Dentures – Frisco, TX

Why Is It Important to Replace Missing Teeth?

Replacing your missing teeth gives you more than just a confidence boost. Having gaps in your smile can lead to a variety of oral health issues down the road, which is why we strongly suggest that our patients look into restorative treatments as soon as possible. Here are some reasons you’ll want to fill gaps in your smile to keep additional issues from arising in the future:

• Prevent remaining teeth from slowly drifting out of place and causing bite misalignment.
• Preserve your facial structure.
• Reduce your risk of developing gum disease and loosing additional teeth.
• Reduce your risk of TMJ disorder.
• Improve your ability to properly chew and digest your food.
• Improve your speaking ability.

Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?

Being a good dentures candidate in Frisco generally doesn’t take much. After all, almost anyone who’s missing teeth can qualify for the prosthetics. That said, though, you can only know for sure by consulting our dentists. They’ll assess your mouth and determine if you’re eligible for treatment. In case you’re not, they can also suggest alternative restorations and prep work options. To learn more about this vetting process, keep reading or call our office for details.

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Effects of Missing Teeth

In the first place, patients usually want dentures to avoid tooth loss effects. Going without teeth, you see, leads to severe problems.

The loss itself can happen for a variety of reasons. One is tooth decay, which can make teeth so unhealthy that they fall out naturally or require extraction. Another, meanwhile, is gum disease that breaks down the tissue securing your teeth. Of course, losing pearly whites from physical injury and accidents is also possible.

Regardless of the cause, however, tooth loss triggers the same effects. Namely, it makes everyday tasks like speaking, eating, and smiling awkward and difficult. Plus, lacking teeth can result in your jawbone eroding. Should that happen, you might suffer facial collapse that ages your looks.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

You can usually qualify for dentures if you have major tooth loss. At the same time, other factors to consider are tooth sensitivity, decay, and whether you have sufficiently healthy gum and jaw tissue. It’s also crucial for a candidate to be committed to dental health and appliance care. Otherwise, they likely won’t benefit from treatment.

Regarding denture type, the number of teeth lost will determine the best one for you. If you’re missing a whole arch of teeth, you could get a full denture. On the other hand, our office could give you a partial type if you only lack a few.

You can also count on dentures to be more affordable than other restorations. As such, they’re a great option for those on a budget.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

Even if you’re not a good denture candidate, there’s no need to worry. Our office offers several other tooth-replacement options. Depending on your needs, we can provide the following:

• Dental Bridges: Dental bridges are fixed restorations that replace one or a few teeth. They’re usually made up of two (or more) crowns affixed to either side of an artificial tooth. Given that fact, they require healthy teeth near the missing tooth to support themselves.
• Dental Implants: Dental implants are restorations placed directly in your jawbone. Due to relying on titanium bases, they naturally fuse with your jaw over time. They’re thus permanent and don’t slip or fall! In exchange, though, these prosthetics are more expensive than traditional dentures.

 

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

How Dentures are Made

As you settle on getting dentures, perhaps you’d like to know how they’re made. After all, having the relevant facts will help you appreciate your new smile. Still, you likely don’t know how or where to learn such information. Luckily, though, we at Stonebriar Smile Design are here to help. Below is a summary of denture materials and what goes into making the restorations. To better understand your future teeth, go ahead and read it over.

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What are Dentures Made Of?

Dentures are comprised of two principal parts: the base and the artificial teeth. Each component is necessary for the overall prosthetic to work. To see why that’s the case, consider these descriptions:

• Denture Base – A denture’s base is the gum-colored part that rests on your mouth tissues. More crucially, it holds the artificial teeth that replace your missing ones. Labs can make a base from varying materials (acrylic, porcelain, etc.) but will choose the substance based on the type of denture needed.
• Artificial Teeth – Per their name, artificial teeth are a denture’s tooth-replacing portions. They’re typically made from resin or porcelain so that they look lifelike. Depending on which of the two substances is used, the teeth can vary in appearance, lifespan, and more.

The Denture Creation Process

Dentists will make any given denture for a unique patient’s mouth. As such, each one is specially customized according to a multi-step process. Here’s a brief rundown of what those steps look like:

• Step 1: Your dentist takes a dental impression of your upper and lower gums. The resulting model is sent to a lab to help create the dentures.
• Step 2: After being crafted, the lab returns the wax dentures to the dentist/prosthodontist for a fitting. Should the patient and dentist approve, the restorations are sent to the lab for completion.
• Step 4: A technician boils the dentures to remove their wax portions. They then place the appliance in a flask to pour plaster. From there, the flask is placed in hot water to melt the dentures.
• Step 5: The lab worker makes holes in the artificial teeth so new material can attach. A liquid separator is also added to the plaster layer to prevent the acrylic from sticking. The same acrylic is then injected into the flask to replace the wax.
• Step 6: The worker removes the plaster to reveal the prosthetics. Later, they place the dentures in an ultrasonic bath to remove leftover plaster.
• Step 7: After cutting away excess acrylic, the technical polishes the restorations
• Step 8: The patient returns to the office for fitting and final adjustments.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

When you first get dentures, wearing them may cause minor discomfort. You might even feel sore and have difficulty with speaking and eating. Even so, trust that these symptoms are normal. The aches should fade as you adjust, and your dentures will soon feel similar to natural teeth.

