Dentures – New York, NY

Effects of Missing Teeth

Tooth loss can result from oral injuries, dental infections, and gum disease, and it can cause a variety of oral health problems if left unaddressed. A few of these issues include:

• Diminished chewing strength, which can hinder a patient’s ability to enjoy a healthy and balanced diet.
• Trouble speaking due to changes in how air flows about the mouth during speech.
• Facial sagging due to the cheeks being held too loosely.
• Less willingness to show off one’s smile, which can lead to difficulty socializing and reduced self-esteem.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

Dentures can be an excellent treatment for almost anyone with sufficiently healthy gums and jawbones who has experienced tooth loss, but they may also be suitable for those who have sensitive teeth or extensive decay. The type of denture that suits you best depends on how many teeth have been lost. Partial dentures can replace one or several missing teeth throughout the mouth while full dentures can restore a whole row of lost teeth. If you are seeking to enjoy the most secure hold and strongest chewing ability possible, implant dentures may be the best option for you. Dentures can also be a much more affordable way to restore lost teeth than other tooth-replacement methods, so they can be an excellent option for patients on a budget.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

Dentures are not the only way to replace lost teeth. A few other options include:

Dental bridges: These appliances consist of one to four artificial teeth strung between two dental crowns, and they can replace one or more sequential missing teeth. While traditional bridges require healthy teeth on either side of the gap to be modified so they can support the crowns keeping the bridge in place, implant bridges are supported by titanium posts surgically placed in the jawbone.

Dental implants: Considered the ideal form of tooth replacement, dental implants look and feel just like real teeth and can last for a lifetime with proper care. Some patients elect to have their dentures or dental bridges secured in place with dental implants, providing them with a superior hold and optimal chewing power.

<Learn More About Dental Bridges>

<Learn More About Dental Implants>

What Are Dentures Made Of?

Your new dentures will be made of two equally important parts: the base of the denture, and the teeth. Here’s a closer look at each:

• Denture Base: The base of the denture is its foundational structure which holds the teeth in place. It can be made of several different materials, including acrylic, nylon, porcelain, resin, or even metal. In most cases, full dentures are made with acrylic because it can be easily tailored to match the color of your natural gum tissue. Partial dentures are often made with metal clasps or clips on an acrylic base. In some cases, nylon can be used instead of acrylic.
• Artificial Teeth: To ensure that the teeth look natural, they are often made with durable resin or acrylic; however, porcelain is usually more popular because of its realistic feel. Although both options are very durable, porcelain can be abrasive to adjacent teeth, so it is typically only used for full dentures.

The Denture Creation Process

Because each denture is custom made for your individual mouth, they require an intensive, multi-step process to create. Here’s a closer, step-by-step look at how the magic happens:

• Step 1: At your consultation, Dr. Sanchez will take impressions of your upper and lower gums to be used in the creation of a plaster model that is essentially a replica of your mouth. This model will be used to ensure that your final denture is the correct size and shape.
• Step 2: Next, the model of your mouth is sent off to a dental laboratory for your dentures to be made. Once it arrives, lab technicians will create a wax version of your gum line.
• Step 3: Now, the artificial teeth can be set in place. A mechanical device known as an articulator is used to attach them to the wax model. Once secure, the technician will make minor adjustments to the model by shaping and carving the wax, so it looks just like your real gums. This wax base will eventually be used to create your finished dentures!
• Step 4: The wax dentures will now be sent back to FS Dental Arts. Once they arrive, you will return to see us for a fitting. If you and Dr. Sanchez approve, the dentures will be once again sent back to the lab to complete the manufacturing process.
• Step 5: Upon arrival at the lab, a technician will boil your dentures to get rid of the wax portions by placing them in a flask. They will then pour plaster into the flask to maintain the shape of the dentures, and then place the entire flask in hot water, liquifying the wax.
• Step 6: Holes can now be made in the teeth so the base material can attach to them. The lab technician will add a liquid separator to the plaster to prevent the material from sticking to it. The material will then be injected into the flask to replace the wax.
• Step 7: Now, the technician will carefully remove the plaster using special lab tools, revealing your brand-new denture. The dentures are then placed in an ultrasonic bath to remove any remaining plaster.
• Step 8: Any excess material can now be cut from the denture. After its trimming, it will then be polished to perfection and sent back to FS Dental Arts.
• Step 9: Once your denture arrives at our office, you will be scheduled to return once again for a fitting. Any necessary adjustments can be made at this time to ensure it looks and feels right, and you will be free to go enjoy your beautiful new smile!

