Dentures – Savannah, GA

Effects of Missing Teeth

Teeth are very strong, but they aren’t indestructible. The more common causes of tooth loss include tooth decay, gum disease, and injury. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, this can lead to a variety of negative consequences, including facial sagging, difficulty speaking, trouble eating, and a lower self-esteem. By restoring your smile with dentures, you can improve all of these areas of your life, showing off a beautiful, complete smile again!

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

Dentures are an excellent option for patients who have experienced significant tooth loss. Those who get dentures must also be committed to their dental hygiene routine and willing to properly care for their dentures and smile.

The number of teeth you are missing and where they are located in your mouth will determine which type of denture is best for you. One of the great things about dentures is that they are more affordable than other tooth-replacement options, making them ideal for those who are unable to invest a lot of money into their smile at this time.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

If you don’t make a good candidate for dentures, or they don’t seem like the ideal option for you, you can check out some of our other solutions to tooth loss:

• Dental Bridges: Dental bridges work by “bridging” the gap with a replacement tooth via dental crowns. This is ideal for patients who are only missing one or a few teeth. They require healthy teeth surrounding the missing tooth/teeth to support the bridge.
• Dental Implants: A dental implant is a titanium post that is inserted into the jawbone via a surgical procedure. To get dental implants, patients must have a solid bone structure. This option is more costly than traditional dentures, but it’s permanent. 

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

What Are Dentures Made Of?

Your denture will consist of two main components: the base and the artificial pearly whites. Here’s what to expect from each part:

• Denture Base : This portion is the foundation and “stepping stone” for renewing your bite. The base is designed to support your replacement teeth, and it can be constructed out of a wide range of materials, such as resin, metal, nylon, acrylic, or porcelain. In most cases, full dentures will likely be made from acrylic due to its durability and ability to perfectly match your natural gum tissue. For partial dentures, you might expect an acrylic base with metal clasps for support.
• Artificial Teeth : Your replacement teeth will be fitted into the denture base, and they’ll usually be made out of resin or porcelain for their natural-looking appearance. That said, porcelain is perhaps the more popular option because of its durability and more lifelike feel. Since porcelain might be abrasive on nearby natural teeth, it’s mainly used for full dentures.

The Denture Creation Process

Creating your dental prosthetic will involve multiple steps over a couple of appointments. Here’s what you can expect from the process:

• Our team will take impressions of your smile as well as measurements of your jaw—both of which will be used to construct a plaster replica of your mouth. This cast will then be sent to a dental lab so they can create your dentures.
• Using the replica, the lab technicians will develop a wax version of your gum line so that they can place artificial teeth with an articulator. Minor adjustments will be made to ensure the wax perfectly matches your natural gums.
• Once the wax dentures are fabricated, they’ll be brought to us for a fitting. Should we approve them, we’ll send them back to the lab for finalization.
• At the lab, the technician will place the dentures in a flask of which plaster will be poured to preserve the shape of the prosthetics. This flask will then be boiled in hot water to melt off the wax.
• Holes will be made in the teeth so that the material can stick to them. The plaster layer will have a liquid separator added to it to keep the acrylic from attaching, then acrylic will be injected into the flask to replace the wax.
• The technician will then carefully remove the plaster with special tools to uncover the dentures before placing them in an ultrasonic bath for more thorough plaster removal. Any excess acrylic will be cut away before the dentures are trimmed and polished for completion.
• Once your final dentures are ready, you’ll return to us to receive them. We’ll make any minor adjustments to ensure they properly fit before letting you make the most of your new smile.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

Some minor degree of discomfort is to be expected when wearing your dentures for the first time. Your gums and any other existing teeth will need to grow accustomed to the new prosthetics, which can make it difficult to eat and speak effectively at first. Thankfully, with a little time, repetition, and practice, you can help your new smile feel much more natural and comfortable in no time! Don’t hesitate to consult our team if you need help with this adjustment process, as we can provide you with adhesive if necessary. Be sure to also stick to softer foods and exercise your facial muscles regularly.

Psychological Benefits

When you have gaps in your smile, you may experience embarrassment or be hesitant to draw attention to yourself, talk, or eat around other people. Due to being custom-made, dentures look like natural teeth and blend seamlessly with your smile. As a result, you may not mind standing out in front of others. You can feel more confident showing your prosthetic pearly whites and feel a significant boost in your self-esteem.

Clearer Enunciation

Missing teeth can make pronouncing certain words difficult to put it mildly, and being unable to clearly communicate verbally can be isolating. However, dentures provide the oral structure needed to articulate sounds. Consequently, you can more easily connect with those around you. Just imagine the conversations you can have with friends, family, and others!

Improves Nutrition

Gum tissue is sensitive and soft—not the best for biting and grinding up food. If you don’t have a complete set of teeth, eating can present a challenge. Unfortunately, soft foods tend to be less nutritious. On the other hand, with replacement teeth like dentures, you’ll find it easier to bite and chew your favorite foods. They’ll thus let you eat a more nutritious diet that boosts your overall health.

