Dentures – Austin, TX
Fill Out Your Smile by Using Dentures!
Missing teeth almost always prove to be a challenge. After all, the gaps they make in your smile tend to have nasty long-term effects. Fortunately, you don’t have to put up with them — dentures in Austin can easily solve the problem! In particular, we at Magnolia Family Dental offer ones that restore all sorts of smiles. If you’d like to learn more about these prosthetics, just keep reading or call our team to book a consultation visit.
Who's a Good Candidate for Dentures?
You may have friends or family members that benefitted from wearing dentures, but are they the right choice for you? That’s a question that will likely be on your mind after losing any number of teeth. Our team at Magnolia Family Dentistry can help determine your dental needs and explain whether dentures are a viable choice for you based on the state of your mouth and the overall health of your jawbone and your gums.
Effects of Missing Teeth
You never want to end up in a situation where some or all of your teeth are missing (although it may be unavoidable in certain circumstances, such as advanced gum disease). An incomplete set of teeth makes it harder to chew, and you may not be able to speak as clearly as you used to. Also, many people appear older after tooth loss due to their facial features sagging.
The consequences of tooth loss only become more pronounced the longer the gaps in your smile are left alone. Replacing missing teeth with dentures (or another type of dental prosthesis) is the ideal choice if you want to protect your oral health. As such, as soon as you realize that a tooth has been lost, you should give our office a call.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
Dentures are recommended for cases of “extensive” tooth loss. This usually refers to situations where either there are several gaps in a single arch or all of the teeth in the jaw are missing.
Before you can receive dentures, we’ll need to check your mouth to make sure that your jawbone and gums are in good shape. Also, if the teeth that require replacement are still in your mouth, they will need to be extracted before we can begin the denture process.
It’s important to note that there are different kinds of dentures you might qualify for. After a thorough examination, we’ll let you know whether a partial denture or a full denture would be the best choice for your smile as well as whether it would be possible to attach your replacement teeth to dental implants.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
It may be that you visit our office for a consultation only to find out that you are not a good candidate for dentures. The good news is that there are other ways you can replace missing teeth, and we’ll be sure to walk you through these options.
In cases where you have only lost one tooth or at least two consecutive teeth, we might suggest a dental bridge. This dental prosthesis can be anchored to two of your remaining teeth to completely fill the empty space in your smile. (Naturally, we’ll need to confirm that the teeth in question are in good enough shape for the job.)
If you’re interested in getting dental implants to replace your missing teeth, we can refer you to a highly qualified oral surgeon for the procedure.
Types of Dentures
When getting your restorations, you’ll first need to consult with Dr. Burton about your tooth loss. That way, our team can decide on the best type of denture(s) for you. We’ll likely recommend one of the following:
Partial Dentures
You may simply need a partial denture if you’re only missing a few pearly whites in a row. The latter secures itself to your mouth by clasping to your adjacent teeth. Fortunately, its gum-colored base helps it blend seamlessly with the rest of your smile.
Full Dentures
Full dentures are for patients who need to replace an entire arch of teeth. As such, they don’t clasp to your other teeth but hold in place with suction or adhesive. Furthermore, each has a highly-customized base to ensure they fit comfortably over your gums.
Implant Dentures
If you need a more permanent and stable option, your best bet is implant dentures. Unlike partial or full ones, they’re connected to dental implants that fuse with your jaw. As a result, they don’t slip or fall out of your mouth. Plus, they have the unique ability to restore more of your bite force. In other words, they’ll let you eat your favorite meals again!
The Benefits of Dentures
When you get dentures from our Austin practice, you’ll experience a variety of perks. Some of them are:
- Lifelike Results: Since each denture is custom-made, your results will look quite natural. In fact, most won’t know the difference between your prosthetic and your natural teeth!
- A Youthful Face: In some cases, dentures can prevent facial collapse. Implant ones, especially, stop the bone loss that contributes to it.
- Better Eating: By getting dentures, you’ll have an easier time eating tough foods. Consequently, you’re more likely to have a healthier diet.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Dentures are fairly affordable and can last 5 to 7 years with proper care. As such, they represent a good investment in your oral health.
