Dentures – Allentown, PA
Enjoy a Complete, Beautiful Smile
Dentures in Allentown have been used for generations to replace lost teeth because they are convenient, effective, and affordable. They have undergone various improvements over the years to look and feel more realistic than ever. If you’ve been struggling with severe tooth loss, Dr. Young can rebuild a beautiful, functional smile with a high-quality denture. He will restore your oral health and quality of life by giving you a confident smile you’ll be proud to share with the world.
Who is a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Most patients who have good oral and general health are candidates for dentures if they have several damaged or missing teeth. Your dentist in Allentown, Dr. Young, will examine your mouth and learn more about your health history to ensure they are right for you. After discussing your concerns and preferences, he will create a personalized strategy to restore your smile. Some patients may require additional procedures before getting their dentures, like tooth extractions or gum disease treatment.
Types of Dentures
You have more options than ever to rebuild a stunning smile. Depending on the number of teeth you have lost and your goals, Dr. Young will recommend a prosthetic, which can include:
Partial Dentures
A partial denture is used to replace several lost teeth, whether consecutive or not. Dr. Young will take an impression of your mouth to recreate the crowns of your missing teeth. The prosthetics are affixed to a gum-colored base that has a metal framework, which allows it to clip or clasp onto your remaining teeth to stay in place.
Full Dentures
A full denture replicates an entire arch of teeth. An acrylic base is made from an impression of your mouth, which will hold your custom-made replacement teeth. Your denture will rest on top of your gum tissue and is held in place using suction.
Implant Dentures
4 to 10 dental implants are inserted into the jawbone to mimic the roots of your teeth. Your denture is attached to the posts using abutments. This method provides a nearly perfect replica of your natural smile, which can last for decades with the right maintenance.
Choosing the right denture is a big decision, but you don’t have to make it alone. Dr. Young will explain all your options to feel 100% confident in your investment.
The Benefits of Dentures
It can be difficult to complete tasks of daily living like eating, speaking, and smiling if you’ve lost multiple teeth. Many people have found that dentures are a life-changing way to replace several, many, or all of their teeth, and our office is well-equipped to address these concerns by providing you with high-quality dentures. Here’s how our lifelike and comfortable dentures can dramatically improve your quality of life if you have suffered from tooth loss.
Psychological Benefits
Someone who has lost all of their teeth will probably have some difficulty coming to terms with the state of their mouth. This can make them less inclined to engage in social activities, which can take a major toll on their self-esteem, their social life, and their willingness to smile. This can also increase their risk of feeling sad or depressed.
Restoring your smile and chewing ability with dentures can improve your confidence and self-esteem by addressing insecurities about your appearance, your ability to speak, your ability to enjoy a nice meal with friends, and more while helping you stay socially engaged.
Clearer Enunciation
Tooth loss can make it much more difficult to speak clearly. To properly form words, your lips and tongue must be precisely positioned, and some sounds are very difficult to make if you cannot touch your tongue to your teeth. Since dentures take the place of missing teeth in both appearance and function, it should only take a short adjustment period for you to learn how to easily pronounce words that were difficult with missing teeth.
Improves Nutrition
Tooth loss can make it difficult to enjoy nutritious foods like crisp and snappy fruits and veggies as well as tough and fibrous proteins like certain meats. This makes people who have lost many teeth more likely to suffer from problems like indigestion or malnutrition because they can’t chew certain foods thoroughly or at all. Dentures make it much easier to get all the nutrition you need by enjoying a wide variety of foods, improving your overall health and quality of life.
Preserves Oral Health
Your teeth do a lot to hold one another in place, and losing a few or many of them can cause your remaining ones to shift out of position. This can make these teeth harder to clean, easier to injure, and more vulnerable to infections. Wearing dentures can provide some stability for your remaining teeth, preventing them from drifting out of place and protecting them from wear by bearing the pressure of regular chewing.
Expands Opportunities
People who smile often are more likely to be seen as friendly, approachable, confident, and trustworthy by others. This makes having a smile you can be proud of a key advantage in job interviews, closing sales, and getting promotions by helping you make that ideal first impression. In fact, one study found that poor oral health made people less likely to be employed.
