Dentures – Landrum, SC

Effects of Missing Teeth

Missing teeth can happen for several reasons like physical trauma, gum disease, and dental decay. Whatever the cause of your tooth loss, it can have a profound effect on your day-to-day life. For example, you may experience:

• Decreased Mental Health: Looking in the mirror and seeing an incomplete smile can be debilitating to your mental health. Feelings of anxiety and depression often appear as a result of lowered self-esteem.
• Loss of Interest in Socializing: Embarrassment over tooth loss can lead to a marked decrease in your willingness to socialize with others.
• Speech Difficulties: Your ability to speak depends largely on having a complete smile to control the air in your mouth as well as giving your tongue a place to articulate.
• Loss of Nutrition and Appetite: Many patients find foods they once enjoyed harder to eat with tooth loss. Most of the time, they’ll stop eating those meals rather than try to adjust, leading to lower nutrition.

What Are the Qualities of a Great Candidate for Dentures?

Dentures are a great option for many patients, but who can truly benefit from them? Here are the qualities we look for when determining if dentures are the right path for a patient in need:

• Extensive Tooth Loss: Dentures excel at treating extensive tooth loss with large gaps or entire missing arches.
• Healthy Gums and Jawbone: If you are free from gum disease and have sufficient bone density in your jaw, dentures can be supported.
• Need for Affordability: As one of the least expensive tooth loss solutions, dentures are great for patients on a tight budget.
• Willingness for Commitment: We love to help patients who also want to help themselves. Commitment to oral hygiene is very important for the longevity of your prosthetics.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

Even if you meet all the criteria for dentures, they may not be the right fit for you for one reason or another. However, there’s no reason to worry. We offer other tooth replacement options that offer the same benefits in different situations, such as:

• Dental Bridges: If you’re only missing one or two teeth in a row and have otherwise healthy dental structure, a bridge might be a great option. This treatment uses a prosthetic composed of two crowns fused with one or two false teeth called pontics. Two healthy teeth are made into anchor points for the bridge to attach to, effectively filling the gap.
• Dental Implants: Dental implants are small titanium fixtures placed into your jawbone. These allow multiple restorations to be attached to them, even dentures! With the help of dental implants, your smile can last longer and stay healthier.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

What are Dentures Made Of?

Dentures are typically crafted from multiple materials, like the following:

• The Denture Base: The base of dentures is crafted from a gum-colored acrylic material that’s custom designed to look virtually indistinguishable from your natural soft oral tissue. The base itself is formed based on the gum impression that we send to our laboratory to fit securely atop the gumline.
• The Replacement Teeth: The artificial teeth that will be placed within your dentures can be crafted from resin or porcelain. Both are custom-shaded to look lifelike and match any existing natural teeth.

The Denture Creation Process

1. Wax Model: Once the dental laboratory receives the impression, they’ll create a wax model of your mouth, checking its fit and shape. They will then attach the teeth to the wax after placing the model into an articulator, which simulates the function of the jaw.
2. Creation of Plaster Mold: The laboratory technician will then shape and mold the wax by hand, making it resemble your gums and teeth. This will serve as the blueprint for your permanent dentures. The technician will then place the dentures in a flask and pour plaster into it, followed by hot water to melt the wax.
3. Insertion of Acrylic & Other Materials: Once the wax is melted, a liquid separator will be added to the plaster model and the acrylic will be injected into the mold to create the denture base. Afterward, the porcelain or resin replacement teeth will be inserted into the denture.
4. Polishing & Finishing Touches: After the dentures are removed from the plaster mold, they’ll be polished and put through an ultrasonic bath to remove any debris. They’ll then be sent to our office for the final fitting!

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

It typically takes about 30 days to adjust to the feel of your new dentures in your mouth, so give yourself time! This is because the muscles used to eat and speak need to have an opportunity to build up. We recommend practicing speaking and reading out loud to help speed this process up. If you notice that your dentures don’t fit well, call us so we can make some adjustments.

Psychological Benefits

It’s natural to feel self-conscious when things that used to be second-nature are suddenly much more of a chore. Your smile is one of the first things others notice about you, and many people with missing teeth worry about how they’ll be perceived. If your fear becomes overwhelming, you can even develop anxiety and depression or avoid spending time with people.

Fortunately, your dentures are completely customized to look as realistic as possible to simultaneously boost your smile’s appearance and functionality. This can improve your self-esteem, so you aren’t as concerned about social interactions.

Clearer Enunciation

You form a variety of different sounds and words by pressing your tongue against your teeth in specific ways. It’s not uncommon for patients to develop a lisp or other changes in their speech patterns when they lose some of their permanent teeth that interfere with their ability to communicate. Your artificial teeth allow you to relearn how to speak clearly so that you can be more easily understood.

Improves Nutrition

Your teeth support your general health because they grind food to be easily swallowed and digested. When some fall out, it’s harder to bite into or sufficiently chew your meals. As a result, you could develop gastrointestinal issues trying to absorb too-large pieces or malnutrition trying to stick to soft, bland ingredients.