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
Just like any other dental restoration, the cost of dentures will vary from person to person based on a variety of different factors. There are all sorts of things that contribute to the price. During your initial consultation, we’ll be able to determine exactly how much your new restoration will cost. Until then, here are some things for you to take into consideration.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures
There are a few main factors that will contribute to the cost of your dentures.
- The preparatory work that you need before you’re able to get your restoration will contribute to the overall cost. This includes gum disease treatment and tooth extractions.
- The materials to create your dentures, like acrylic and porcelain, will affect the cost.
- The number of teeth that you are needing to have replaced has a direct relationship to the cost. Usually, the larger the restoration, the more you can expect to pay.
Remember that cheaper dentures don’t mean better dentures. When you opt for budget dentures, you are much more likely to require frequent repairs and replacement. When you invest in a quality restoration, you will notice the difference.
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
Implant dentures cost more than traditional dentures, but there is a good reason for it. Instead of being supported by the shape and suction of the mouth, implant dentures are held into place by a series of dental implants that are placed into the jawbone via a surgical procedure. This allows for many additional benefits, like being more lifelike and having additional stability. You don’t need to replace them every 5 to 7 years either. Dental implants are made to last for several decades.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
In most cases, you can expect some level of coverage for dentures. Many insurance plans cover up to 50% of your treatment, but this varies depending on the plan that you have. We are more than happy to file claims on our patients’ behalf so they’re able to get the most out of their benefits. To learn how you’ll be covered, just give us a call.
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, this doesn’t mean that you will be left completely on your own. We work with CareCredit – a third-party financing company that can split the cost of your treatment into manageable monthly installments with little to no interest. Talk to one of our friendly team members to learn more.
To find out exactly how much you can expect your dentures to cost, schedule a consultation with us. We’re eager to help you complete your smile!
Denture FAQs
Getting dentures is a major change, so it only makes sense that you would want to learn more about them before agreeing to the process. To help you find the information you’re looking for, we’ve put together a list of some of the questions we’ve often received from patients who are considering dentures. Of course, you may have a few questions that aren’t listed here, so don’t be shy about reaching out to our office and speaking to one of our helpful team members.
What is the Average Age for Dentures?
Losing permanent teeth is not actually part of the aging process. However, it does tend to affect older adults more often due to long-term oral health issues. Statistics show that tooth loss occurs in about 66% of adults in the 40 to 64 age range; in contrast, only 33% of those between the ages of 20 to 39 have a missing tooth or missing teeth.
Roughly 57% of people who are 65 to 74 years old use dentures of some kind. However, no matter what age you are, dentures can be a potential solution for extensive tooth loss.
Why Do My Dentures Smell?
Some patients find that their dentures start to develop an odor over time. This is normally due to bacteria and food particles accumulating in the restoration’s numerous nooks and crannies. To avoid this problem, we suggest taking the following steps:
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your dentures every day.
- Brush your entire mouth to keep bacteria levels under control. Make sure that you’re regularly cleaning your gums, your tongue, your cheeks, and your palate.
- Take your dentures out at night and leave them in a disinfecting solution. This will get rid of harmful bacteria and also ensure that your restoration stays moist while you’re not using it.
- After every meal, rinse off any food particles that might still be clinging to your dentures.
Can I Use Regular Toothpaste to Clean My Dentures?
This normally isn’t recommended. While you should brush your dentures regularly, the process should not involve toothpaste. The issue is that many kinds of toothpaste use abrasive ingredients to make them more effective for removing plaque. As such, cleaning dentures with toothpaste can result in microscopic scratches on your prosthetic teeth. This might not seem like a major issue, but in the long term, it can lead to serious damage. Thus, you should always use denture cleanser to brush your dentures instead.
Can I Claim Dentures as an FSA or HSA Expense?
Yes, you can use both flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) to help pay for your dentures. Be mindful about the specifics of your account, however; an FSA will typically only offer a certain amount of coverage each year.
If you have an FSA or HSA, one of our knowledgeable team members will need to check your account to make sure that dentures are eligible for reimbursement as well as what level of coverage is available.