Dentures – Pea Ridge, AR
Enjoy a Complete Smile Once Again
Do you suffer from extensive tooth loss? If so, you know from experience just how much it can affect your quality of life. Whether you’re missing some or all of your teeth, it can impact your appearance and make it challenging to do everyday activities like eating and speaking. Luckily, you don’t have to live that way forever! At Peak Dental Care, we offer high-quality dentures to help restore your smile and confidence. Millions of Americans already benefit from this method of tooth replacement – will you be next? If you’d like to learn more, continue reading or schedule a consultation with Dr. Baioni today!
Why Choose Peak Dental Care for Dentures?
- High-Quality, Natural-Looking Artificial Teeth
- Skilled and Dedicated Dental Team
- Insurance-Friendly Dental Practice
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
So long as you’re pretty healthy, nearly any adult can get dentures; whether you’ve lost one tooth or many doesn’t matter. That said, it’s still a good idea to consult Dr. Baioni before you decide to get them. He’ll give you a close oral exam to see if dentures would suit your smile’s needs. Even if you don’t qualify at first, our team can help you become a good candidate later with preliminary treatments. Please find out more by reading below or call our office soon.
Effects of Missing Teeth
As you give thought to dentures, try to review tooth loss’ causes and effects. Doing so will help you grasp how treatment could help your smile.
For instance, note that people can lose teeth for many reasons. Plaque may cause your tooth to decay until it falls out or needs an extraction treatment. On the other hand, a person could suffer gum disease that loosens their teeth by eroding their jaw and gums. There’s also the chance that someone has an accident or injury that knocks their teeth out.
Meanwhile, the effects of tooth loss tend to be harsh but consistent. Perhaps the most obvious one is that many everyday actions – smiling, speaking, eating, etc. – become harder. Similarly, lacking teeth leads to smile gaps that erode your jaw’s tissue. This process will trigger facial collapse and further tooth loss if it’s left unchecked.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
To qualify for dentures, most patients only need to suffer from tooth loss. There aren’t many other requirements that a prospective patient has to meet. Still, please keep a few things in mind.
One is that a good denture candidate needs decent oral health. If a patient’s gums and jaw are too weak, they’ll lack the strength to support the final restoration. However, having sensitive or decayed teeth isn’t a disqualifier. The truth is that dentures can easily replace these parts of your smile.
Also, the number of teeth lost affects your final treatment. This final tally will determine which of the two types of dentures you get. The first is a partial model, which only replaces a few of your teeth at a time. Option two is a full denture – a device that replaces all the teeth along a patient’s arch.
Lastly, don’t forget to take finances into account. Dentures happen to be the cheapest of the standard tooth replacement options. For that reason, they’re particularly ideal for patients with limited funds.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
If we conclude you don’t qualify for dentures, please don’t panic. Peak Dental Care has two other methods to restore a patient’s grin. They are:
- Dental Bridges – A dental bridge is a restoration made of two crowns fused to an artificial tooth. Given this setup, it’s cemented between nearby teeth that act as abutments (i.e., supports). A dentist must remove enamel from the abutments to place the device.
- Dental Implants – Dental implants are small titanium posts that a dentist sets in your jaw. Once placed, they fuse with your jawbone’s tissue until they become fully secure. They’re then capped with dental crowns so they blend with your smile.
Types of Dentures
The first step on your journey towards a complete and fully functioning smile is a consultation with our team at Peak Dental Care. We’ll assess your unique case and ask about your goals to determine whether or not dentures are the right option for you. Based on our findings, we’ll recommend one of the following types of dentures in Pea Ridge:
Partial Dentures
Are you only missing a few teeth? Partial dentures might be the ideal option for you. They’re made up of custom prosthetic teeth, a gum-colored plastic base, and small metal clasps. The clasps attach to the neighboring teeth, allowing the partials to fill in the gaps and complete your smile.
Full Dentures
If you’re missing an entire row of teeth, full dentures may be the right choice for your needs. Unlike partials, they rest securely on top of your gums through natural suction or a bit of denture adhesive. Full dentures are custom-made to fit comfortably and suit your facial features perfectly.
Implant Dentures
For those wanting a more reliable, long-term, and durable solution for missing teeth, implant dentures are an excellent option to consider. This type of restoration is attached to multiple titanium posts strategically placed in the jawbone. Thanks to their unique placement, they provide maximum stability and prevent the denture from moving around in your mouth. What’s more, this option can easily last for decades with proper care and maintenance!
