Dentures – Norwalk, OH
Not Your Grandparents’ Dentures
If you have missing teeth, you’re not alone. In fact, more than 170 million Americans are struggling with tooth loss. The good news is that there is a solution: partial, full, and implant dentures. This tried-and-true orthodontic treatment can help you to eat comfortably, speak clearly, and increase confidence and self-esteem. So, if you are struggling with moderate to severe tooth loss, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with our denture experts! Our highly qualified team at Sommers Family Dentistry will find the tooth-replacement solution that fits you perfectly.
Why Choose Sommers Family Dentistry for Dentures?
- Top-Rated Dental Office in the Area
- Appointments as Early as 7 AM
- Flexible Financing Available with CareCredit
Who is a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Fortunately, dentures are suitable for a wide range of patients, including those who don’t have any of their natural teeth left! So, if there are several gaps throughout your smile or all of your teeth have fallen out, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with our Norwalk dental team to discuss dentures. From there, we can learn more about your dental history, smile goals, and, ultimately, if you are a good candidate for dentures.
Types of Dentures
Believe it or not, the requirements for each type of denture (i.e., partial, full, implant) are different. Let’s take a look at what qualifies someone for each one:
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are ideal for patients who have most of their teeth but have lost several to oral disease, malnutrition, or an accident. This type of restoration acts like a puzzle piece to fill the open spaces in your mouth, and they are held in place securely with a discreet metal clasp.
Full Dentures
Unlike partial dentures, full dentures are ideal for those who have already lost all of their teeth or don’t have enough healthy teeth worth saving. In this case, we will use a gum-colored base and custom prosthetic teeth to restore the look, health, and function of your smile.
Implant Dentures
If you have a sufficient amount of jawbone density, your gums are healthy, and you are committed to good oral hygiene best practices, then you may be a candidate for implant dentures. This involves placing dental implants throughout your mouth and securing your dentures on top.
The Benefits of Dentures
Dentures have served to restore the form and function of lost teeth for centuries, and modern models have come a long way since George Washington wore false teeth made of ivory. Advanced dental materials and modern fabrication methods can create dentures that are more comfortable, more durable, and better fitting than your grandparents ever thought possible. Today, we can offer you a much more natural choice of colors for artificial teeth and gums while new processing and impression-taking methods ensure the best possible fit, better functioning, and increased reliability.
Psychological Benefits
People who have lost all of their teeth often find it difficult to accept tooth loss, resulting in diminished self-esteem and reduced willingness to engage socially and increased risks of sadness and depression. Restoring one’s smile with dentures can give them the confidence they need to socialize comfortably by reducing anxieties about speech, chewing, and appearance.
Clearer Enunciation
Tooth loss can make speaking difficult since the teeth do a lot to form certain sounds. When your tongues and lips cannot position themselves against the teeth properly, it can become quite difficult to clearly pronounce many words. Since dentures function as your missing teeth, they can make enunciation much easier. While you can expect a brief adjustment period after receiving them, you should soon be speaking naturally and comfortably with practice.
Improved Nutrition
Many nutritious foods like raw fruits and veggies and fresh cuts of meat can be tough and fibrous in texture, which makes it hard to chew them properly after tooth loss. By improving your chewing ability with dentures, you can enjoy an expansive diet that includes a variety of nutritious foods. This can prevent issues such as indigestion and malnutrition.
Preserves Oral Health
Dentures can help protect your remaining natural teeth from damage by absorbing some of the pressure of chewing. This reduces the stress on the remaining teeth, lowering the risk of dental injuries such as chips, cracks, and fractures that can lead to dental infections. Wearing dentures can help you keep your natural teeth in great shape for life.
Expands Opportunities
Your smile is a crucial part of making an excellent first impression, which is key in the business world and the social scene. In fact, a 2019 study found that people with poor oral health were less likely to be employed. Dentures can give you a beautiful smile that you’d be proud to show off, which can help you win trust, establish connections, close sales, and earn promotions. Making this investment in your oral health and self-confidence can pay significant dividends in the long run.
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
Every tooth is invaluable to your oral and general health, as well as your self-esteem. If your smile has been overcome by tooth loss, nothing should prevent you from replacing your missing teeth. Various factors affect the cost of dentures in Norwalk, but we strive to keep them affordable for everyone. We’ll rebuild a beautiful, functional smile with the high-quality prosthetic you deserve.
Factors that affect the Cost of Dentures
Every smile and situation differs, so there’s not a one-size-fits-all denture. As a result, there’s not a flat rate for a new set of teeth. After examining your mouth and learning more about your goals, your denture dentist in Norwalk will create an individualized strategy to restore your smile. While every plan is unique, you can expect your estimate to include:
- Preparatory procedures
- Type of denture
- Number of arches
- Materials
Although everyone likes to save money, you don’t want to pinch pennies when investing in dentures in Norwalk. The saying is true, you’ll get what you pay for. Don’t worry, we’ll help you choose the best materials to ensure your new smile lasts for many years with the right maintenance.
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
Dental implants are more expensive upfront than traditional prosthetics; however, they are the most affordable long-term because they never have to be replaced. With the implant posts acting as new tooth roots, they’ll keep your jawbone strong and healthy to avoid common oral health issues caused by tooth loss. You’ll reduce your overall dental expenses to save even more money down the road. Despite common belief, implant dentures are affordable for people from all walks of life. The process of placing dental implants is performed in multiple steps, each with separate fees. You won’t have to pay a lump sum, making it easier to budget your treatment. Not to mention, our office offers various financial solutions to replace your missing teeth without draining your bank account.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
Most dental insurances can be used to offset the amount you’ll pay out-of-pocket. After reaching your deductible, your benefits can cover up to 80% of the cost of certain steps in your plan. We will work on your behalf with your dental insurance to maximize your coverage to lower the cost of your new smile. A member of our team will take the time to explain how your coverage is being used and if there’s any remaining balance.
