Dentures -  Arlington, TX

Effects of Missing Teeth

Gum disease, facial trauma, and poor oral health and hygiene are all reasons why tooth loss can occur. An incomplete smile can make it difficult to enjoy a meal with your family or read a bedtime story to your grandchild. You may find that life without a full set of teeth can lead to:

• Slurred speech
• Difficulty eating certain foods, resulting in restrictions that prevent access to valuable nutrients that help you avoid malnutrition
• Facial sagging or drooping that occurs as the jawbone weakens over time
• Feelings of embarrassment, as you will begin to feel self-conscious about your appearance

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

When meeting with Dr. Cabansag to discuss your eligibility for dentures, you can expect that she will evaluate the following:

• Are you missing multiple teeth or all your teeth?
• Do you have tooth sensitivity?
• Are you suffering from severe tooth decay?
• Do you have healthy gums and/or a jawbone?
• Are you committed to taking better care of your smile with prosthetics?

The type of denture you receive will be determined by how many teeth you are missing. We will go over your options, which may include a full or partial denture, implant dentures, or immediate dentures. As one of the most affordable options for tooth replacement, traditional prosthetics can often be an ideal solution if you are on a budget.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

If for some reason you are not deemed a good candidate for traditional dentures, do not worry. There are alternative options available that you can expect our team to go over with you during your appointment. These include:

• Dental Bridges – If you are without only a few missing teeth (consecutive in a row), we can place a fixed dental bridge that will close the gap and restore your oral function and aesthetics.
• Dental Implants – Whether you’re missing one tooth or both arches, we can supply you with implant dentures using between 4 and 6 implant posts. Placed in the jawbone for a more permanent solution, they are costlier than traditional dentures but can also last decades longer.

Psychological Benefits

One of the first things people notice about you is the quality of your smile, and if yours is missing teeth, it can impact your self-esteem. For instance, you might develop anxiety worrying about how others might perceive the changes to your appearance. Some patients even start avoiding family meals, engaging conversations, or other social activities from fear of judgment.

Your prosthetics restore your looks and allow you to eat and speak more normally to boost your confidence so you can put your best foot forward.

Clearer Enunciation

Your teeth are essential in your ability to enunciate the various sounds needed to form words and communicate clearly. Gaps in your grin can lead to a lisp, slur, or other changes to your speech patterns.

Wearing allows you to overcome these issues so you can be understood more easily. However, it often takes about a month for your tongue and other supporting muscles in your mouth to adjust to their presence. Practicing reading out loud to yourself at home can ease this transition as you relearn how to form words with them in place.

Improves Nutrition

Many patients suffering from tooth loss develop additional health concerns due to their dental condition. For instance, you might stick to softer foods that don’t have key nutrients and become malnourished. You could also experience gastrointestinal issues from swallowing overly-large pieces of food that are difficult to digest.

Your new teeth improve your bite force and chewing power so you can eat a wider range of wholesome foods to support your oral and overall well-being.

Preserves Oral Health

If you still have some of your natural teeth, wearing your prosthetics can protect them by filling in the spaces in your smile to prevent them from drifting. They’re prone to shifting out of alignment to close the gaps. This wears down your enamel, increasing your vulnerability to issues like cavities or physical injuries.

Your dentures contain the correct number of teeth to complete the entire arch to prevent these potential problems.

Expands Opportunities

Did you know that poor dental health has been negatively associated with the probability of being employed? People assume a lot about you based on your appearance, and your smile is no exception. Potential employers or interviewers might see gaps in your grin and assume it’s the result of poor oral hygiene, which could shift their opinion of you.

Having a lifelike restoration in place ensures that you look and feel like your best self so you can make a lasting positive impression!

Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures

During your consultation, we’ll take into account a few different factors to put together an estimate for you, including:

• Preparatory Procedures — Before we can fit you with dentures, it’s important that your mouth is healthy. That means you may need to pay for preparatory procedures first, such as gum disease treatment or tooth extractions, each of which have their own costs.
• The Materials Used — Less expensive dentures are typically created out of lower-quality materials. Unfortunately, while these cheaper alternatives may seem like a good way to save money, they often have a shorter lifespan, an uncomfortable fit, and poor aesthetics. At Encore Dentistry, we use high-quality materials to ensure you enjoy beautiful, comfortable, and reliable dentures.
• The Type of Denture — Naturally, the more teeth you need to have replaced, the more expensive your treatment will likely be. For instance, a partial denture requires less material than a full denture, so they will typically cost less. Additionally, implant dentures come with a higher up-front cost than traditional dentures.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

In short, yes. Implant dentures generally cost more than traditional partial and full dentures, but for good reason. An implant denture is held in place with several strategically placed dental implants. While this requires more time and effort than simply being fit for a traditional denture, this unique restoration is far more permanent, lifelike, and functional. Additionally, while implant dentures have a higher initial cost, they could easily save you a significant amount of money on replacements and realignments in the long-run since they can potentially last you a lifetime.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Generally speaking, dentures are considered a “major restorative treatment” and therefore usually receive about 50% coverage from dental insurance. However, details can vary between policies, so it’s important to review your benefits beforehand. Our knowledgeable team will be happy to go over your dental insurance plan to make sure your out-of-pocket costs are minimized.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

Other than accepting most dental insurance plans, we’re proud to offer several other financial options to make dentures in Arlington more affordable, such as:

• Our In-Office Membership Plan — Say goodbye to all the confusing premiums, claims, and maximums that come with dental insurance. With our in-office plan, you can pay one simple annual fee for a variety of important benefits and discounts on our services!
• Flexible Dental Financing Through CareCredit — CareCredit is a third-party financing company that can help you get the dentures you need now and pay for them over time. With one of their low- to no-interest payment plans, qualifying patients can break up the cost of their dentures into smaller chunks that fit into their monthly budget.
• Our $699 Special Offer On Dentures — We are proud to have several special offers to help make some of our most popular services more affordable, including dentures! To learn more about our $699 special for brand-new dentures, give our office a call!

How Long Will You Have to Wait to Get Dentures After Your Teeth Are Pulled?

On average, patients must wait about six to eight weeks after getting their teeth pulled to receive dentures in Arlington. However, the exact amount of time depends on the type of denture in question. Although two months sounds like a long time to wait for your new smile, it’s necessary to allow the gums to heal properly. Immediate dentures can be placed on the same day as extractions, but they’ll need to be switched out sooner as the shape of your jawbone changes while you heal. If you’re receiving implant-retained dentures, you’ll need to wait between four to six months for the titanium post to join with the bone via osseointegration.

Can I Sleep with My Dentures?

When you first get your dentures, you’ll be asked to keep them in your mouth for 24 hours, including sleep. After that initial period, it’s strongly recommended that you remove them every evening when you go to bed. If you wear your dentures for too long, it can lead to soft tissue irritation, potentially speeding up ridge resorption. By taking them out regularly, you give your gums a chance to recover and get the nutrients they need during the night.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

Did you know that there are three types of dentures? Here are the requirements for each one:

• Partial Dentures – If you still have most of your teeth, this may be the ideal solution for you.
• Full Dentures – Have you lost most of your teeth because of bone loss, severe gum disease, or another advanced oral health problem? You can rebuild your smile with a full denture.
• Implant Dentures – For patients who want more stability, implant-retained dentures are an excellent option to consider. Dental implants can be used to support dentures as long as there’s a sufficient amount of jawbone density.

Is It Hard to Talk with Dentures?

Many patients find it difficult to speak with dentures because they’re so used to talking with their natural teeth. While you may initially develop a lisp, it will go away as soon as you get used to speaking with dentures. The more you practice, the faster you’ll adjust to your new smile. You can speed up the process by reading aloud, repeating difficult-to-pronounce words, and having more conversations with loved ones. If you think your artificial teeth need additional stability, consider using denture adhesive.