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

Please be aware that it’s perfectly normal to experience some initial discomfort with your new dentures. You may feel some mild soreness or have difficulty speaking and eating, but these should go away with time as you adjust to your prosthetics. You can help your mouth adjust faster by eating a soft diet, exercising your facial muscles, practicing speaking out loud, and experimenting with denture adhesives.

If the discomfort persists beyond the first few weeks, please reach out to Dr. Sanchez, as further adjustments may be necessary.

Psychological Benefits

People who have lost all their teeth often have difficulty adjusting to tooth loss, and this can lead to a host of mental wellness issues like sadness, depression, and a sense of isolation. Being nervous about showing your smile can make it difficult to engage in social activities, but restoring your grin with beautiful dentures from our Chicago office can help you feel confident when smiling, speaking, and chewing.

Clearer Enunciation

Tooth loss can alter the way sound moves through the mouth during speech, which can make it difficult to form certain words properly. Since dentures function in the place of your lost teeth, they can make it much easier to enunciate clearly and communicate effectively. After you have a little time to get used to wearing your appliances, you should find speaking with them to feel incredibly easy and natural.

Improves Nutrition

Many nutritious foods can be too tough to chew easily if you are missing teeth. Thankfully, dentures can allow a patient to enjoy a wide range of tasty and healthy foods like raw fruits and veggies, fresh meat, and crunchy nuts and seeds. Being able to chew items like these thoroughly can make it much easier to stay in good health and avoid unpleasant issues like indigestion and malnutrition.

Preserves Oral Health

Tooth loss can lead to a host of oral health issues like gum injuries, uneven enamel erosion, and dental drift. Dentures can support the remaining teeth to help them stay in place and minimize the stress of chewing while protecting the gum tissue from injuries caused by food debris.

Expands Opportunities

Not being confident in your smile can make it difficult to leave favorable first impressions at work or when being considered for a new job. Restoring your smile with dentures can make it easy to grin proudly in business situations, which can help you meet people, win trust, build rapport, make friends, close sales, establish relationships, and stand out from the competition.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures

Every mouth is as unique as fingerprints, so there's no one-size-fits-all denture. Therefore, various factors will influence the amount you'll pay. Besides your initial consultation, it's not unusual to require preliminary procedures, like tooth extractions or gum disease therapy, which will be factored into the cost. In addition, the type of denture you choose and the quality of the materials will affect your estimate. It's best to focus on quality instead of price when choosing materials for your new teeth. You'll enjoy a more comfortable fit and longer-lasting results when choosing high-quality materials.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Implant dentures may cost more initially than traditional dentures, but they are the most affordable overall. Dental implants have over a 95% success rate and can last for decades, so you'll never have to budget for replacements. In addition, dental implants offer benefits that aren't possible using any other method, like jawbone preservation. They will improve your oral health, so you're less likely to need costly procedures later. You’ll benefit from a solution that looks and feels natural.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Your dental insurance may cover your consultation and diagnostic services for a co-pay. Your insurance might pay some of the costs for any medically necessary treatments, like tooth extractions. You can use your annual allowance to lower the amount you will pay out-of-pocket for your dentures. After meeting your annual deductible, your insurance may cover 50% to 80% of the expenses until reaching your yearly limit. We will work on your behalf with your dental insurance to maximize your coverage.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

Besides dental insurance, we offer many other solutions to keep dentures affordable for everyone. A member of our dental team will review your estimate and discuss your payment options, including:

• Traditional Payments: We accept cash, personal checks, and most credit cards for your convenience.
• Financing: Based on your credit approval, you can pay any out-of-pocket expenses using a monthly payment plan through a third-party financing company, like CareCredit.