
If you suffer from missing all of most of your teeth, you’re not alone. According to a study conducted by the American College of Prosthodontics, about 40 million adults are missing all of their teeth. The effects of this issue can dramatically impact your day-to-day life and make it difficult to complete basic tasks such as eating and speaking. Having an incomplete smile can also decrease your self-esteem. Fortunately, at Evans Street Dental, we offer natural-looking replacement teeth that are durable, long-lasting, and easy to care for. If you would like to learn more about replacing missing teeth with full or partial dentures, be sure to schedule a consultation by contacting our office today.
For patients who are missing an entire arch of teeth, we’ll recommend full dentures in McMinnville to replace them. These are artificial teeth made from natural-looking materials, such as ceramic, to replicate the appearance of natural tooth enamel. They’ll be attached to a gum-colored acrylic base that’s customized to use natural suction to sit securely over your gums. Full dentures are also conveniently removable so you can easily take them out to clean them and soak them before you go to bed.
Partial dentures are sometimes referred to as removable bridges and are built to replace several missing teeth on an arch. Instead of needing to have teeth extracted to support a full dentures, partial ones are strategically designed to work around your natural existing teeth to restore your complete smile.
Similar to full dentures, partial dentures feature artificial teeth attached to a small gum-colored base. This is typically connected to a metal foundation or bracket that discreetly fits behind your teeth and can easily be removed from your mouth. Partial dentures also keep your existing teeth from drifting out of place over time and restore your ability to speak and eat.
For patients who are looking for a more permanent, stronger, and durable tooth replacement treatment, we often recommend dental implants in McMinnville. These are titanium posts that are surgically placed below your gums to anchor crowns, bridges, or dentures in your mouth. They restore the entire structure of missing teeth from the root upward to prevent jawbone erosion.
Even though your dentures can’t develop cavities, it’s still important to take thorough care of them, just like you would with your natural teeth. This way, you can extend their lifespan while preserving the health of your existing teeth and gums. You can care for your dentures by:
If you have any additional questions about caring for your dentures, don’t hesitate to contact our office. We’ll gladly answer any questions you may have and put your concerns to rest.
One of the reasons why dentures are so popular is that they are among the most affordable forms of tooth replacement. Of course, the cost of dentures in McMinnville can vary from patient to patient and depends on numerous factors. Our team is ready to help you explore your payment options and compare the prices of all your treatment options. We want to help you afford your new smile!
Some of the factors that influence the cost of dentures include:
Implant dentures present a higher upfront cost than traditional dentures. That is because you must pay for your dental implants, the placement surgery, and other complex aspects of treatment. However, it is important to consider long-term value. Traditional dentures may need to be replaced every 5 – 8 years or so, which means they can become quite expensive over the course of a few decades. Implant dentures last much longer and may therefore be more affordable in the long run. They also offer many advantages that traditional dentures lack, a fact that means they are a wise investment for most patients.
Most dental insurance policies label dentures a “major restorative treatment,” which means they cover about 50% of the cost of the treatment, up to the amount of the insurance plan’s annual maximum. For most patients, their insurance reduces their out-of-pocket cost by hundreds of dollars — perhaps even a thousand dollars or more. If you opt for implant dentures in McMinnville, keep in mind that many dental insurance policies will not cover your dental implants, but they are likely to cover the denture itself.
Our practice welcomes most types of insurance, and we will be happy to help you navigate your coverage and file claims on your behalf.
In addition to helping patients with insurance, we offer a few other provisions that may make dentures more accessible for you.
Dental technology has come a long way since the days when George Washington wore his famous wooden dentures. Although dentures have a reputation of being uncomfortable and awkward, today’s dentures look and feel more natural than ever before. However, chances are you might have a few concerns before undergoing this treatment. That’s why we’ve included the answers to some denture FAQs in McMinnville.
A traditional full or partial denture will usually last between five and seven years, but they’ll have to be relined every year or two. After tooth loss, your jawbone gradually changes shape. As a result, your dentures will eventually lose their personalized, snug fit and have to be replaced.
You can expect an implant-retained denture to last quite a bit longer. Dental implants stimulate new bone growth in your jaw, preventing the changes that would otherwise occur. While the denture itself might need to be replaced every ten years or so, the implants can last for decades or even a lifetime.
The dentures your grandparents wore might have looked unnatural, but rest assured that modern dentures look incredibly lifelike. To design your new teeth, we’ll capture impressions of your mouth. A dental lab will then use those impressions to craft a denture that perfectly mimics your original teeth. Onlookers shouldn’t be able to tell the difference!
Dentures don’t have a fixed cost associated with them. Several variables can affect the price, such as:
Most dental insurance carriers will cover a significant portion of the cost of dentures. However, they might not cover dental implants. If you need help funding your new smile, we can help you apply for a third-party loan through CareCredit. We also offer an in-house savings plan in which you receive discounts on most services in exchange for a flat annual fee.
It’s a common misconception that once you have lost all of your teeth, you don’t need to see your dentist for checkups anymore. While the dentures are immune to decay, your gums can still develop infections that can lead to pain, dental implant failure, and general health issues. Plus, if you have a partial, your remaining teeth could still get cavities. For these reasons, you should see us at least twice a year for a routine checkup. We can examine your mouth and make sure there are no problems with your dentures or your oral health.