Dentures – Pinehurst, NC

Effects of Missing Teeth

Teeth can be lost in several ways—the most common ones being advanced gum disease, severe tooth decay, and accidental injury. Even if you don’t feel any discomfort, you might experience a variety of complications if your teeth aren’t replaced. These can involve trouble speaking, difficulty eating/chewing, facial sagging, and a significant decrease in confidence and self-esteem. Not only will your oral health be negatively affected, but so will your overall quality of life.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

In many cases, those who are struggling with mild to severe tooth loss can be eligible for dentures. The only thing is that you’ll need to have healthy gum tissue and sufficient jawbone to support your prosthetics. It’s also necessary to maintain a strict oral hygiene regimen to maintain both your dentures and the rest of your smile.

Our team will also determine the kind of dentures you’ll receive based on the number of teeth that you need to replace. These options can typically involve partial, full, and implant dentures. This treatment is also ideal for those who are working with a budget, as it won’t cost nearly as much as other solutions.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

Even if you aren’t a good candidate for dentures or you don’t know if this treatment is right for you, you can still explore alternative prosthetics that can effectively replace your missing teeth. Here are the other types of tooth-replacement options to consider:

• Dental Bridges – These prosthetics are best for patients who are missing one or several teeth consecutively. This “bridge” can easily close the gap in your smile by connecting the two crowns to the healthy teeth on either side.
• Dental Implants – After undergoing a minor oral surgery of embedding titanium posts into your jawbone, we can attach your new restoration(s) to completely rebuild your smile from the roots up. This treatment does require sufficient jawbone density and facial structure, and the upfront cost is higher than traditional bridges and dentures, but the results can last decades to a lifetime with proper care.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

Psychological Benefits

Tooth loss not only negatively impacts your smile and oral health but also your self-esteem. Most people end up feeling like they have to hide their grins whenever talking or laughing, and some even avoid engaging in social activities entirely. By replacing your missing pearly whites with dentures, you can improve your oral health as well as boost your confidence in the long run. You also won’t worry as much about things like your speech articulation, chewing ability, or appearance.

Clearer Enunciation

Not having all of your teeth can make speaking or conversing much more difficult. This is because your lips and tongue typically press against them to enunciate sounds and words. With dentures, you can renew your complete smile while allowing yourself to talk like you used to. This can take some time to get used to, but with practice and repetition, you should be able to speak like normal in no time!

Improves Nutrition

Certain healthy foods can be more difficult to eat without being able to use all of your teeth, including fruits, lean meats, and veggies. Without the ability to chew properly, you can end up with problems such as indigestion and malnutrition. By restoring your smile with dentures, your prosthetics will provide you with the functional bite necessary for expanding your dietary choices to include healthier, more nutritious foods. This will also give you the chance to receive essential minerals to help promote a stronger jawbone, gums, and overall well-being.

Preserves Oral Health

Any remaining natural pearly whites after tooth loss can start to move out of position to try to fill the gaps in your smile. This is due to the jawbone deteriorating over time, which will weaken the bone tissue and can result in further tooth loss. With dentures, you can help keep your other teeth in place while evenly distributing the pressures of everyday chewing, significantly reducing wear and tear over time.

Expands Opportunities

Your smile is the very first thing people typically notice during an initial greeting. For this reason, it can be quite important to be able to show off a full smile when introducing yourself, as this can impact the way people perceive you. Dentures can help you make a great first impression by providing the complete grin you deserve, which can end up expanding your opportunities in both professional and social settings.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures

There's no one-size-fits-all denture because every mouth is as unique as fingerprints. Not to mention, every situation differs. There isn't any way to know how much you'll pay until after your consultation. While every case is different, you can expect your estimate to include:

• Consultation: You'll first need to have a consultation. Dr. Hudson will examine your mouth and learn more about your health history.
• Prep Work: Based on the results of your consultation, you may require a little prep work, like tooth extractions or gum disease therapy.
• Type of Denture: The number of teeth you're replacing will affect the cost, as well as if you're treating one or both arches.
• Materials: High-quality materials may cost more, but they are often more comfortable, durable, and aesthetically pleasing.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

You may pay more upfront for implant dentures, but they are the most cost-effective overall. Dental implants have over a 95% success rate and can last for 30 years or more, unlike traditional dentures, which have a lifespan of 5 to 7 years. Not to mention, implant dentures preserve your jawbone to improve your oral health. As the next best thing to real teeth, the benefits of implant dentures are immeasurable.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Your dental insurance won't pay for the entire process, but you can use your benefits to lower your out-of-pocket expenses for certain steps. Your insurance may cover your consultation, diagnostic services, and medically necessary procedures. Dentures are considered a major service, which is typically covered by 50%. After meeting your annual deductible, you can use your coverage to reduce the cost until you reach your yearly limit. We will work on your behalf with your dental insurance to maximize your benefits.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

Besides using your dental insurance, Dr. Hudson accepts multiple payment methods, including:

• Traditional Payments: Our office accepts cash, credit cards, and personal checks.
• Financing: You can pay for any out-of-pocket costs using a monthly payment plan through a third-party financing company, like CareCredit. You can enjoy little or no interest in financing based on your credit approval.

We will help you find the solutions you need to rebuild a beautiful smile without spending your life’s savings.

Removable Dentures

Remove After Eating

One of the greatest advantages of having dentures is that they restore your ability to chew your food sufficiently enough to be more easily swallowed and digested. However, they can trap bits of food in the space between your gums and your artificial teeth, which attracts bacteria that contribute to oral issues.

Holding them under gently running water after you eat or drink anything gets rid of unwanted germs and leftovers to keep plaque from forming. Remember to use cool or room temperature water, though, because overly hot temps can warp the acrylic base.

Clean Your Restoration

Many patients wonder if it’s okay to brush their dentures in their mouths. It might be acceptable occasionally, but you can’t reach all sides of it that way. Instead, we recommend that you take them out twice daily to wash all their surfaces thoroughly. Standard toothpaste can be abrasive on your prosthetics, so brush them clean with a soft-bristled brush and mild dish soap or a special cleanser.

Then, rinse them off and put them back into your mouth before going about your day. If it’s evening and you’re heading to bed for the night, leave them in a container to soak while you sleep.

Keep Your Dentures Safe

When you brush your dentures, they are likely to become slippery and can easily slip from your grasp. Unfortunately, if they fall from a great enough height, they can become chipped, cracked, or fractured.

To keep them safe and whole, try placing a soft towel or other cushion underneath so if they tumble, they won’t be injured. Also, try to keep them out of the reach of small children or pets who may not handle them carefully.

Remove Dentures When You Sleep

Once you’ve adjusted to wearing artificial teeth all day, you might forget they’re there and accidentally fall asleep with them in your mouth. This can be harmful to your restoration as well as your dental condition. Your gums need a break from supporting them all day for the tissue to remain healthy, or you might develop sores or blisters.

Furthermore, your mouth tends to dry out at night, which encourages unhealthy bacteria to thrive. Not only can this form plaque on your dentures, but it can also lead to gum disease and bad breath. Instead, remove them to clean them and then leave them to soak in a glass of water or a special solution to eradicate up to 99% of germs while you sleep.

Notice Changes

Paying attention to your oral status ensures that if there are changes, you’ll notice in time to contact us to make an appointment. For instance, if your gums feel sore or inflamed or look darker than usual, you may have developed gum disease that requires professional intervention. Similarly, if you notice your dentures are wiggling in place or making a clicking sound when you open and close your mouth, then you should contact our office to schedule a visit to ensure that they still fit correctly.