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
Besides using your dental insurance, we accept several payment options to keep dentures affordable, such as:
- Traditional Payments: Our office accepts all traditional forms of payment, including cash, checks, and credit cards.
- Third-Party Financing: Pay for your new smile using monthly installments through a third-party financing company.
We will review all your options, so your financial situation never stops you from completing your smile. If you have questions about paying for dentures, or you’re ready to schedule your consultation, contact our office today.
Dentures Aftercare
As a form of tooth replacement, dentures can restore your smile. (Why else would you get them?) Still, they won’t work well without proper care. Dentures need regular upkeep to fill out your grin. Otherwise, they’ll just fail early and cause oral issues. That said, Sommers Family Dentistry can help you: here are some amazing tips on caring for dentures. Read them over to ensure your new smile lasts a while! For any other details, feel free to call our office.
Remove After Eating
Firstly, rinse your dentures after each meal. You’ll keep food bits and plaque from sticking to them that way. With fewer of these “leftovers” present, your risk of dental issues will decrease.
All that said, don’t use hot water for the rinses. Overheated liquids can warp denture material. If you aren’t careful, a steamy rinse will distort your denture’s fit.
Clean Your Restoration
Aside from post-meal rinses, dentures also need once-daily cleaning. The latter removes germs and debris that running water might miss.
These denture cleanings are simple enough. For starters, take the prosthetics out of your mouth. You should then brush them with a toothbrush and hand soap. (At this point, don’t use regular toothpaste; it’s abrasive and harms dentures.) Lastly, soak them in a solution if you have time. From there, rinse the dentures before putting them back in your mouth.
Keep Your Dentures Safe
Dentures are durable, but they aren’t invincible. They can easily break when put under enough force. Therefore, keep your new teeth safe when they’re not in use.
Typically, there are a few good ways to protect dentures. One is to place a towel in your sink during the daily cleanings. (In doing so, you’d cushion the restorations from falls.) On the other hand, you might store them securely in a case or container. This move keeps kids or pets from messing up the artificial teeth.
Remove Dentures When You Sleep
Even if they seem lifelike, you shouldn’t wear dentures to bed. In fact, you ought to remove them before you hit the hay. You can then store them in a soaking solution overnight.
You see, using dentures overnight is harmful to the body. The habit restricts your gums’ circulation and results in tissue irritation. Worse yet, wearing dentures to sleep raises your tongue’s plaque levels, increasing your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, etc. It also makes you more likely to get pneumonia.
Notice Changes
Once you start wearing dentures, monitor both them and your mouth. Either could develop changes that your dentist must address. Such things may include mouth sores, gum irritation, and infections.
Most importantly, see a dentist if your dentures don’t fit well or get damaged. Trying to fix them yourself would only complicate things. Meanwhile, a qualified dentist will know how to refit or even replace the prosthetics.
Dentures FAQs
Do you suffer from extensive tooth loss? If so, you’re probably looking forward to getting dentures in Norwalk. Not only can they rebuild your smile, but they can restore your confidence as well. Before committing to treatment, you likely have several questions about the process. At Sommers Family Dentistry, we want to be as helpful as possible throughout your journey, which is why we’ve decided to answer some of the most popular questions we receive from patients. If you’d prefer to speak directly with a member of our team, don’t hesitate to reach out and make an appointment!
How Long Will You Have to Wait to Get Dentures After Your Teeth Are Pulled?
The average wait time between teeth extractions and getting dentures is about six to eight weeks for most patients. Of course, the exact amount of time varies from person to person and depends on the type of denture in question. It may seem like a long time, but it’s necessary to allow your gums to heal and ensure the dentures fit properly. Immediate dentures can be placed on the same day as an extraction, but they’ll need to be switched out as the shape of your jawbone changes while you heal.
Do Your Dentures Need Adjustment?
All dentures are made from materials that are softer than your natural teeth, so they eventually need adjustment or replacement. After your teeth have been removed, your mouth can naturally change shape over time. Even losing weight can change the shape of your mouth. To make sure that your dentures continue to fit properly, it is vitally important that you visit your dentist at least once a year to have them checked. If you’ve noticed any changes in the way your dentures fit or perform, we’ll be happy to make any necessary adjustments or get you a new set of dentures. Either way, we’ll have you eating and smiling confidently again sooner than you think.
Will It Hurt to Get Dentures?
Do you need to have teeth extracted before getting dentures? If so, you’ll likely experience some discomfort after your oral surgery. You can manage it by taking prescribed pain medication as directed and using cold compresses. When you first receive your dentures, you may experience mild irritation while your mouth adjusts to the appliance. It’s worth noting that it can take months for the discomfort to fade. Of course, since every patient is different, the exact amount of time will vary on a case-by-case basis. If your pain worsens, contact our team right away for assistance.
Is It Hard to Talk with Dentures?
When you first get your dentures, you may have a hard time speaking because you’re so used to talking with your natural teeth. The quicker you adjust to the oral appliance, the faster any speech alterations will fade away. Some exercises you can try to speed up the adjustment process are reading aloud, repeating difficult-to-pronounce words, and having more conversations with family and friends.