With dentures in place, you’ll be able to enjoy more wholesome foods to give your body all the essential nutrients it needs to remain strong and healthy.

Preserves Oral Health

If you still have some natural teeth remaining, they’re likely to shift out of alignment to fill in any spaces in your smile. This dental drifting leaves unevenly wears down your enamel, leaving you prone to chips, cracks, and other injuries.

That means getting dentures can preserve your oral health. It ensures your adult teeth remain in their rightful places to preserve them.

Expands Opportunities

Did you know that according to a study shared in 2019, the probability of being employed is negatively associated with poor dental health? The condition of your teeth says a lot about you, and if some are missing, it might look like you don’t know how to care for yourself. If you have an upcoming job interview or are up for a promotion, it’s important to look your best. Refurbishing your grin with dentures can give you the confidence to put your best foot forward, increasing your chances for success.

Factors that affect the Cost of Dentures

Everyone’s smile is unique, which is why there isn’t a pre-determined fee for dentures in Landrum. Various circumstances influence the cost, such as:

• Preparatory Work: It’s not uncommon to require additional procedures to become a candidate for dentures, such as tooth extractions or periodontal therapy.
• Number of Teeth: If you only need a partial, you can expect to pay less than a patient needing a full denture.
• Materials: Discounted materials will cost more in the long run because they may not be durable or comfortable. Your denture dentist in Landrum will help you choose the best materials for optimal fit and aesthetics.

During your consultation, we’ll provide you with a personalized estimate and explain the fees associated with your plan. You’ll know exactly what you’ll need to pay, so you aren’t caught off guard by any surprise expenses.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Yes, implant dentures are initially more expensive than traditional treatments, but for good reason. Conventional dentures only recreate the portions of your teeth above the gumline, whereas implant dentures replace the entire tooth structure, including the roots. This provides a nearly perfect replica of your natural smile using a method with over a 95% success rate. Not to mention, dental implants are proven to last for decades with the proper aftercare, like committing to your oral hygiene. You’ll save money down the road because you won’t need replacements every few years. An implant denture can end up paying for itself over time.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Every insurance policy differs, but most dental plans offer some coverage for dentures. We will work on your behalf with your insurance to file the necessary claim forms to maximize your benefits. After reaching your deductible, you can use your coverage to offset the amount you pay out-of-pocket until hitting your annual limit. A member of our team will explain how your coverage is being used and discuss any remaining balance.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

Your financial situation should never prevent you from having a functional smile. Our office offers several options to replace your missing teeth without draining your wallet, such as:

• Traditional Payments: We accept all forms of traditional payment methods, including cash, check, and most major credit cards.
• Third-Party Financing: Based on your credit approval, you’re provided the funds for your denture, which you’ll repay using a flexible monthly plan.

Contact our office today to schedule your consultation for dentures, or to learn more about our payment methods to rebuild your smile.

Can I sleep with my dentures?

No one wants to be caught without their teeth, but after the first 24 hours, it’s best to remove your dentures nightly. Initially, your denture dentist in Landrum, Dr. Moneyhun, will recommend sleeping with them in your mouth, but then you’ll need to make removing them a nightly habit. Your oral health, general wellness, and the lifespan of your new teeth rely on the break. Your dentures restrict circulation in your gums, which can lead to irritation of the soft tissues and quicker ridge resorption. Both issues can be prevented by giving your gums time to recover to receive the vital nutrients they need. Not to mention, your mouth is dark and moist, creating the ideal breeding ground for bacteria that can lead to infections and odors. Cleaning and soaking your dentures nightly removes bacteria and plaque to keep your mouth healthy and breath fresh. You’ll also promote the longevity of your dentures to prolong your investment.

Do I use regular toothpaste to clean my dentures?

Although your dentures aren’t susceptible to tooth decay, they should be brushed and rinsed at least once per day; however, you don’t want to use just any dental products. Regular toothpaste and hard-bristled toothbrushes are abrasive. They can cause small scratches that can trap food particles and bacteria, causing your dentures to smell and look tarnished. You can avoid damaging your dentures while keeping your mouth clean by using a soft-bristled toothbrush and hand soap or mild dishwashing liquid to remove plaque and bacteria. It’s best to clean and rinse your dentures after every meal. Don’t forget to soak your teeth in a denture cleanser at night to remove anything left behind by your toothbrush.

What is the average age for dentures?

Despite continual innovations in dentistry, tooth loss is still a common problem for adults of all ages. Although anyone can lose a permanent tooth, age often increases the risk of a deficient smile. About 66% of adults between the ages of 40 and 64 have lost at least one tooth, whereas only 33% of adults aged 20-30 have an incomplete smile. While there isn’t any age requirement for dentures, most people need a full or partial after the age of 40. The American Dental Association estimates 57% of people over the age of 65 wear some type of denture. While the need is often associated with age, you don’t have to wait for retirement to replace your missing teeth. We offer solutions for everyone, no matter your age or severity of tooth loss.