Dentures – Fort Worth, TX

Effects of Missing Teeth

While age does play a role in tooth loss, it’s not the only factor. Some patients lose teeth due to decay, gum disease, or even accidents. So, it doesn’t matter whether you’re younger or older, tooth loss affects everyone in the same ways, including:

• Speech difficulties including slurred speech or mumbling.
• Digestive issues like acid reflux or indigestion.
• Reduced self-esteem as well as anxiety and depression.
• Loss of facial structure including jawbone density that causes facial sagging.
• Oral health issues such as altered bite, cavities, gum disease, and TMJ pain.

You may experience one or all of these symptoms as a result of tooth loss, making even simple daily tasks challenging. Dentures are a great way to resolve these issues, restoring both the aesthetics and function of your smile.

What Are the Qualities of a Great Candidate for Dentures?

Dentures are great for patients with extensive tooth loss or who may be more prone to dental issues like chronic sensitivity or decay. Some other qualities our team looks for in denture candidates include:

• Sufficient jawbone density to support denture prosthetics.
• Healthy gum tissue free from periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis.)
• Willingness to commit to a good oral health routine.
• Necessity for budget-friendly treatment.

Dentures are a flexible and affordable tooth loss solution that can accommodate multiple types of tooth loss from rows to whole dental arches. At your consultation, we’ll examine your mouth and go over your options to find the best type of dentures that fit your needs.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

Not every patient with tooth loss needs dentures. Sometimes, your dentist may find an alternative that works better for your situation. For example, if you have healthy teeth on either side of the gap in your smile, a dental bridge made from porcelain crowns fused with durable false teeth offers a more stable solution.

Dental implants are another great treatment that can support a variety of restorations. This makes it a flexible option if you’re missing one tooth, a row of them, or an entire dental arch. They can even be used to secure a denture prosthetic to give you a more permanent and comfortable smile.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures

We consider many different things in the cost of your dentures, such as the number of teeth being replaced, the location of these teeth, and whether you’re attaching your denture to implants. As you might imagine, partial dentures usually cost less than full dentures. If you are having preliminary work done, like tooth extractions or implant placement, the overall price will go up as well. After we’ve had the chance to create your treatment plan, we can go through the specific cost, as well as ways to make it more affordable.

Are Dental Implant Dentures More Expensive?

In general, yes, implant dentures tend to cost more than traditional dentures, but that’s because they offer so much more. Not only do they replace the visible portion of your teeth but also the root structure. By doing this, these prosthetic teeth provide more stability and strength to your bite, keep the jawbone strong, and last much longer than traditional dentures. In fact, over time, you may find that implant dentures can save you money because they do not need to be adjusted or replaced as frequently as normal dentures.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Although individual policies may differ slightly, most dental insurance plans do cover part of the cost of dentures. In fact, many tend to pay for about half of the total cost of these prosthetic teeth; however, before we give you an estimate for your dentures, we’ll need to verify your plan’s coverage. We’ll be happy to walk you through the entire insurance process and help you understand your benefits.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

As with any needs or questions, you can certainly ask our team for help. We will do our best to make sure you’re taking full advantage of your insurance benefits. Other than insurance, our team is willing to work with you to find a solution that works best with your budget. We may also accept payment through a trusted financier, dividing the cost into lower, easier monthly payments.

Am I a Good Candidate for Dentures?

Whether you’re getting a partial denture, full denture, or implant denture, you need to be in good oral health before your lost teeth can be replaced. If you have gum disease, decayed or damaged teeth, or any other oral problem, we’ll address it prior to beginning denture treatment. To be eligible for implant dentures, however, you must also have enough jawbone density to support the implants. Do not be discouraged if you are not a good candidate initially. With most patients, we can get them in a position where their teeth can be successfully restored with traditional or implant dentures.

How Long Does Getting Dentures Take?

