704 NE Evans Street, McMinnville, OR 97128
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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.
Just about anyone is eligible to get dentures. It doesn’t matter how many teeth you are missing. The first thing you’ll need to do is schedule a consultation with Dr. Ramsay. She will conduct an oral exam to see if you are missing multiple teeth in a row or all of them, if you have enough jawbone density, and if your gums are healthy. People who don’t check all those boxes can sometimes get a preliminary procedure to restore their gum health or bone structure and get approved later on. To find out if you’re a good candidate for dentures in McMinnville, read on or schedule a consultation at our practice!
According to the American College of Prosthodontists, the common causes of missing teeth include tooth decay, gum disease, and injury. In its early stages, tooth decay only results in a cavity, but if left untreated, it can destroy the tooth. When gum disease is left unchecked, it can cause teeth and bones to decay and tissue to recede, leading to tooth loss. Injury generally refers to a tooth getting knocked out due to trauma, and not getting help from your dentist within 30 minutes elevates the risk the tooth can’t be saved.
The American College of Prosthodontists points out the negative consequences of missing teeth, such as lower self-esteem, difficulty speaking, trouble eating, and facial sagging. It makes sense you wouldn’t be as confident with gaps in your smile, and fewer teeth will make chewing food more difficult. Beyond making it more difficult to pronounce certain words, missing teeth can cause slurring, whistling, or spitting when talking. When you are missing teeth, your jawbone doesn’t get stimulated, and you can lose bone density, which is how facial sagging factors in.
People who have sufficient jawbone density and healthy gum tissue, have sensitive teeth, have a lot of tooth decay, or have lost many teeth could all benefit from getting dentures. As with other restorative treatments, getting dentures in McMinnville doesn’t mean you can quit making an effort with your oral hygiene. You still need to make the effort to keep your mouth and your dentures clean.
When it comes to what type of denture you need, it relates to how many teeth you are missing. If you are only missing some teeth, you need partial dentures. Patients missing all teeth should consider full dentures or implant dentures. Since dentures are more affordable than other tooth-replacement methods, they make a lot of sense for patients on a budget.
All hope isn’t lost if you aren’t a good candidate for dentures. You can turn your attention to other options, such as:
If you’re unsure how dentures are made, our team at Evans Street Dental is here to explain the process so that you are fully aware of what you can expect when starting treatment. Knowing the types of materials used as well as how they are constructed can help you to recognize the care and attention that goes into making these prosthetics, encouraging you to take proper care of your smile going forward.
There are two parts to a denture – the base and the teeth. Here is a clearer explanation of each:
Many steps must occur when creating dentures from scratch. Each patient’s mouth is different, so these prosthetics are fully customized. Our denture dentist will begin by taking impressions of your gums and measuring the jaw to create a model of your mouth.
We will then create a cast and send it to a dental lab, where technicians will build a wax version of your gumline while creating the teeth and base of your denture. Afterward, they will be set into place, and specialized devices will help to hold the teeth in place. Should technicians need to make any adjustments, it will occur at this time while also ensuring the wax being used matches your gum tissue.
Once the wax dentures are created, you will return to our office for a fitting. The model will then be returned to technicians who will work on the final prosthetics. During this time, you will wear temporary dentures.
After technicians remove excess wax through the process of boiling the dentures, they will then be placed in a flask filled with plaster. Helping to maintain their shape, the flask is placed into hot water so the dentures will melt.
Technicians will then create holes in the teeth to allow the material to adhere, while a liquid separator is used to keep acrylic from sticking to the plaster before being injected into the flask. The dentures will then be removed from the plaster and placed into an ultrasonic bath. Final trim and polish will be completed before they are turned in to our office for the last fitting and necessary adjustments.
Although you may feel some minor discomfort initially, it is only temporary. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help with this problem, but you will notice that by continuing to wear your dentures and eating soft foods in the days and weeks after receiving your new teeth, you will become well-adjusted to your smile. During this adjustment phase, though, you’ll find it helpful to speak slower and practice certain syllables and words. You’ll also want to avoid anything hard or crunchy that may cause additional pain. You can also spend some time exercising your facial muscles to encourage faster healing and adjustment.
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.
When you’re missing teeth, life tends to get more challenging. For instance, everyday tasks like eating and speaking get harder. Showing off your smile, too, becomes downright embarrassing. Fortunately, however, the benefits of dentures address these and similar issues. They’re so amazing, in fact, that the restorations even boost your life’s quality! If you’d like to learn more, our practice will happily explain. To that end, keep reading or call our office directly.
As you might expect, people often struggle to accept tooth loss. That’s only natural - the condition deprives you of a full, gleaming smile. Consequently, those who face it may suffer from lower body image and self-esteem. Such effects, in turn, can cause someone to socialize less and develop sadness or depression.
Thankfully, dentures are great mood boosters. In wearing them, a patient will usually feel more confident and less anxious. They’ll then be more at ease with their looks, speech, and so on in social settings.
