Dentures – San Ramon, CA

Effects of Missing Teeth

When it comes to tooth loss, you can face many unique challenges such as difficulty speaking and eating, and a lack of desire to smile. Missing teeth can do more than affect your oral health, though. It can also take a toll on your overall health and well-being if untreated for too long. Some additional problems that can arise because of tooth loss include:

• Facial sagging and aging
• Jawbone deterioration or atrophy
• Additional tooth loss because of an unstable jawbone

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

A denture dentist will conduct a thorough examination of your smile to determine if you are a candidate for dentures. During this visit, our team at Oak Ridge Dental will take images of your oral structure and decide if you have enough jawbone density to adequately support a customized prosthetic.

Whether you receive a partial or full denture, dental bridge, or dental implant, it is necessary that you have no signs of decay or gum disease, as this can compromise the success of your tooth replacement.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

Apart from traditional partial and full dentures, there are two additional options you can choose from when talking with your dentist about tooth replacement:

• Dental Bridges – Designed to fill in the gaps left behind by one, two, or even three missing teeth, these restorations consist of two dental crowns and artificial teeth known as pontics. The crowns are placed over healthy abutment teeth that are filed down for comfortable placement. The remaining teeth then rest on top of the gums to fill in the space.
• Dental Implants – Dental implants are unlike other tooth replacement solutions because they are capable of restoring complete root-to-crown structures. Made of titanium, they’re placed within the jawbone and fuse through a process known as osseointegration. They can last a lifetime with proper care and are versatile in treating all types of tooth loss.

What are Dentures Made Of?

The artificial teeth attached to your denture will be designed to resemble your natural teeth. As such, they will normally be made from tooth-colored resin or porcelain. In general, many people prefer porcelain; not only does it tend to be more aesthetically pleasing, but it is durable enough to withstand the pressures of biting and chewing very well.

The base of the dentures – the part that supports the artificial teeth – can be made out of a variety of materials. Acrylic tends to be a popular choice, thanks in no small part to the way it can be personalized to match your gums. Nylon might be used instead of acrylic in specific cases.

The Denture Creation Process

So how are dentures made? Here is a rundown of the entire process:

• Our team will capture impressions of your gums, and a model of your mouth will be created. This is done to determine the size and shape that your dentures will need to be.
• A trusted dental laboratory will receive the model we made and make a replica of your gumline using wax.
• Artificial teeth will be carefully attached to the wax base. Some slight adjustments might need to be made to the wax dentures before they’re sent back to our office.
• We’ll check to make sure that the dentures fit on your gums, then send them back to the lab.
• The dentures will be put in a special flask, and plaster will be added to help them retain their shape. Then the flask will be immersed in hot water to melt away the wax portions.
• To replace the wax, acrylic will be injected via small holes created in the artificial teeth.
• The plaster will be carefully removed. (An ultrasonic bath might be used for this step of the process.)
• The base of the dentures will be trimmed as needed, and the prosthesis will be gently polished.
• The now-completed dentures will once again be sent to our office. We’ll schedule one last appointment for you to confirm that the prosthesis fits correctly.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

Once you have received your new dentures, the next step is to start getting used to them. At first, you may notice some soreness, but this should only be temporary; eventually, your mouth will adjust. It might help to only eat soft foods for a while after you receive your dental prosthesis.

Psychological Benefits

It can be difficult to come to terms with your tooth loss. Many people with incomplete smiles are more likely to develop depression. On top of that, missing teeth may hurt your confidence and lead to social anxiety. Dentures can help put your mind at ease. You’re likely to feel much better about yourself once you no longer have any empty space in your grin making you self-conscious. And you’ll likely find that it’s easier to engage with other people socially once you’re no longer worried about missing teeth affecting your ability to eat, speak, and smile.

Clearer Enunciation

Even the simple task of pronouncing your words clearly can be more difficult when you don’t have a full set of teeth. Your lips and tongue need to work together to create certain sounds, meaning your ability to communicate will be limited when your smile is incomplete. But with dentures acting as your new teeth, enunciating your words properly will become much easier.

Improves Nutrition

Missing teeth can significantly limit your diet. Not only does this tend to make mealtime less enjoyable, but it can also mean that you will no longer be able to eat a variety of healthy foods. It’s not uncommon for people with tooth loss to suffer from indigestion. Luckily, dentures can improve your chewing ability, allowing you to handle all kinds of foods. As a result, you will have a much easier time planning a diet that meets all of your nutritional needs so that you can keep your mouth and body healthy.

