Dentures – Allentown, PA

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.

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.

Removable Dentures

Remove After Eating

Although you don’t have to worry about your dentures getting cavities, you do need to take extra precautions to prevent gum disease. One way to do that is by consistently clearing away leftover food from your prosthetics that can cause plaque to form.

After eating, remove them and gently rinse them under running water to eradicate leftover particles and germs. Remember to use lukewarm or cool water because hot water can warp the acrylic base, making it no longer fit.

Clean Your Restoration

Many patients wonder if it’s okay to brush their dentures in their mouths, but you’re unable to reach all their surfaces if you do. Instead, we recommend removing them twice daily (morning and night) to cleanse them gently.

Scrub them thoroughly with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a small amount of mild dish soap or a special denture cleanser that won’t damage the materials. Remember not to use standard toothpaste, as it can harm your restoration. Then, rinse them with water and put them back in your mouth to continue your day.

Keep Your Dentures Safe

Your artificial teeth can become quite slippery during washings, and if they take a fall, they could chip, crack, or break. To prevent this, try placing a soft towel underneath you to brush them so they’re less likely to be injured.

Also, store them somewhere out of the reach of pets and small children who might not handle them carefully.

Remove Dentures When You Sleep

You might feel tempted to sleep with your dentures in your mouth, but we don’t recommend it. Your gums need a break from the constant pressure of supporting them all day, or they could develop blisters and sores. Unfortunately, bacteria in your mouth can infect these, contributing to gum disease.

Instead, place them in a glass of water or a soaking solution to kill up to 99% of unwanted germs while you rest.

Notice Changes

It’s essential to pay attention to your oral health so that you notice subtle changes and can get help. Many issues, like periodontal problems, start small and progressively worsen, so it's best to detect and treat them early.

Also, if your dentures sustain damage, don’t try to fix them at home. Many patients have had dental emergencies after injuring themselves or sticking their teeth together using household items, like superglue, to try to repair their restoration.

All-on-4 Dentures 

Unlike removable dentures, this type is permanently anchored to dental implants surgically placed directly into your jawbone. You can’t take them out to clean them, so your process will look slightly different than someone with a traditional set.

Twice daily, brush them with a soft-bristled brush and non-abrasive toothpaste. Avoid products that contain baking soda or stain-removing agents because they’re not effective on ceramic pontics and could harm them. Then, floss between the artificial teeth to remove bits of food or other debris. If you’re struggling with this step, investing in floss threaders might help. Finally, rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash to prevent plaque and tartar from forming.