Dentures – Copperas Cove, TX

Effects of Missing Teeth

Many people suffer from tooth loss. It’s a common issue that happens for several different reasons! According to the American College of Prosthodontists, a few causes include gum disease, tooth decay, and physical injury. No matter what happens, it’s incredibly important to fill these gaps in your smile as soon as possible.

Having missing teeth can cause your jawbone to shrink due to a lack of stimulation of blood flow. The bone tissue may begin to weaken, increasing the risk of further loss. If you don’t have a root to promote a strong jawbone, you could experience complications like facial sagging, difficulty eating, trouble speaking, and lower self-confidence.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

Dentures are an excellent choice for most people suffering from extensive tooth loss! This tried-and-true method has been around for decades, helping people perform everyday tasks with greater confidence. Patients seeking dentures must be committed to their dental health routine and be willing to properly care for their new smile.

At the end of the day, the number of teeth you’re missing will determine which type of denture is best for you. Depending on your situation, you might be eligible for a full, partial, or implant denture. Your dentist will simply make sure you’re in good general health, have healthy gums, and enough jawbone before moving forward with the process.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

Don’t worry – if dentures aren’t a viable option for you, there are alternative tooth-replacement options you can explore! Some of the most popular ones include:

• Dental Bridges: Are you missing a few or multiple teeth in a row? You might want to consider dental bridges! You’ll simply need to have nearby healthy teeth on either side of the gap to support the restoration.
• Dental Implants: Patients wanting more stability can ask about dental implants. These titanium posts are surgically inserted into the jawbone, helping support your new teeth. For successful treatment, you must have a strong facial structure and sufficient bone density.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

What Are Dentures Made Of?

Dentures generally consist of two main parts: the base and the teeth. Here’s what each portion is made out of:

• Denture Base: This is the gum-colored section that keeps the artificial teeth in position. This structure can be constructed out of various materials, including acrylic, nylon, resin, metal, or porcelain. In most cases, full dentures are fabricated with acrylic since they can more accurately mimic your natural gum line. Partial dentures, on the other hand, use a metal framework within an acrylic base to remain stable.
• Artificial Teeth: Your new teeth can typically be fabricated from resin or porcelain, as they both can match your natural smile. Of course, porcelain is the more popular choice, as it is also incredibly durable.

The Denture Creation Process

Firstly, your dentist will take impressions of your upper and lower arches, using these to develop a plaster model that will replicate your specific mouth. This will then be sent to a dental lab where the technicians will construct a wax replica of your gumline. Using a device known as an “articulator,” they’ll expertly place your artificial teeth in their proper positions, making any necessary minor changes to the wax so that it matches your natural gums.

The wax dentures will be sent back to our office for a fitting. If all is well, we’ll send them back to the dental lab for completion. The technicians will then boil the dentures to melt off the wax substance by placing them in a flask and pouring plaster inside to maintain the shape of the prosthetics. The flask will then be placed in hot water. Holes will be made in the teeth so the substance can stick to them, a liquid separator will be added to prevent the acrylic from attaching to the plaster, and then acrylic will be injected to replace the wax in the flask.

Using special lab tools, the technicians will remove the plaster and place the dentures in an ultrasonic bath to get rid of any remaining plaster. The dentures will then be polished after being trimmed of any extra acrylic. Finally, you’ll return to our office for a fitting once we’ve received the final results. We can also make any necessary adjustments to ensure your prosthetics work effectively before sending you on your way.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

It’s natural to feel some mild discomfort when first wearing your dentures, as your gums will need to get used to them. You’ll need to wear your new prosthetics for the first 24 hours; after that, you’ll want to remove them every night before bed. Over time, your dentures should start to feel much more natural in your mouth. To help make this a smoother transition, stick to softer foods and exercise your facial muscles often. If you notice any lingering discomfort, notify us for help.

Psychological Benefits

People who don’t have any teeth often have trouble accepting their tooth loss. Those who are insecure about tooth loss are less likely to engage in social activities, and they have a higher risk of experiencing sadness and depression. By restoring the appearance and function of one’s smile with dentures, patients are likely to have a boost in their confidence and self-esteem.

Clearer Enunciation

Missing teeth can make it more difficult to speak. In order to pronounce and perform words, your lips and tongue need to be positioned properly. Without being able to touch your tongue to your teeth, some sounds can be very difficult to make. Because dentures act as your missing teeth, they can make it much easier for you to enunciate clearly. After just a short adjustment period and some practice, speaking will come naturally.

