-new pearly whites that will sit atop the base. In most cases, the artificial teeth will be made of either resin or porcelain due to them being able to perfectly resemble natural tooth enamel. That said, porcelain is the more popular option due to its durability and longevity. Since it can be abrasive to natural teeth, it’s usually used for full dentures.

The Denture Creation Process

1. Your treatment will begin with our team taking impressions of your gum line and smile as well as measurements of your jaw. These will be used to construct a model of your mouth, which will then be sent to a dental lab so that they can fabricate your permanent dentures.
2. At the lab, the technicians will use the model to create a wax replica of your gum line, which will then have the artificial teeth placed by using an articulator. They will make adjustments per your measurements before sending them to us for a fitting.
3. If the dentures fit you correctly, then we’ll send them back to the lab for completion. After a series of steps to remove the wax and plaster and replace them with acrylic, the technicians will polish the final results so that they can perfectly match your natural smile.
4. Once completed, the lab will send your permanent dentures for a final fitting. Our team will make any minor adjustments if necessary and double-check that they fit you perfectly and that you’re satisfied with the results before sending you on your way.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

Dentures can take some time to get accustomed to, as your tongue and the rest of your mouth will need to get used to wearing them whenever you eat, talk, and smile. You might expect some mild soreness, but this should only be temporary. With time, practice, and patience, your prosthetics should feel much more natural. Remember to stick to softer foods while you adjust to them and exercise your facial muscles often. If you notice any changes or unusual things with your prosthetics, notify us promptly so that we can help.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures

There are several factors that can impact the overall cost of dentures. These aspects involve:

• The number of missing teeth
• The materials your dentures will be constructed of, such as porcelain or acrylic
• Any necessary preparatory procedures (gum disease therapy, tooth extractions, etc.)

While you will want your dentures to be affordable, it’s important that they serve as reliable supports for your smile. Without the proper materials and preparation, your restorations can be at risk of easily breaking or needing more frequent replacements. For this reason, it’s best to think of dentures as a worthwhile investment for the long run.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Since implant dentures require surgically embedding titanium posts into your jawbone, they will require a higher initial cost. However, they are also more reliable on a daily basis, as they’ll be anchored to your jaw and won’t shift out of place. They can stimulate and preserve your bone, offering increased biting strength and a youthful facial structure. While traditional dentures will need to be replaced every 5 to 7 years, implant-supported ones can last you for decades! With all these factors combined, implant dentures can often save you thousands of dollars in the long run despite being initially more expensive than their traditional counterparts.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Most dental insurance plans cover restorative dental treatments like dentures. While it varies between policies, many of them offer up to 50% coverage. We are in-network with several dental insurance providers and can also accept out-of-network companies to help make your treatment more affordable.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

Even if you don’t have dental insurance or your plan won’t cover the costs completely, we can still offer a flexible payment plan to help manage your expenses. Instead of paying the entire sum at once, you’ll be able to pay low- to no-interest monthly payments with our partners at CareCredit and Health Credit Services. With their help, you can appreciate a stress-free plan while enjoying your fully restored smile!

If you’d like to know more about the cost of dentures, feel free to schedule a consultation with our dental team today! We’ll be more than happy to answer your questions about your future restorations.

How Long Do I Have to Wait to Get Dentures After a Tooth Extraction?

In some cases, we may recommend having one or more of your teeth extracted before getting dentures. Traditionally, you’ll need to wait six to eight weeks after your extraction to begin the dentures process, but every situation is unique. The exact amount of time will depend on what type of dentures you’re receiving, how many teeth you’re having pulled, and your natural recovery process. It’s essential that your gums are fully healed from the extraction process before dentures to ensure the fit is comfortable and secure. In some cases, implant dentures like All-On-4 implants can be placed on the same day as a tooth extraction, but this varies from case to case. We’ll be able to give you a personalized timeline when you visit us for a consultation.

Can I Sleep with My Dentures In?

We understand: no one wants to be caught without their teeth! However, it’s important that you take your dentures out every night before going to sleep. This serves two very important purposes. First, it takes pressure off of your gums, which improves its circulation and promotes healthy tissue without any irritation. Secondly, soaking your dentures is the easiest way to fully clean all the little nooks and crannies that could potentially harbor plaque and bacteria.

Can I Eat Steak with Dentures?

Eating with traditional removable dentures takes a bit of time and practice. When you first begin wearing dentures, we recommend sticking to a diet of soft foods and small bites. As you begin to feel more confident in your chewing abilities, you can begin to add more foods into your daily diet. While everyone is different, it typically takes patients about a month to adjust to eating with dentures. Tough meats like steak can be a challenge to eat with dentures, but you should be able to do it with ease if you take the right precautions. Cut your steak into small pieces and chew slowly, being sure to chew evenly on both sides of your mouth. Using a small bit of adhesive to stabilize your dentures can also be very helpful.

What Should I Do If My Dentures Feel Uncomfortable?

If you notice that your dentures are beginning to feel loose or uncomfortable, it may be time to have them realigned. Your mouth will naturally begin to change shape after tooth loss, which means your dentures will gradually lose their close, secure fit. If your dentures ever feel uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to give us a call right away! We may be able to readjust your dentures to improve their fit and feel. However, after about five to seven years of use, it’s likely your dentures will need to be replaced entirely.