Dentures – Collierville, TN

Effects of Missing Teeth

Tooth loss stems from various causes, and if left untreated, can pose a serious risk to your oral health. Common culprits include tooth decay, gum disease, and accidental facial injury. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, some disadvantages of missing teeth include facial sagging, speech impediments, chewing difficulties, and lower self-confidence.

Thankfully, dentures are an excellent solution to consider! By restoring both the appearance and functionality of your teeth, these oral prosthetics will allow you to speak, eat, and smile with complete confidence once again.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

For patients suffering from significant tooth loss, dentures are a wonderful solution to consider. However, you must have a strong commitment to properly caring for your new teeth and solid oral health before moving forward with this treatment. Addressing any existing dental issues, such as tooth decay or gum disease, is also incredibly important before proceeding with dentures.

It’s worth noting that the type of denture you'll receive will be determined by the extent of your tooth loss. The good news is that dentures are a more budget-friendly option compared to traditional options. Even with budget constraints, you can still achieve a complete smile!

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

Not a good candidate for dentures? That’s okay! Dr. Holcomb will recommend other options, such as dental bridges or implants:

• Dental Bridges: These prosthetics fill the gap left by a missing tooth, supported by adjacent teeth. Ideal for patients missing one or a few teeth, dental bridges require healthy surrounding teeth.
• Dental Implants: This involves inserting a titanium post into the jawbone to support a replacement tooth. Dental implants require a sturdy bone structure for secure anchoring. While they’re more expensive and involve surgery, dental implants offer unparalleled stability and lasting results.

Learn More About Dental Implants

What Are Dentures Made Of?

Regardless of how many teeth you need to replace, your dentures will include two main components; the base and the artificial teeth (pontics). Below is a more detailed description of each section:

• Denture base. This is the foundation used to hold your artificial teeth in place. It can be made from a variety of materials like acrylic, nylon, porcelain, resin, or metal. If you’re getting a full set of dentures, they’ll likely have an acrylic base because it so closely resembles the look and feel of your gums, although in some cases nylon is used in its place. Partial dentures typically include metal clips that attach to your remaining teeth to stabilize them in your mouth.
• Artificial teeth. The base will contain the appropriate number of pontics to refurbish your grin. They’re usually made from porcelain or composite resin because both can be customized to match your natural smile, though porcelain is often preferred for its durability. That said, it can be abrasive on neighboring teeth if you have any so if you’re getting partial dentures, they may be made of resin, instead.

The Denture Creation Process

Your dentures will be customized just for you and so there are many steps involved to ensure they look and feel exactly as intended. The step-by-step process generally includes:

• Step 1: Dr. Holcomb will take impressions of your upper and lower gums using a thick paste. You’ll bite into this firmly and remain still while it hardens around your teeth to create a reverse mold. This will be used to create a plaster model of your mouth to ensure your dentures fit correctly.
• Step 2: This cast is sent to a dental laboratory where technicians will start creating your dentures by placing a wax version of your gumline over the plaster.
• Step 3: Artificial teeth are built and placed into the wax with a mechanical device called an articulator. Then the technician will shape and carve the wax to look like your gums.
• Step 4: These wax dentures are sent back to Dr. Holcomb so that he can schedule you for a fitting. If everything looks good, they’ll be sent back to the lab to be finalized.
• Step 5: Back at the lab, the technician heats the dentures to melt the wax away. This is done by placing them into a flask that’s filled with plaster to capture the shape of the dentures. Then the entire flax is placed in hot water to boil the wax away.
• Step 6: Holes are inserted into the artificial teeth so the material can attach to them. A liquid separator is added to the plaster layer to keep the acrylic from sticking to it. Then acrylic is injected into the flask to replace the wax.
• Step 7: Using specialized lab tools, the plaster is carefully removed to reveal the dentures underneath. They’re cleaned in an ultrasonic bath to ensure none is leftover.
• Step 8: Any excess acrylic will be trimmed off and the dentures will be polished.
• Step 9: These will be sent to Dr. Holcomb for a final fitting with you to ensure the dentures fit and work properly.

Adjusting To Your New Dentures

You can anticipate a certain level of discomfort when you first get your dentures because your mouth isn’t used to having them in yet. For example, you may notice that your gums feel sore from the pressure of supporting them all day. You might also develop a lisp or other minor challenges speaking until your tongue and muscles become accustomed to them.

