Dentures – Dallas, TX

What Are Dentures Made Of?

Dentures are made of two separate parts—the acrylic base and the porcelain crowns. During the fabrication process, these are bonded together to form a single device. The base is a softer, flexible material that slips comfortably over your gums. Its design creates suction that holds each denture in place. The prosthetic teeth are crafted from a durable porcelain that is slightly translucent, giving them the appearance of natural teeth.

The Denture Creation Process

There is a multi-step process involved in creating your dentures that typically takes two to three weeks to complete, from consultation to final fitting. Here’s what you can expect:

• Step 1: Greer will first perform a full examination of your teeth, gums, and jawbone. If everything checks out, he’ll use a thick paste-like substance to take an impression of any remaining teeth and your gums.
• Step 2: Your impressions are sent to a partnered dental lab, where skilled technicians create a wax form from the instructions and measurements Dr. Greer gave them. Prosthetic teeth are then attached to the form via an articulator.
• Step 3: At this point, the wax replica is ready for a test fitting. You’ll have a second appointment with Dr. Greer to see if the model seats over your gums properly.
• Step 4: The wax form is sent back to the dental lab along with any notes for adjustments. The technicians will then begin fabricating your finished dentures by turning the wax form into a mold. This is then used to construct the final product over a couple of weeks.
• Step 5: Once your dentures are ready, they’ll be sent back to Dr. Greer, and you’ll have one last fitting. If no adjustments are needed, you can take them home that day!

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

When you finally use your new dentures, there will most likely be a short adjustment period where you’ll have some minor difficulty with eating and speech. It’s also normal to experience some slight discomfort as your gums get used to the sensation of having your dentures over them. These issues will fade over the next few weeks, especially if you practice. During this time, it’s important to focus on muscle control and speaking more slowly. Wearing dentures is a skill, so you need to walk before you can run!

Psychological Benefits

Missing several or most of your teeth typically comes with several downsides to your psychological well-being. If you have gaps in your smile, you may be less likely to show your smile or mouth, which can build insecurity in your appearance. You might end up foregoing social interactions altogether to avoid even mild embarrassment. By renewing your grin with dentures, you’ll be free to use and show off your teeth, which will boost your self-esteem and reduce anxieties about the way you look or talk.

Clearer Enunciation

To speak clearly, you’ll typically position your tongue and lips against your teeth for proper enunciation. However, if you’re missing some of them, this can make speech more difficult. Since dentures effectively replace those that you’ve lost, they can make it possible to pronounce certain words and phrases with clarity. This may take a short adjustment time, but you can generally speed up this process with constant practice and repetition.  

Improves Nutrition

Many vitamin-rich foods can be tough in texture or difficult to bite into, such as lean meats, carrots, and apples. Without all of your healthy teeth to easily munch and digest your meals, you can end up experiencing issues like indigestion and malnutrition. By restoring your bite with dentures, you shouldn’t expect to struggle with these complications, as you’ll be able to regain your ability to chew effectively. Additionally, your improved nutrition will allow you to receive essential nutrients for promoting better overall health.

Preserves Oral Health

Any remaining natural teeth can start to shift out of place to fill in gaps in your smile, as they won’t have the same support as before. Dentures replace missing pearly whites as well as prevent any other ones from moving around. Not only can this help avoid further tooth loss, but your restorations can help bear some of the pressure of chewing, minimizing the risk of wear and tear on your natural teeth.

Expands Opportunities

Did you know your smile is one of the first things people notice when meeting you? Therefore, if you’re going on a date or preparing for a job interview, you’ll likely want to look your utmost, which includes a full set of teeth. By replacing missing ones with dentures, you can feel more confident about your grin, which can improve your initial impressions with others, boosting your personal and professional opportunities.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures

When it comes to pricing out dentures, there are a couple of factors that you’ll need to consider. The first is whether there are any preliminary procedures that you’ll need before you get your prosthetic, like tooth extractions.

Then there’s the construction of the dentures themselves. The type of acrylic used for the base and the materials that the “teeth” are made out of can vary depending on your individual needs, and the particular materials that are used will affect the cost in one way or another.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive? 

Implant dentures are the same regular dentures, with one key difference—they’re attached to metal posts surgically implanted into the jaw. This affords them greater stability, better realism, and much more durability.

The fact that implant dentures require surgery does mean that overall treatment will cost more. However, implant dentures also last considerably longer than traditional ones do, meaning that you’re likely to save money in the long run on replacements.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Dentures are typically considered to be a major restorative procedure, which means that your dental plan is usually going to cover at least a portion of the procedure. However, every dental plan is a little bit different, which means that it’s important to flesh out the details with your insurance company. We’ll be happy to help you with this process.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

Even if you don’t have insurance, we have options to help you get the dental care that you need. For one, we often work with CareCredit, which is a health and wellness financing firm that can break dental care costs into more manageable payments.

