An estimated 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth, and about 40 million are missing all their teeth. Luckily, there are plenty of options to choose from to replace your missing teeth, including dentures in Sparta. These restorations are custom-made to meet each and every patient’s smile needs. They are designed to be a natural and comfortable part of your smile, and they have been proven to be sturdy enough to last for several years. If you’re missing all or most of your teeth, give us a call to schedule your consultation for dentures.
Dentures – Sparta, NJ
We Can Help Bring Back Your Smile
Why Choose Gentle Dentistry Sparta for Dentures?
- Treatment Designed to Look and Feel Natural
- Dentist Trained at the Prestigious Pankey Institute
- Custom-Made Restorations for Every Patient
What Are Dentures?
There are two kinds of dentures: full and partial. When you hear the word “dentures,” what you probably think of are full dentures. These are sets of artificial teeth attached to a gum-colored acrylic or plastic base that replace an entire arch of pearly whites. They are ideal for patients missing all of their teeth on either the top or bottom row of their mouth.
Partial dentures, sometimes just called partials, are made for patients only missing some of their teeth. They consist of some false teeth on an arch wire with clasps that attach to remaining natural teeth and blend right in with the rest of your smile.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
It doesn’t matter if you’re missing one tooth, several teeth, or an entire arch – almost everyone is eligible for dentures! The prosthetic teeth are versatile and custom-made to fit your smile perfectly. Of course, the only way to know for sure whether you’re a good candidate or not is by scheduling a consultation with our team at Gentle Dentistry Sparta. During your appointment, we’ll conduct an oral examination to find out if this option is right for you. Even if you’re not a good candidate, we may be able to help by restoring the health of your jawbone structure and gum line.
Effects of Missing Teeth
First things first, it’s important to understand why you have missing teeth. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, the most common causes of tooth loss involve gum disease, tooth decay, and physical injury. Having infected or inflamed gums can lead to damage to the connective tissue that holds your teeth in place. In some cases, a tooth that is damaged beyond repair may require an extraction to preserve your oral health.
No matter what happens, you must take every step possible to replace missing teeth. Otherwise, the jawbone can begin to shrink due to a lack of stimulation of blood flow. Failing to address the issue may cause the bone tissue to weaken, increasing the risk of further tooth loss. Without a strong jawbone, you might begin to experience complications like facial sagging, difficulty eating, trouble speaking, and lower self-confidence.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
Truthfully, most people who suffer from extensive tooth loss may be eligible to receive dentures. While the materials and techniques used to craft these prosthetics have changed over the years, their ability to complete a smile remains the same.
Rest assured – even patients who initially don’t qualify for dentures can potentially get them after undergoing certain preliminary procedures. For example, a bone graft might be necessary to strengthen your jawbone. During your consultation, we’ll determine which type of denture is right for you and work the appropriate treatments into your plan to get your oral health up to speed.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
If dentures aren’t a viable option for you, our team may be able to provide you with alternative methods of tooth replacement. Some of those include:
- Dental Bridges – Patients that are only missing one or several teeth in a row may want to consider dental bridges. The only requirement is to have nearby healthy teeth on either side of the gap to support the bridge.
- Dental Implants Using titanium posts surgically inserted into the jawbone, we can create a strong foundation to support your new teeth. Dental implants require a durable facial structure and sufficient bone density. Although this option comes with a higher upfront cost, you can expect to enjoy your results for a lifetime.
Learn More About Dental Bridges Learn More About Dental Implants
Benefits of Dentures
If you’re missing teeth in Sparta, getting full or partial dentures can provide a whole host of benefits, such as allowing you to smile with confidence again. When you have gaps in your grin, you have likely adapted by learning to smile and laugh with your mouth closed. But this way, you’re not enjoying yourself to the fullest. Dentures allow you to not worry about how your smile looks, because you can trust that it looks amazing.
Dentures also restore your biting force. This lets you eat a variety of healthy, crunchy foods that you couldn’t when you were missing teeth, such as hard-skinned fruits and vegetables and chewy meats. Well-fitting dentures allow you to eat pretty much whatever you want.
Implant-Retained Dentures
You may have heard that as the shape of your jawbone changes over time due to tooth loss, so does the fit of your dentures. This may cause your false teeth to slip around when you’re speaking or eating, which can be embarrassing. Fortunately, there is a way to prevent this from happening, with dentures held in place by dental implants. We can place an average of four to six implants throughout your jawbone to hold a full or partial denture in place. The great thing about dental implants is that they retain the shape of your jawbone, preserving your facial muscles and keeping your dentures from losing their fit over the years. If you take proper care of your implant-retained dentures, you can expect them to last for decades to come.