It’s important to be patient with yourself during this time because you’re having to relearn basic skills with a new oral appliance. It might help to stick with softer foods or try a denture adhesive until you’re more comfortable wearing them. After about a month, you’ll have adjusted and will be able to eat and speak more naturally.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures

There isn’t a set price for dentures because their cost is based on several factors. Your denture dentist in Collierville will provide you with an estimate during your initial consultation. On average, you can expect the fees to include:

• Additional Procedures: It’s not uncommon to need a little prep work before receiving your dentures, like tooth extractions. Any additional procedures will be included in the price.
• Type of Acrylic: The base will be made from acrylic and dyed to match the color of your gums. There are several materials that can be used to create the base, each with different costs.
• Replacement Teeth: Your new teeth will be made of acrylic or porcelain, which have different fees. It’s best to consider their appearance and durability when choosing a material.

Although everyone wants to save money, you shouldn’t necessarily choose the cheapest dentures in Collierville. As the saying goes, “you’ll get what you pay for.” It’s best to choose a high-quality denture that will offer a comfortable fit and serve you for many years with the right care.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Typically, implant dentures are more expensive up front; however, they are most cost-effective long-term. With the support of implant posts, you’ll enjoy a nearly perfect replica of your natural teeth to eliminate any slipping or irritation. Dental implants have over a 95% success rate to last for decades, unlike a traditional denture that will need to be replaced every 5 to 7 years. Although you’ll pay more initially, implant dentures can save you money down the road.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Every dental insurance policy differs, but most plans offer coverage for dentures. They are considered a major procedure, so you can expect your policy to cover about 50% of the costs depending on your plan. After reaching your annual deductible, you can use your benefits to offset the amount you need to pay. We know dental insurance can be confusing, which is why our team is here to help. We’ll file the necessary paperwork to maximize your coverage to keep your treatment affordable.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

If you have any out-of-pocket expense, our office accepts a variety of payment options to keep a complete smile within your budget, such as:

• Traditional Payments: We accept traditional payment methods, including cash, check, and most major credit cards.
• Third-Party Financing: We work with third-party financing. You are given the funds you need, which you’ll repay using a flexible payment plan.

A member of our team will explain your options for payment and help you find the solutions you need to treat your tooth loss without breaking the bank.

Removable Dentures

Remove After Eating

Food debris and plaque can build up on your dentures just as easily as they can accumulate anywhere else in your mouth. As such, whenever you finish eating, you should take your dentures out and gently rinse them off. Always avoid using hot water on your dentures; high temperatures might warp the material that your prosthesis is made out of.

Clean Your Restoration

It’s important to give your dentures a good cleaning at least once every day. Even with regular rinsing, harmful bacteria could still be living on your replacement teeth, and you need to get rid of them as soon as possible. Fortunately, cleaning dentures is actually quite simple; a soft-bristled toothbrush and some dish soap are often enough to do the job. (Do not use toothpaste, as it tends to be too harsh on artificial teeth and may cause lasting damage.)

Keep Your Dentures Safe

While we do design dentures to be durable, the fact of the matter is that they can break if dropped or handled improperly. Therefore, you need to be as careful as possible with them, especially when they’re outside of your mouth. When cleaning them, make sure to hold them over a towel or another soft object to minimize the risk of damage from falls. And when you store them, put them in a place where children and pets can’t get to them easily.

Remove Dentures When You Sleep

Wearing your dentures 24/7 might sound like a harmless decision, but as far as your oral health is concerned it’s simply not a good choice. It restricts the circulation of blood in your gums, which can cause your soft tissues to become irritated. Furthermore, keeping dentures in the mouth overnight has been shown to increase the risk of developing pneumonia.

As such, you should always take your dentures out before you go to sleep. Make sure that you keep them in a container that has been filled with a denture-soaking solution. This is to help them stay moist even while you’re not wearing them; dentures can potentially lose their shape if they’re allowed to dry out.

Notice Changes

Any problems that arise with your dentures should be dealt with as soon as possible. Call our office right away if:

• Your dentures don’t fit correctly.
• Your dentures have been damaged.
• You are experiencing mouth sores, gum irritation, or other concerning oral developments that might be linked to your dentures.