That being said, there are ways to speed up the adjustment. One option is only to eat soft foods for a while. You could also practice some facial exercises or experiment with adhesives.

Whatever you do, take note if the discomfort persists. Should that happen, it’s best to see a dentist at once. Your dentures might need further adjustment in that case.

Types of Dentures

At Stonebriar Smile Design, we offer a variety of denture options to address varying levels of tooth loss and to accommodate personal preferences and needs. All of our prosthetics are made from durable, high-quality materials that you can count on to last for many years to come. Depending on your circumstances, we may recommend one of the following:

Partial Dentures

For patients who are missing several teeth in an entire arch, we’ll suggest getting partial dentures in Frisco. These have a customized base that’s made of either acrylic or plastic and are designed to fit discreetly around your remaining teeth, holding your artificial ones securely in place. Attached to the base are natural-looking replacement teeth that are built to function and look just like your home-grown pearly whites. Like a carefully-crafted puzzle piece, a partial denture fits between your healthy teeth to seamlessly fill the gaps in your smile.

Full Dentures

For our patients who are missing an entire arch of teeth, we’ll likely suggest restoring them with a full denture. This is a specially designed prosthetic that consists of a gum-colored acrylic base crafted to fit with your unique dental structure using natural suction and denture adhesive. Attached to the base there are artificial teeth made from natural-looking materials such as ceramic and porcelain. These are crafted to look identical to your remaining natural teeth.

Implant Dentures

Full and partial dentures can both be paired with state-of-the-art dental implants for unmatched results. This revolutionary way to replace missing teeth uses small titanium posts to replace the roots of your missing teeth and anchor your denture firmly into place. You’ll enjoy a strong, stable, and comfortable smile that has the potential to last for decades! During your consultation, we’ll review several factors to see if you’re a good candidate for implant dentures.

The Benefits of Dentures

Dentures have long been a popular tooth replacement option thanks to the benefits they offer, such as:

• Relatively fast results that can last for many years
• Beautiful replacement teeth that are durable and natural-looking
• Regained ability to chew, eat, smile, and speak with ease
• A quick, easy, and minimally invasive solution for tooth loss
• Are typically at least partially covered by dental insurance

Understanding the Cost of Dentures

Dentures in Frisco offer a quick and cost-effective way to restore the function and beauty of your smile. Just like no two smiles are exactly the same, each denture is unique, meaning the cost will depend on the unique needs and preferences of a patient. The best way to discover how much your denture will cost is to come see us for a consultation, where we’ll evaluate your oral health and discuss your goals for your smile to craft a personalized estimate. In the meantime, continue reading to learn more about the cost of dentures in Frisco.

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Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures

When determining how much your dentures will cost, we’ll first need to consider if you need any preliminary procedures. For instance, should you need to complete gum disease treatment or a tooth extraction before getting dentures, the cost of these procedures will naturally add to the final price of your dentures.

Then, we’ll factor in the dentures themselves. Are you getting an upper denture, lower denture, or both? Is it a full or partial denture? What is your denture made of? All of these factors will influence the cost of the denture. It’s important to keep in mind that you’ll get what you pay for, and cheaper dentures are likely made of subpar materials that won’t last and won’t look natural. quality is of utmost importance when it comes to your smile!

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Dental implants are the latest tooth loss solution. These small titanium posts are designed to replace the roots of missing teeth by being inserted directly into the jawbone. Dental implants can be used to support all manner of restorations, including full and partial dentures!

It’s true that implant dentures cost more time and money than their traditional counterparts. However, the investment is well worth it, as implant dentures offer unmatched comfort, function, and stability. They are the most lifelike solution and have the potential to last a lifetime. During your consultation, we’ll help you find out if implant dentures are a good choice for you and if you’re a candidate for them.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Dental insurance coverage varies dramatically from provider to provider, so it’s important to review the details of your policy to see what it includes. In most cases, dentures are considered a “major procedure” and are covered by 50-80%. Our knowledgeable team would be happy to help you understand your coverage better and will confirm your benefits before your treatment starts.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

If you are uninsured, or if dentures are not covered by your dental insurance, flexible financing through CareCredit may be the ideal solution. With one of their low- to no-interest payment plans, qualifying patients can get their dentures right away and then pay for them over time. CareCredit offers a variety of different plans to work with practically any budget. To find one that works for you, give us a call today or visit us online.

Denture FAQs

Even after reading all the information laid out above about dentures in Frisco, you might still have a few questions. Don’t worry. To make sure you’re receiving the restorative treatment that’s right for your unique smile, we’ve taken the time to address some of your concerns by answering a few of the most common denture questions that we get asked here at Stonebriar Smile Design. If you don’t see the information you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to give us a call and we’ll be happy to help!