CareCredit even offers 6-month-no-interest loans that may put care into your reach. Give us a call and we’ll help you navigate the cost of dental care.

Does it hurt to get dentures?

It’s not unusual for patients to require tooth extractions before getting dentures. If you need to have a tooth or more removed, you can expect mild discomfort for 3 to 5 days after your extractions. You can take an OTC pain reliever to manage it. After receiving your denture, it can take your mouth a couple of days to adjust to wearing the appliance. You can experience some irritation for a few days; however, every patient differs. If your pain doesn’t improve, it’s best to call your denture dentist in Dallas, Dr. Greer. He’ll ensure your dentures are fitting correctly and there aren’t any oral health issues causing the irritation.

Can I sleep with my dentures?

Dr. Greer will instruct you to wear your dentures for 24 hours after receiving them. After the first day, you’ll need to get in the habit of taking them out at night. While you don’t want to be caught without your teeth, your oral and general health rely on it. Your dentures will restrict blood circulation to your gums, which can lead to sores and irritation if the soft tissues aren’t given a break. Removing your teeth before bed allows your gums to get the nutrients they need to recover. Your mouth is also a dark, moist environment. Harmful oral bacteria can get out of control quickly, leading to health and dental problems, like infections. Taking your dentures out allows you to clean your mouth well to keep your smile and body healthy. You’ll also reduce unpleasant odors and prolong the lifespan of your new smile. Don’t forget to clean your dentures well and place them in an overnight soaking solution before calling it a day.

Can I use regular toothpaste to clean my dentures?

Your dentures will closely look and function like your real teeth; however, they can’t be cleaned the same way. Abrasive dental products, like toothpaste, can leave small scratches on their surfaces. Not only can this tarnish their appearance, but bacteria and food particles can get trapped in the small crevices. This can cause unpleasant odors and affect the lifespan of your dentures. Instead, it’s best to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild hand soap or dishwashing liquid to clean them. There are also store-bought cleaning products designed for denture wearers. When brushing your dentures, don’t use hot water to rinse them because it can cause them to warp. Take care when handling them to avoid dropping or damaging the prosthetic. Besides caring for your dentures at home, don’t forget to visit your dentist for a cleaning and checkup every 6 months.

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

If you require extracting some of your teeth before getting dentures, you’ll have to allow yourself time to recover. This will give your gums the chance to heal and provide additional time to develop well-fitted dentures. Although the exact timeframe will depend on the kind of restoration you choose, the average recovery period may take between six to eight weeks before moving forward with your treatment. However, if you’re opting for implant dentures, then you’ll need to wait about four to six months to allow the metal posts to fuse properly with your jawbone via osseointegration.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

The kind of restoration you’ll qualify for will depend on your specific dental needs. There are mainly three types of dentures: partial dentures, full dentures, and implant dentures. Each will have a different requirement for getting it. Partial dentures (or partials) are typically ideal for patients who have the majority of their teeth. Their dental loss may have been due to malnutrition, oral disease, or simply an accident. /p>

Full dentures are designed to help you if you’ve lost all of your teeth (or you don’t have enough healthy pearly whites that can be saved). This might occur because of more serious issues like bone loss, severe periodontal disease, and other oral health conditions. If you have ample jawbone density, you might be able to receive implant-supported dentures for superior stability and longevity. You can potentially restore lost jawbone mass by undergoing a bone graft.

Is It Hard to Talk with Dentures?

When first receiving your dentures, it may take some time to grow accustomed to talking with them. This is because your mouth will have been used to speaking with your natural teeth in place. You may even develop a mild (and temporary) lisp because of the changes in your palate. This adjustment period may vary from patient to patient, however, the more you practice, the quicker and smoother the process will be to improve your speech.

For this reason, you’ll want to take the time to pronounce difficult sounds and words to get used to how your dentures work. You should also read aloud to yourself to build your confidence, and make sure to talk slowly and steadily, as fast speech can end up sounding muffled. If your dentures tend to shift while you talk, bite down and swallow before speaking to get them back in position. You may even use denture adhesive for extra stability, especially during this adjustment phase.

What Can’t You Eat with Dentures?

While you can eat most of your favorite foods with dentures, some may increase the risk of shifting your new teeth out of place. You’ll want to stay away from eating sticky foods such as gummy candies and peanut butter, which are difficult to chew, can easily move your dentures around, and may have particles get stuck underneath your restorations, leading to gum irritation. Meals that are too hard may be more challenging to eat, as they can damage your teeth replacements on top of shifting them. These can include popcorn, nuts, apples, and corn on the cob. You may even want to avoid tough meats like pork chops and steak so that you won’t have to chew excessively.