The Benefits of Dentures
Dentures are one of the most popular methods of tooth replacement, and there’s a good reason for that. Patients choosing this solution can expect to reap multiple benefits, including:
- Quick results that last for years
- Easy cleaning and low maintenance
- Natural-looking, beautiful appearance
- Regained ability to eat a nutritious and well-balanced diet
- Filled out facial appearance for a more youthful look
- Cost-effective solution for missing teeth
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
Dentures are a great solution for people who are missing multiple, most of, or all of their teeth. They can restore the appearance and function of your smile. However, many patients worry about the cost of their prosthetics. During your consultation with us, we will discuss the cost of your treatment in detail. Until then, here are some things to keep in mind.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures
There are multiple factors that can play a role in the cost of your dentures. Here are some of the most prominent ones:
- Preparation: If you need a preliminary procedure, like a tooth extraction or gum disease treatment before you are able to get dentures, you should consider these costs as well.
- Materials: Dentures can be made from multiple different materials, and they are all priced differently.
- Type of Denture: If you are getting a partial denture, this will likely cost less than a full denture. Implant dentures are priced higher, as they require a surgical procedure.
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
Yes, implants dentures are more expensive than traditional dentures. This is because the dental implants need to be surgically placed into the jawbone. This technique allows for numerous additional benefits. Implant dentures are made to be permanent, and they are more stable than traditional dentures. You don’t need to worry about shifting, slipping, clicking, or cutting out foods either. Dental implants are an investment in the future of your smile, and this investment pays off over time.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
In the majority of cases, dental insurance companies consider dentures to be a “major restorative procedure, so dental insurance plans generally cover them at about 50% of their cost. At Peak Dental Care, we are proud to be in-network with Delta Dental, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and MetLife. We are happy to accept and file claims on your behalf. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be left completely on your own. We accept payments through CareCredit – a third-party financing company that can split the cost of your treatment into manageable monthly installments with little to no interest. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the cost of your treatment or your financial options, feel free to give us a call!
Denture FAQs
Should I Have All My Teeth Pulled to Get Dentures?
We don’t recommend having healthy teeth removed, no. Instead, we can have a custom partial denture made, which will fill the empty spaces in your smile in a way that looks and feels natural. Of course, if the remaining teeth you have are badly decayed, cracked, or damaged in some other way, then we will have them extracted before having your custom denture made. As always, our dental team near Pea Ridge will review all of your treatment options with you at your initial appointment. That way, all of your questions are answered, and you feel confident moving forward.
Can I Sleep with My Dentures?
It’s common for patients to be instructed to wear their dentures around the clock when they first get them. This is only temporary though; you shouldn’t sleep with them in your mouth every night. Instead, you should take them out, clean them thoroughly, and place them in a glass filled with water or a dentist-recommended cleaner. This will prolong the longevity of your restoration while also preventing soft tissue irritation, plaque build-up, and other oral health problems.
Can Dentures Become Ill-Fitting?
Due to lack of stimulation, your jawbone begins to deteriorate following tooth loss. So, while your dentures will fit perfectly at first, there’s a good chance that they will become ill-fitting over time. While this may not seem like much of an issue, it can lead to several oral health problems, including swollen gums, as well as difficulty chewing and enunciating clearly. That’s why it’s so important to schedule an appointment with us when you notice that they don’t fit like they used to.
What Should You Do if Your Dentures Break?
If your dentures break – whether it’s a significant crack along the base or your restoration has split into multiple pieces – don’t hesitate to contact us right away. Once we have a better idea of what happened and how urgent the situation is, we will schedule an appointment for you and instruct you on what to do in the meantime, like putting your denture in a small, clean container. When you get to our office, we’ll examine them to determine if they can be repaired or if they need to be replaced.
Can I Use Regular Toothpaste to Clean My Dentures?
Regular toothpaste isn’t recommended since it contains abrasive ingredients. Instead, we recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush, clean water, and some mild dishwashing liquid. You should also soak them each night in a dentist-recommended cleaner so plaque doesn’t build up in the nooks and crannies of your restoration either.
What Can’t You Eat with Dentures?
If your diet was limited to things like plain yogurt and applesauce following tooth loss, you’ll be happy to know you can enjoy a wide variety of foods with dentures. That said, there are some that we recommend avoiding. For example, we don’t recommend eating foods that are especially sticky or crunchy, like caramel-filled candies and hard pretzels. It’s also a good idea to opt for cooked carrots, broccoli, and celery instead of raw ones to prevent your denture from moving out of position.