As you may know, it’s hard to speak without teeth. Your pearly whites help position your lips and tongue when you talk. By going without them, many words are tough or nearly impossible to say clearly.
Dentures, though, can (and do) act as substitute teeth. As such, they’ll give your tongue and lips the necessary support for speech. It’s just a matter of adjusting to speaking with them. From there, you’ll be able to talk with others naturally.
Meals are trickier when you’re missing some of your teeth. After all, you need your chompers to chew food! However, what’s worse is that many healthy items – veggies and fruits, lean proteins, etc. – have tough textures. Given that fact, you’ll get malnutrition or indigestion if you limit them due to chewing issues.
Still, you can prevent these problems with dentures. The restorations are able to chew food almost as well as natural teeth. As such, they’ll widen your dietary options and ensure you receive crucial nutrients.
True, tooth loss is usually the result of dental damage. Even so, the condition itself can further harm your oral health. The resulting smile gaps, you see, give harmful bacteria places to breed. Furthermore, those spaces could make your surrounding teeth tilt and fall out.
By filling your smile gaps, then, dentures would protect your mouth. Nasty germs will have fewer places to grow without large spaces between teeth. Similarly, having no gaps means your teeth are less likely to tilt and fall.
Remember: your smile is crucial to good first impressions. For better or worse, others notice it before anything else about you. You’re thus better positioned to socialize with friends or family if you have a full grin.
As it happens, dentures can give you just such a smile. In fact, their looks are so realistic that they may improve your relationships and job prospects. The latter scenario is especially helpful for your situation. You’d be able to pay for the treatment with the money from a wonderful promotion!
Dentures are able to completely transform your smile. However, even if you have few or no remaining teeth, this doesn’t mean that you should stop going to the dentist. You should still attend regular checkups for a variety of different reasons. Your dentist will continue to monitor any existing teeth and gum tissue. They will also keep an eye out for any abnormalities that could indicate oral cancer. When you have dentures, it is very difficult to notice changes in your mouth on your own. Early detection from your dentist is key to making a full recovery.
Each time you eat, you should remove and rinse off your dentures. This can help to prevent buildup of food debris and plaque. When rinsing your dentures, don’t use hot water. This can warp the denture material and cause them not to fit properly.
Remove your dentures before you clean them. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a small amount of unscented hand soap, mild dish soap, or denture cleaner to gently brush your dentures. You shouldn’t use regular toothpaste because dentures can’t stand up to abrasive products. If you won’t be wearing your dentures again right away, place them in a container of water or denture cleansing solution so they don’t dry out and lose their shape. You should always rinse your dentures thoroughly before putting them back into your mouth.
When you clean your dentures, you may want to place a towel underneath just in case you accidentally drop them. This will reduce the probability of your dentures becoming damaged. Also, keep your dentures out of reach of small children and pets.
Before you go to sleep, take out your dentures. Wearing dentures restricts the circulation in your gums leading to soft-tissue irritation. Sleeping with dentures has also been associated with a higher risk of pneumonia and tongue plaque. Overnight, keep your dentures in a denture-soaking solution so they don’t dry out.
Keep an eye out for changes in your mouth so you can address them with your dentist. This includes mouth sores, gum irritation, and signs of infection. If your dentures become damaged, don’t try to repair them on your own. You could accidentally damage them further. Give us a call instead. If your denture shows any signs of not fitting properly, like shifting or clicking, let us know.
Caring for all-on-4 dentures works a little bit differently. You should brush your dentures twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. Stay away from toothpaste containing baking soda or stain-removing agents. Floss your replacement teeth every day and consider investing in a water flosser to keep your implants clean. Rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash every day to prevent the growth of tartar.
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.
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 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 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.
Repairing a damaged tooth whenever possible is always a preferred option. Tooth extractions are only ever recommended as a last resort, like when a tooth is too damaged to save due to decay, infection, or trauma. If all of your teeth in an arch are decayed or infected with gum disease, replacing them with dentures may be a viable option. However, your dentist will always explore all of your options before making this recommendation.
When you have dentures, there are some foods that you need to be wary of to keep your smile in good shape. Hard snacks, like nuts, popcorn, apples, and carrot sticks can damage and dislodge dentures, so they should be consumed only with great caution. Tough meats, like steak and pork chops, require a lot of chewing which can put stress on your dentures and gums. Be sure to cut these items into very small pieces to make them more manageable. Sticky foods, like peanut butter and gummy candies, are best avoided because they can pull your prosthesis out of place.
When you lose teeth, your facial muscles aren’t being supported as they should, giving the face a sunken appearance. Dentures provide support to these facial muscles, therefore improving your appearance. If your dentures aren’t fitting as they should, they may not provide proper support, so this should be addressed with your dentist at your earliest convenience.
Your dentures should be brushed and rinsed on a daily basis, but toothpaste isn’t the best option. Toothpaste is abrasive and can leave microscopic scratches on the surface of your dentures. Over time, this can lead to significant damage. Instead, use hand soap or mild dishwashing liquid, as well as denture cleaners. Clean your dentures after each meal with a soft-bristled toothbrush.