Dentures

Dentures are customized, removable dental prosthetics that replace missing or damaged teeth. Dentures stabilize and support the gum and jawline, ensuring the patient doesn’t develop additional health problems because of gaps or missing teeth. They are an affordable way to improve your smile and prevent future oral health problems with your jaw and oral tissue that can arise from missing teeth.

At Monarch Dental, we believe everyone deserves the confidence of a full, healthy smile. We understand that life happens, and we never judge our patients on the condition of their oral health. It doesn’t matter how or why you are missing teeth; Monarch Dental provides the caring and compassionate denture services you need to rediscover your beautiful smile.

What are the benefits of dentures?

While the process of fitting or implanting dentures may be uncomfortable at first, they are worth the long-term benefits of having full functionality of your mouth and jaws. If you are missing teeth, dentures can:

• Preserve the structure of your face. When you lose several teeth in one section of your mouth, your face and jaw may change to adjust to the lack of support in your smile, changing your normal facial features and creating a “sunken” look. 
• Allow you to eat the foods you love and avoid changing your diet due to chronic tooth pain, missing teeth, and other oral issues. 
• Help you speak properly. The changes that occur in your tooth line, gums, and jawline from missing teeth may affect how you speak. Dentures give your tongue a place to rest and maintain the structure of your jawline.
• Improve your confidence. Knowing you can smile and speak normally in public can help make you feel better in social situations. 

Who needs dentures?

All kinds of people need dentures for all kinds of reasons, from accidents and injuries to dental complications or broader health conditions. Dentists may recommend dentures for people with:

• Large gaps between teeth: Teeth that are easily moved or unstable could be indications of severe gum disease and may require extraction, leaving gaps between natural teeth that could cause more problems in the future.
• One or more missing teeth: Filling in the gaps in your smile with some sort of prosthesis is vital for your oral health. If left untreated this can cause shifts in the gum line and jawline, and even increase your risk for losing additional teeth.
• Low self-esteem due to damaged teeth: If you don’t like your smile as a result of an accident, oral health problem, or anything else, dentures can help restore your teeth and your confidence.

What are the different types of dentures?

Dentures can be partial or complete, conventional or implant-supported. There are a variety of factors that dictate the best solution; the dental professionals at Monarch Dental will work with you to help determine which is right for you.

• “Full” or “Complete” dentures are dentures that replace all of your teeth and can be immediately placed after a tooth removal procedure, ensuring you don’t have to go without teeth. These dentures may require more adjustments and may take more time to get used to.
• Partial Dentures are dentures that can be removed and consist of prosthetic teeth attached to an oral-tissue-colored base. These are used if you are missing one or more teeth, but there are still natural teeth remaining in your mouth. Partial dentures help fill the gap while preventing surrounding teeth from changing position.
• Conventional Dentures rest on your gum line, covering the gums and serving as your new teeth. Dental cement or glue may need to be used to hold your dentures in place when you eat and speak.
• Implant-supported dentures are dentures that are installed along the gum line using one or more tiny screws implanted into the jaw. These implants serve as tooth roots and allow for partial or full denture application.

Conventional vs. implant-supported dentures?

Both conventional and implant-supported dentures offer customized prosthetic solutions for your missing teeth. While implant-supported dentures are more intensive–requiring surgery and a healing period–they are a permanent tooth replacement option, as opposed to conventional dentures, which can be removed. 

The conventional denture process

Conventional dentures typically start with a prosthodontist, a specialized dentist who focuses on oral prostheses and fittings. First, your prosthodontist makes an impression of your gums and jawline, which is used to create a special, custom-fit cast of artificial teeth. A special cast is then made with this special impression material through a lengthy process. This can be a lengthy process, so while your dentures are being made, your prosthodontist will have you try on different sets of dentures to select the correct materials for gum color, tooth color, comfort and any other preferences that you may have. This is called the “fitting.” When your dentures arrive–typically within a few weeks–you’ll visit the dentist again to try the dentures on and have them adjusted. 

The Implant-supported denture process

Implant-supported dentures require a more involved process of surgery and healing before you’ll be ready for the dentures themselves. The process begins with a consultation with your dentist to take an x-ray of your jawbone and gumline to ensure your bones are strong enough to withstand implant surgery. Once cleared, your dentist will schedule your surgery, during which 4 or more tiny screws will be implanted into your jawbone to serve as tooth roots and support the dentures. Your mouth will need 3-6 months after this surgery to heal, during which you’ll likely have a temporary denture that your dentist creates ahead of time to cover the surgical sites and allow you to maintain a normal diet. Once you have healed, your dentist will design a more permanent customized denture that will be placed directly–and permanently–onto the tops of the implants.

How do you take care of dentures?

Patience and diligence are both required during the initial adjustment period to make sure you feel completely comfortable with your brand-new smile. You may still need to eat foods that are gentle on your gums for the first few days, and you will likely experience an initial increase in saliva and sore spots where your dentures sit on your gums. Your speaking may also be temporarily affected by your dentures. With time, however, you and your mouth will adjust to the new dentures and will soon be functioning normally. These few inconveniences at the outset are more than worth it for a healthy, beautiful smile. 

Taking care of your oral health with dentures is also extremely important and with the prescribed care from your dentist, your dentures can last many years. Annual trips to your prosthodontist are a must to ensure you have the fit of your dentures evaluated and adjusted. To ensure you’re smiling brighter and longer with your dentures, be sure to:

• Clean your dentures daily after meals by brushing them with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Soak them overnight in a denture-soaking solution or water to prevent them from drying out or cracking.
• Always rinse your mouth thoroughly before putting your dentures back in your mouth.
• Always clean and brush your gums and teeth before you put your dentures back on every morning and night.
• If you feel any uncomfortable rubbing or see any reddened lines on your gums where your dentures sit, schedule an appointment with your dentist to adjust or fix your dentures. Fixing them yourself could lead to expensive repairs.

How much do dentures cost?

A partial or complete set of dentures are typically covered by most dental insurance plans. A complete set of dentures can cost several thousand dollars, while a partial set of dentures may range between $1,000 and $2,500. If your individual case requires implant-retained dentures, the cost could be higher than it is for removable dentures. However, every patient is different, and prices can vary, so be sure to consult with your Monarch Dental location for exact costs and insurance coverage.

Find Your Confident Smile with Dentures from Monarch Dental

If you’re ready to smile with confidence again, let Monarch Dental’s trained and caring dental professionals help determine if dentures are right for you. We accept most major dental insurance plans and offer flexible payment and financing options, including our own OneSmile Dental Plan, for more options to afford the care you deserve. Don’t wait another day wondering if your life would be better with dentures; schedule an appointment today at your nearest Monarch Dental location.