The timeline for receiving your dentures depends on several factors. For instance, if you first need to have any teeth removed, the process can be delayed by six weeks to allow the gum tissue to heal properly and fully. For those who are getting implant dentures, the process can take as long as six months before the final dentures can be attached to the implants.

We won’t be able to give you an accurate timeline until we’ve had a chance to examine your mouth. During your consultation with your denture dentist in Fort Worth, we can discuss how long your treatment will take based on your specific circumstances.

Do Dentures Hurt?

Modern dentures are fabricated to fit better than ever before. If you’re new to wearing dentures, however, you can expect to experience some irritation in the gum tissue, which is normal at first. Eating and speaking comfortably with traditional dentures can also be a challenge at the beginning, but given enough time, you should adapt and be able to function without pain or discomfort of any kind.

How Are Dentures Supposed to Be Maintained?

Although your prosthetic teeth may look realistic, keeping them clean and healthy requires different care than natural teeth. Instead of brushing and flossing your teeth after a meal, you should take your dentures out, thoroughly rinse them to remove food debris, and place them back in your mouth. Then, every night, you need to soak them in denture cleanser while you sleep to eliminate bacteria. About twice per year, visits to our dental office allow you to get a professional cleaning for your dentures as well as a checkup to make sure there are no problems with your gums or prosthetic teeth.

How Long Will I Have to Wait to Get Dentures After Tooth Extractions?

In some cases, you may have to get some of your teeth pulled before you can be eligible for dentures. If this is necessary for you, then you might expect to wait anywhere between six to eight weeks before you can move forward with your tooth replacement. That said, the precise amount of time will depend on several factors, such as the type of dentures you’re receiving. You’ll need to wait for your gums to completely recover, which will also allow your dentist to confirm that your prosthetic will fit flush in your mouth. If you’ve opted for implant dentures, then you’ll have to allow the metal post about four to six months to fuse with your jawbone via osseointegration.

Can I Sleep with My Dentures?

While sleeping with your dentures on is possible, we highly recommend that you take them out before going to bed. Most patients will be instructed to keep their prosthetics in for the first 24 hours after receiving them, including bedtime. After the first day, you’ll want to remove them every night. Each time you wear your dentures, the circulation in your gums will be restricted, which can result in irritation of the soft tissues and even speed up ridge resorption. By taking them out, you’ll allow your gums a chance to heal and receive the necessary nutrients as you sleep. Additionally, leaving them in can allow harmful bacteria to accumulate and grow overnight, which can increase your risk of serious issues like pneumonia. To maintain good gum health, be sure to soak your dentures in a cup of water or cleansing solution while you sleep.

Is It Difficult to Speak with Dentures?

Many patients do find it challenging to speak clearly when first getting their dentures. While it will take some time to get used to talking with your new teeth, constant practice is often the best way to speed up the adjustment process. Some people experience a slight lisp at the beginning due to changes in their palate. Once your tongue becomes accustomed to these changes, this symptom should go away.

Take the time to pronounce and repeat words, phrases, and sounds that are particularly difficult, such as ‘v’, ‘f’, and ‘s’. After getting used to the way your dentures work in your mouth, start reading aloud and speaking slowly until you adjust to the movements. If you have difficulty keeping your dentures firmly in place, you can bite down and swallow, use denture adhesive, or visit us in case we need to make any adjustments.

What Can’t I Eat with Dentures?

Although dentures are meant to restore the look and function of your natural teeth, they typically only return 25-30% of your biting power. This means you’ll need to avoid certain foods so that you can enjoy your meals comfortably. Treats that are too hard or crunchy, such as popcorn, apples, nuts, and carrot sticks, can cause your dentures to become dislodged or damaged. Sticky foods like gummy candies and peanut butter could end up pulling your prosthetics out, which can allow debris and bacteria to get stuck underneath them as well as irritate your gums. Tougher meals like pork chops and steak will require excessive chewing, which can place too much stress on your dentures and your gumline. For these, it’s recommended to cut them up into small pieces first.