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
Your financial situation should never stand in the way of treating tooth loss. Many factors affect the cost of dentures, but Dr. Bradford G. Young has the solutions you need to replace your missing teeth without draining your wallet. You won't have to compromise quality or aesthetics to stay within your budget.
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. The cost of replacing missing teeth is influenced by many things, which may include:
- Consultation: You'll require a consultation to ensure you're a candidate for dentures.
- Preparatory Procedures: It's not unusual to require a little prep work, like tooth extractions or gum disease treatment.
- Type of Prosthetic: You have many types of dentures to choose from, depending on how many teeth you're replacing.
- Materials: High-quality materials can last longer and offer more benefits than budget-friendly options.
After creating your treatment plan, your dental team will review your estimate and explain the fees. You'll know exactly what you'll have to pay before committing to anything.
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
Implant dentures might cost more upfront, but they are the most affordable overall. Unlike traditional dentures, dental implants are proven to last for 30 years or more with the right care. They have over a 95% success rate and are the only method to replace tooth roots. Not only will you save money down the road, but they provide priceless results because they are the next best thing to real teeth. You will invest in a healthy mouth and body when choosing the most reliable solution for tooth replacement.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
Most dental insurance will cover some of the expenses when treating tooth loss. Besides your consultation, imaging, or diagnostic services, your policy may also include medically necessary procedures. After meeting your annual deductible, your insurance will pay 50% to 80% of common restorative procedures, including your dentures. You can use your yearly allowance to lower the amount you'll pay out-of-pocket.
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
Besides using your dental insurance, our office accepts multiple payment options to keep your new smile affordable, including:
- Traditional Payments: You can pay for dentures using cash, credit cards, or a personal check.
- CareCredit: Based on your credit approval, you can use monthly installments to pay any dental expenses. You'll enjoy little or no interest in financing.
Denture FAQs
Can I Sleep With My Dentures in My Mouth?
Your denture dentist in Allentown will instruct you to wear your new set of teeth for 24 hours. After the first day, you'll need to remove them before going to bed. Dentures restrict blood circulation to your gums. They can become inflamed, sore, or infected if they aren't given time to recuperate. Not to mention, your mouth is a hotspot for bacteria that can affect your oral and general health. It can also weaken your dentures over time. Taking them out at the end of the day allows you to clean your mouth and your new set of teeth thoroughly. Besides brushing, soak your dentures nightly to kill any bacteria missed by your toothbrush.
Do I Use Regular Toothpaste to Clean My Dentures?
Dentures might look and feel like real teeth, but they can't be cleaned the same way. Abrasive dental products can scratch them, creating small crevasses that trap food particles and plaque, which can lead to odors and damage your denture. It's best to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and nonabrasive toothpaste. You can also purchase cleaning kits for denture wearers.
Do Upper Dentures Always Cover the Palate?
A denture that covers the upper palate can be bothersome for some patients. There are also concerns about diminished food taste. Thankfully, there are many styles of dentures to choose from, like those with a horseshoe shape. Dr. Young will explain all your options to help you choose the best type for your needs and preferences.
Can I Use My Dental Insurance to Pay for Dentures?
Every situation differs, but most dental plans partially cover the cost of dentures. Your benefits can be used for your consultation, preliminary treatments, and other aspects of the diagnostic or planning processes. After meeting your annual deductible, your dental insurance can pay 50% of the cost of your restoration until hitting your yearly limit. A member of our team will work on your behalf with your dental insurance to maximize any applicable coverage to lower the amount you’ll pay out-of-pocket. We will explain how your coverage is being used and if there's any remaining balance. We offer many financial solutions to keep dentures affordable, like monthly payments through CareCredit.
Is a Broken Denture a Dental Emergency?
You rely on your dentures to get you through the day, which means you need a dentist quickly if they break. You can't go without any teeth. Leave the mending for professionals and call our office for an emergency appointment. Use an old denture in the meantime. Dr. Young will provide the necessary repairs or replacements, so you can get back to enjoying your day.