Preserves Oral Health

While it may seem like a lack of teeth is a big enough problem on its own, it’s important to be aware of the full impact that it can have on your oral health. When there’s empty space in your mouth, your remaining teeth will start to drift out of place, and they will likely wear down faster. But by using dentures to re-complete your grin, you can help your remaining teeth stay in their proper positions and protect them from excessive wear and tear.

Expands Opportunities

Whether you’re being interviewed for a job, are meeting a customer to make a sale, or are trying to get a promotion, your ability to make an excellent first impression matters. A great smile can go a long way toward ensuring that other people see you in a favorable light when meeting you for the first time. As such, getting dentures to replace all of your missing teeth could end up helping you in a major way on your path to success.

Removable Dentures

Remove After Eating

After you finish a meal, you should pay a quick visit to the nearest sink to rinse off your dentures. Little bits of food may still be clinging to your prosthesis once you’re done eating, and it’s best to get rid of them before they can lead to any problems. When rinsing your dentures, make sure that the water is only lukewarm. Hot water might cause your dentures to lose their shape, meaning they will no longer fit correctly.

Clean Your Restoration

It’s important to get in the habit of thoroughly cleaning your dentures. It’s not a good idea to use toothpaste due to its abrasive nature; specialized denture cleansing products or unscented hand soap are usually better choices. Make sure that the toothbrush you use to clean your dentures has soft bristles.

Once you’re done with the cleaning process, rinse your dentures off thoroughly. You don’t want there to be any cleaning materials remaining on your prosthesis when the time comes to put it back in your mouth.

Keep Your Dentures Safe

Dentures are designed to be durable, but it’s still possible for them to break. It’s therefore important to take precautions against accidents occurring. For one thing, when you remove your dentures, you should put a towel underneath; that way, if you happen to drop your prosthesis, it won’t fall directly onto the bathroom countertop.

Remove Dentures When You Sleep

Wearing your dentures 24/7 can potentially irritate your gums, and research shows that it could even put you at a higher risk for pneumonia. It’s better for your mouth to take your dentures out before you go to bed so that your gums can rest overnight. Make sure that your dentures are stored in a soaking solution so that they don’t dry out.

Notice Changes

Does it seem like your dentures are causing gum sores? Are your artificial teeth damaged? Does it seem like your dentures are shifting around instead of staying put? All of these issues should be discussed with a dental expert as soon as possible. Call our office if you have concerns about your dentures.

All-on-4 Dentures

All-on-4 dentures that are permanently anchored to dental implant posts can be brushed as if they were real teeth. To avoid damaging the prosthesis, be sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush, and avoid abrasive types of toothpaste (such as those with ingredients designed to get rid of stains). Flossing is also important; if you’re having trouble cleaning the area under your dentures, you may want to think about picking up some floss threaders or a water flosser.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures

There are a few different factors that affect the total cost of dentures in San Ramon:

• Preparatory treatments. Some patients require extractions or other preliminary treatments before they can receive dentures.
• Dentures are composed out of two parts: the acrylic, gum-colored base, and the artificial teeth. The teeth may be made out of acrylic or porcelain. The type of material used, as well as the quality of the material, have a bearing on price.

You might come across advertisements for “cheap” dentures. Be wary of such offers. You might end up with a prosthetic that is uncomfortable or that does not look good in your mouth.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Yes, implant dentures cost more than traditional ones. This is because they require a more complex, time-intensive treatment process. However, for most patients, they are a smart investment. They last much longer than traditional dentures, provide a stronger bite force, and do not slip around in the mouth. Also, because they rest on dental implants instead of directly on the gums, they come with a lower risk of gum sores and other issues. If you are interested in implant dentures, our team will do our best to help you manage their price.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Most dental insurance policies do cover dentures. Typically, they are considered a major restorative procedure. This means that insurance may pay for half of their price, up to the amount of the plan’s annual maximum. As an insurance-friendly practice, we will help you navigate your policy, confirm your benefits before you commit to treatment, and file all the necessary paperwork. We are even in-network with a few major insurance companies, which can help you to save even more on your prosthetic.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

As your denture dentist in San Ramon, we want to help you afford your new smile. In addition to assisting you with insurance, we also accept financing. With a low-interest installment plan, you can pay for your dentures over time. Most patients qualify for financing. You might be surprised by how easy it is to fit your dentures into your budget!

Are you ready to rebuild your smile with dentures in San Ramon? Contact us today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to serving you!