Preserves Oral Health

For those with natural teeth left, a partial denture maintains the proper spacing, which preserves these teeth for as long as possible. Otherwise, these teeth will shift out of alignment and be at an increased risk of future extraction. In addition, implant dentures, specifically, can prevent facial collapse. In maintaining your jawbone, then, they’ll keep your cheeks from looking hollow!

Expands Opportunities

Whether you would like to get a better job, meet new people, or even find a romantic partner, having a whole, confident smile can open doors. In fact, studies show that those who with an attractive smile are more likely to be promoted and get hired. Who knows what could result from replacing your missing teeth with natural-looking dentures?

Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures

There are three major factors that determine the overall cost of your dentures:

• The Base: This is one of two main pieces that make up a typical denture prosthetic. The type of material used in the base of the denture (usually acrylic) can vary in price and quality.
• The False Teeth: The second main part of a denture is the teeth themselves. These are most often made from porcelain, but there are other options available.
• Mouth Preparation: If you need any preparatory treatments before getting dentures such as extractions, they can increase the overall cost of your dentures.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Typically, implanted dentures are far more expensive because of the unique system of attachment. However, they can also be one of the sturdiest and most comfortable ways to handle tooth replacement. Because these prosthetics are anchored by strategically placed dental implants, they don’t slip. They also last much longer without needing to be replaced and can even help preserve your jawbone, unlike traditional dentures. So, while implanted dentures may cost more up-front, they offer a long-lasting solution with several distinct advantages.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

In most cases, dental insurance providers cover dentures as a major procedure, which usually means they will pay around 50 percent of the costs. However, the details of insurance plans can differ, so it’s important to make sure you have coverage before beginning your treatment. Our staff are insurance experts and will be happy to help you sift through your policy. They’ll even handle filing any claims you may have, providing you with peace of mind.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

We know that not every patient can afford dental insurance. This is why we’ve made every effort to ensure that this vital treatment is accessible for our patients; no matter what their situation. If you’re struggling to find the funds for your dentures, we offer an exclusive dental wellness plan as well as financing through CareCredit.

• Dental Wellness Plan: Our dental wellness plan provides many of the same benefits as traditional insurance but without the hassle of deductibles, annual limits, and tedious claim forms.
• CareCredit: This service lets qualifying patients finance their dental work up front and pay it off with monthly installments like a credit card. However, with CareCredit, there’s little to no interest added to the balance.

Removable Dentures

Remove After Eating

Remove and rinse your dentures after every meal to prevent accumulations of plaque and food debris. However, remember not to use hot water, as this can warp your dentures and ruin the way they fit.

Clean Your Restoration

Your dentures must be removed and cleaned every day. Gently brush your appliance with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a little bit of mild dish soap, unscented hand soap, or an approved denture cleanser. Remember not to use regular toothpaste, as it is too abrasive and can leave unsightly scratches on your dentures. If you’re not putting your dentures back in immediately, store them in a container of water or denture-cleansing solution to prevent them from drying out and warping. Before putting your appliance back in your mouth, always rinse it thoroughly to eliminate any lingering cleaning agents.

Keep Your Dentures Safe

When you remove your dentures to clean them, fill your sink with lukewarm water and place folded towels across the countertop. This will create a cushion that can prevent damage if you drop your appliance. Whenever you are not wearing your dentures, be sure to keep them out of the reach of pets and small children.

Remove Dentures When You Sleep

Wearing dentures restricts blood flow to your gums, so it’s important to take them out for at least eight hours a day so your mouth can rest and clean itself. Most patients remove their dentures before going to bed to prevent soft tissue irritation as well as plaque accumulation and infections like gum disease and pneumonia. Always store your dentures in a denture-soaking solution overnight to keep them from drying out and permanently losing their shape.

Notice Changes

Stay on the lookout for changes like oral sores, gum irritation, or signs of infection so you can point them out to us when you visit our office. If your dentures sustain damage, never try to fix them on your own since you could damage them further. Instead, give us a call so we can properly address the problem. If you notice that your dentures are shifting, clicking, or showing any other signs of fitting poorly, let us know. We may adjust your restoration with a reline or recommend replacement.

All-on-4 Dentures

Twice a day, brush your dentures with a soft-bristled manual or electric toothbrush. Make sure that you use a non-abrasive toothpaste that doesn’t contain baking soda or any other stain-removing agents. It’s also crucial to floss your restoration at least once a day, and floss threaders are available for purchase if you need help flossing beneath it. You may want to invest in a water flosser to make it easier to clean your implants and your restoration. If you’re looking for a better way to clean between your dentures and your gums, sulcus brushes may be a great option since they are one-third the width of normal toothbrushes. You should also rinse with antibacterial mouthwash every day to prevent tartar from developing.