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
Dentures are highly customized and can be used to replace just about any number of teeth. As a result, it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact cost until you’ve completed a dedicated consultation at our office. No matter how much you need to pay for your future tooth replacement, we’ll ensure that you’re satisfied with your prosthetic to the fullest extent!
Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures
Multiple steps go into creating a denture, each of which have their own costs attached. This includes the preparation and the materials used to make it look natural and last for many years of use. For example:
- Preparatory treatments like tooth extractions may be needed before dentures can be placed. This not only increases total costs, but extends the length of the treatment process.
- The type of acrylic used to create the base of the denture can also vary in quality. Some acrylics are both more durable and easier to custom-shade to your existing gum tissue.
- The replacement teeth can also be made from acrylic to cut costs, but often times dentists will use porcelain for better esthetics.
- Keep in mind that cheaper is not necessarily better, especially for something you’ll be using every day!
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
Implant dentures are generally more costly, but there’s a good reason for it. For example, implant dentures rely on about four to eight dental implants to keep the restoration in place. These not only ensure better stability, but work to replace the roots of teeth entirely. That means they are longer-lasting, more durable, and feel far more natural than traditional dentures. It’s largely considered a long-term investment because you should not need to replace them nearly as often (if at all) compared to traditional dentures, which generally has to be done every five to seven years.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
Dentures are a major procedure according to most dental insurance plans, which means they are covered by benefits in most cases. The coverage percentage tends to hover around 50%, but this can vary depending on your plan. Our team will be happy to help you confirm your specific benefits in advance so you are not caught off guard by surprise costs.
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
Even if you don’t have dental insurance, there are still ways you can make your denture costs more affordable. Many patients take advantage of CareCredit, a third-party financing option that allows for monthly payments on more expensive dental services, including tooth replacements like dentures. Many of their payment plans even allow for little to zero interest! Alternatively, our in-house membership plan provides discounts on major services like dentures. Those who are interested in dental implants to hold dentures can receive an evaluation from our dentists entirely free of charge!
To learn more, please give Gentle Dentistry Sparta a call today to schedule a consultation!
Denture FAQs
If you’re suffering from moderate to severe tooth loss, we can help bring back your smile with a reliable, custom-made full or partial denture. This classic tooth loss solution is a great way to quickly and easily replace your missing teeth and get back to enjoying a complete smile. For your convenience, we’ve gathered some common denture FAQs in Sparta below so you can learn more about them. If you don’t see the answers you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to give us a call and we’ll be happy to help!
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
If you’re missing most or all of your natural teeth, dentures are likely a great option for you. However, to be considered a good candidate, your mouth needs to be healthy. If necessary, we’ll remove any problematic teeth and treat issues like tooth decay and gum disease beforehand. Once your oral health is back on track, you’ll be ready for your brand-new smile!
Do Dentures Have to Be Kept in Water?
Thanks to modern dental technology, dentures are precisely crafted to form a close, secure, and comfortable fit. If they dry out however, they may warp and lose their shape, making them uncomfortable and ill-fitting. Whenever your dentures are not in your mouth, you should keep them in a glass of water to ensure they keep their shape. This also helps keep all the small nooks and crannies clean and free of bacteria. You can either store them in plain water or use a specialized denture soaking solution.
How Many Hours a Day Should I Wear My Dentures?
You probably don’t want to be caught without your new teeth, but it’s important to remove your dentures from time to time in order to give your gums a rest. We generally recommend that you wear dentures all day and night after you first get them to help your mouth adjust. Then, after about a week, you should take them out every night, brush them off, and soak them overnight. Not only does this help keep plaque and bacteria from building up on your new teeth, but it will help prevent gum irritation.
Will Wearing Dentures Irritate My Gums?
Properly fitting, custom-made dentures won’t cause any gum irritation. Even so, it’s important to remember that your mouth will naturally begin to change shape over time as a result of your tooth loss. This will cause your dentures to gradually lose their close fit over the course of several years. After about seven to ten years of use, you should have your dentures readjusted or replaced to ensure your new smile stays comfortable and your gums remain healthy.
How Long Do Dentures Last?
As mentioned above, the average lifespan of a set of removable dentures is between seven and ten years. They could last even longer with the proper care, so make sure to clean your dentures regularly, handle them carefully, and visit us twice a year for routine checkups.
Implant-retained dentures, on the other hand, last much longer. Since the implant posts that hold this type of denture in place fuse directly with your jawbone, they should never lose their grip. In fact, they stimulate blood flow in the jawbone to prevent the changes in your mouth that naturally come with tooth loss. With great oral hygiene, you can easily expect your implant-retained dentures to last a lifetime!