Dentures
People lose teeth. It happens. Dentures are artificial teeth that help restore the smile lost to injury, gum disease or decay.
Dentures – both partial and full sets of replacement teeth that are manufactured from acrylic resins – have been in use for decades. During that time, technology has improved and dental techniques have advanced to the point where dentures today have a decidedly natural look that can be very difficult to distinguish from the real thing.
Aside from the obvious cosmetic benefit from dentures, replacing missing teeth can have other less noticeable, but still critical, results. Dentures can help fill the gaps left by missing teeth so the remaining teeth do not migrate or grow crooked. By replacing missing teeth, dentures restore structural integrity to oral areas that may have weakened. Speech impediments can emerge as a result of missing teeth and dentures are able to restore proper annunciation of words.
Dentures can be the answer for many people’s problems, but they aren-t for everyone. People who have lost teeth due to a traumatic injury, gum disease, tooth decay or other medical conditions may benefit from a complete set of dentures or a partial set depending on how many teeth are damaged. If a patient only needs a replacement for one or two teeth, a dental implant or bridge may be more practical. Most people are referred by their regular dentist for treatment by a cosmetic dentist who can discuss all aspects of the procedure and make a recommendation regarding a treatment plan.
There are several types of dentures. Complete dentures are used when no teeth are salvageable and a full restoration is done. Partial dentures would be used to fill gaps in teeth and keep the remaining teeth from migrating. Upper dentures are designed to replace the upper set of teeth only. Over dentures are similar to complete dentures, except some teeth are left to provide added support for the dentures. These dentures tend to require more to craft and are typically more costly than other dentures. Immediate dentures involve the placement of the entire set of dentures at once.
The cost of dentures is going to vary on a case by case basis. Insurance will generally cover a partial cost of the procedure – usually anywhere from 15 to 50 percent – but not the entire cost. The type of denture needed will also play a large part as will the condition of the remaining teeth. Additional procedures like tooth extraction will cause the total cost to go up. The quality of dentures will also be a factor. Some people want only the best, most natural looking dentures – but expect to pay handsomely for that kind of product.
Don’t think that replacing teeth with dentures means maintenance is no longer needed. Only with regular care will dentures maintain a natural look. Dentures don’t last forever and general wear and tear from heavy use can take a toll. It is important to follow up with regular visits to the dentist to ensure the dentures continue to fit properly and maintain their visual appeal.