Improves Nutrition

Lots of nutritious foods are tough in texture. This includes certain vegetables, fruits, and healthy proteins. When you aren’t able to chew your food thoroughly thanks to tooth loss, you can experience issues like indigestion and malnutrition. By improving your ability to chew with dentures, you can have a more expansive diet filled with nutritious foods. Ultimately, this can help you receive the essential nutrients you need for optimal overall health.

Preserves Oral Health

If you still have some healthy natural teeth, getting dentures can help to prevent them from shifting to other areas of the mouth. Dentures are also able to bear the weight of regular chewing, reducing the wear and tear of the existing teeth.

Expands Opportunity

Your smile is one of the first things that others notice about you. When it comes to job interviews, sales, and getting promotions, it is crucial that you are making a great first impression, and a complete smile does nothing but help!

Removable Dentures

Remove After Eating

Once you’ve finished a meal, you’ll want to remove your dentures and rinse them off. This will help to avoid the accumulation of debris, food particles, and plaque-causing bacteria. Make sure not to use hot water when washing your restorations, as this can damage and warp them, resulting in ill-fitted dentures.

Clean Your Restoration

After rinsing off your dentures, you should also use a soft-bristled toothbrush to scrub off any particles from your restoration. Try using a small amount of hand soap, dish soap, or denture cleanser to clean your prosthetic teeth. Using regular toothpaste may be too abrasive for your dentures. If you aren’t going to wear them immediately after cleaning them, store them in a container of denture-cleansing solution or lukewarm water to keep them from drying out or losing their form. Always rinse them again before placing them back in your mouth, as you’ll want to avoid ingesting the cleaning materials.

Keep Your Dentures Safe

While cleaning your dentures, it’s best to have a towel underneath them in case you accidentally drop them. This can help prevent the possibility of breaking or damaging them if they happen to slip from your hands. Whenever you aren’t wearing or cleaning them, be sure to keep them out of reach from small children and pets.

Remove Dentures When You Sleep

Before heading to bed, you’ll want to take your dentures out, rinse them, and store them somewhere safe. Leaving them in your mouth overnight can end up restricting blood flow to your gums, increasing the risk of soft-tissue irritation. Bacteria can also accumulate between your gums and dentures, which can raise the chances of pneumonia and gum/tongue plaque. You also don’t want them to dry out and lose their shape. To avoid these complications, soak your dentures overnight in lukewarm water or denture solution.

Notice Changes

Other than keeping them clean and safe, be sure to keep an eye out for any significant changes in your restorations. If you notice any signs of gum irritation, mouth sores, or infection, you’ll want to notify your dentist right away. You should also seek care if your restorations start to click, shift, or show other signs of not fitting properly. If your dentures get damaged, do not try to repair them, as this can cause further damage. Reach out to your dentist instead.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures

Ultimately, several factors affect the total cost of dentures in Copperas Cove. Those elements include:

• Any preliminary dental work needed before getting dentures (i.e., tooth extractions or periodontal disease treatment)
• Number of natural teeth you’re missing
• Type of acrylic used for the base (the part that’s dyed to match the color of your gum tissue)
• Materials used to make your replacement teeth (usually acrylic or porcelain)

Do you want to keep your out-of-pocket expenses as low as possible? If so, you might be considering getting cheaper dentures. It’s important to note that just because they’re more affordable doesn’t mean they’re worth having. The dentures are often made of cheap materials which break easily, meaning you’ll need a replacement much sooner than anticipated. When it comes to dental work, quality should always be of utmost importance regardless of cost!

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Short answer: yes, but there’s a good reason for that. Implant dentures are more expensive than traditional ones because they require oral surgery and the placement of multiple dental implants. Even though the process is more invasive, your dentures would be far more reliable for day-to-day use because they’ll stay firmly in place. They also help stimulate the jawbone, providing you with increased biting strength and longevity. Another reason why implant dentures are a worthwhile investment is they can last for decades (sometimes even a lifetime), while traditional ones will need replacement every few years.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Since dentures are considered a major procedure, most dental insurance plans will cover about half of the total cost. Of course, every policy is unique, which is why you should confirm the details of your coverage with an insurance provider. Our team at Cove Choice Dental will be more than happy to help you with this step if needed. We can review your plan and do everything possible to maximize your benefits and significantly reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

We understand that not every patient has dental insurance, which is why we offer CareCredit financing. It allows you to split up the total cost of your treatment into smaller, budget-friendly monthly installments. You can choose from multiple low-to-no interest plans and select one that fits your budget perfectly. With this option, even the most expensive dental treatments can be affordable!

Are you ready to rebuild your smile with dentures in Copperas Cove? Contact our office and schedule a consultation today! We’ll discuss your treatment options and work with you to keep your total expenses as low as possible.