Do you have missing teeth that impact your appearance and lifestyle? If so, you may benefit from our custom-made dentures in Belmont. Dr. David Salibian offers a variety of denture options to treat a wide range of cases. Before committing to your treatment, we’ve included some important information you may be curious about! Read on to learn more about our dentures and whether or not they are right for you.
Types of Dentures
We offer different types of dentures to treat all patterns of tooth loss:
Partial Dentures
If you’re missing part of your smile or random teeth throughout your mouth, Dr. Salibian can use a partial denture to complete your grin like missing pieces to a puzzle. A partial denture is typically made up of a gum-colored base that is attached to artificial teeth, held in place using metal clasps.
Full Dentures
For those missing all or most of their teeth, we may recommend a full denture. This is a gum-colored based attached to artificial teeth that are typically made of durable resin. The prosthesis rests on top of the gums, relying on suction and denture adhesive to stay in place.
Implant-Retained Dentures
This option combines dentures and dental implants to provide the most stable full smile replacement available. Using an average of 4 dental implants that are placed in the jawbone as supports, we can mount a denture on top. This solution looks and feels like a natural smile because dental implants replace teeth from the roots up.
Candidates for Dentures
Because no two smiles are the same, the only way to know if you’re a good candidate for dentures is to visit our office for a consultation with Dr. Salibian. He will carefully examine your mouth and the condition of your overall health before recommending a personalized treatment plan. Keep in mind that any preexisting issues must be corrected before getting dentures. Plus, you may need tooth extractions in the case of full or implant-retained dentures. Usually, denture candidates are those who are missing teeth, committed to oral health/denture maintenance, and ready to enjoy a full set of teeth. To schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to contact our office!
Denture Maintenance
The key to long lasting and successful dentures is how well you maintain them. Be sure to remove them every night, soaking your prosthesis in denture solution or water. This shakes loose plaque and bacteria that build up throughout the day. While you may not have natural teeth, it’s vital to brush your gums and tongue to prevent disease and infection. You can also use a denture cleaner or soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clean your artificial smile, keeping it nice and beautiful. By following these steps as well as visiting our office regularly, you will enjoy your dentures for 5 to 7 years!
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
Dentures are a highly personalized product, so the cost of your tooth replacement will largely vary from someone else’s. Everything from the number of teeth Dr. Salibian needs to replace to the materials used to fabricate your prosthesis will incur their own unique costs. Our office is happy to break them down for you in more detail during your next appointment.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures
There are three particular factors that influence the cost of dentures the most. They include the following:
Potential preparatory treatments needed before the denture can be worn comfortably (i.e. tooth extractions)
The specific type of acrylic material used to create the gum-colored portion of the denture (or the base) which is personalized to blend in with existing gum tissue
The quality of the replacement teeth, which can be made from either acrylic (cheaper) or porcelain (more expensive)
When you’re considering dentures, it’s very important that you don’t settle for something very cheap. Tooth replacements that you’ll be using every day should be comfortable and easy to use, and incredibly cheap dentures often don’t cut it for most people.
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
Implant dentures are generally more expensive because they involve the use of placing multiple prosthetic roots. By placing dental implants into the jaw first and giving them time to integrate, the denture has a far more stable foundation to rely on. That means the denture is not slipping or shifting out of place, you can expand your diet, and you’ll have more confidence in your appearance. For many, it’s considered a long-term investment that pays itself off, especially when considering the fact that dentures generally need to be replaced every five to seven years on average. Implant dentures can last for decades, which largely justifies the higher price for many.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
Under most dental insurance plans, dentures are considered a major procedure. That means they tend to have around 50% of their costs covered by a dental plan. However, this number can vary from plan to plan, so it’s very important to confirm if this is the case with your insurance provider directly. Our dental team will gladly help you go over your benefits in better detail before treatment starts, so you aren’t caught off guard by surprise costs.
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
Even if you don’t have dental insurance, there are other options available to you that work to make care more affordable overall. For example, those looking for a manageable monthly payment plan with low to no interest attached will find CareCredit to be more ideal. This third-party financing option enables you to cover the cost of expensive treatments over a longer span of time. Alternatively, our office’s in-house Wellness Dental Access Plan gives you discounts on all other services as soon as you sign up!
Want to learn more about how you can receive your new denture? Set up a consultation with EyeSmile today and we’ll help you get started!
Denture FAQs
Getting dentures in Belmont for the first time is quite the adjustment at first. Dr. Salibian is always happy to answer questions, but he knows that getting new teeth can be stressful time, which is why he wants to do everything he can to try and get the information you need to you as early as possible. Check out the list of frequently asked questions that we’ve compiled below. Call our office if you have another concern that isn’t addressed here.
Should I Have All My Teeth Pulled to Get Dentures?
When you still have your natural teeth, salvaging them is always better than replacing them. If any of your teeth are broken or diseased, we’ll first recommend treatments to try and restore them while preventing the damage from spreading. But if tooth extractions are determined to be necessary because the teeth in question are beyond saving, then dentures are a viable option. Also, when all of the teeth in an arch are decayed or infected, it might be cheaper to pay for dentures than to use crowns to repair them all individually. We’ll consider your situation carefully before we make a recommendation one way or another.
Can I Sleep with My Dentures?
You can, but whether or not you should is a different matter. When dentures rest on the gums, they restrict the flow of blood, and that leads to discomfort; it can also accelerate bone loss. That’s not even mentioning the fact that harmful bacteria tend to thrive in dark, moist spaces – such as the area between dentures and the gums. For these reasons, we recommend that you take your dentures out every night when you go to bed. Make sure that you store them in a specialized cleaning solution to keep them moist, and don’t forget to clean your gums thoroughly once remove your dentures.
Will Getting Dentures Hurt?
You may experience discomfort after any extractions that need to be performed before dentures are placed. The pain can be easily managed with medication and should only last about 3 to 5 days. When you start wearing dentures, they may cause irritation in your mouth at first. It can take months to fully adjust, although the process may take longer if you switch to a new set of dentures. If the pain lasts longer than expected, there might be some problem with the fit of the dentures, or some other oral health issue might be developing; either way, you need to let us know.
Why Do My Dentures Smell?
This usually means that bacteria have gotten trapped in your dentures, which means in addition to an unpleasant odor your gums are at risk. To avoid bad breath and the complications of bacterial buildup, clean your dentures every day with a soft bristled brush and a specially chosen cleaner. You should take the time to rinse your dentures after every meal so that food particles and bacteria don’t have a chance to accumulate.
