Dentures – Springfield, MO
Restoring Smiles to Their Natural Beauty
If you’re missing teeth, you may be considering a replacement option. Missing teeth can not only cause aesthetic disadvantages, but they can affect your everyday life, causing health and even self-esteem issues. At Olson Family Dental, we offer partial, full, and implant-retained dentures to give you the replacement that you can benefit from most. Keep reading to learn about our different types of dentures and the advantages that they can bring your smile.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Missing teeth can significantly affect your daily life in several ways. For example, you might struggle to enjoy your favorite foods if you can't chew properly. Tooth loss can also make speaking difficult, leading to embarrassment. If you find yourself in these situations, dentures may be a suitable solution! Dr. Olson will assess your oral health, discuss your smile goals, and explain the denture process to determine if you're a good candidate for this treatment.
Effects of Missing Teeth
Teeth can be lost for various reasons, including gum disease, tooth decay, and accidental trauma. Additionally, certain inherited conditions can contribute to tooth loss.
No matter the cause, it's important to replace missing teeth promptly. Losing teeth can lead to complications such as difficulty chewing, speaking problems, facial sagging, and a decrease in self-confidence. Furthermore, gaps from missing teeth can cause the remaining teeth to shift and the jawbone to shrink, potentially leading to additional tooth loss.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
Most people who are missing some or all of their teeth may be excellent candidates for dentures. These prosthetics are both durable and versatile, designed to fit seamlessly with your natural smile. They are especially beneficial for those experiencing tooth sensitivity or significant decay.
To ensure the effectiveness of dentures, good oral health is essential. Our team will assess your bone density to determine if it's sufficient for the treatment. The number and location of missing teeth will also influence the type of denture you need. Based on your specific situation, we may recommend partial dentures, full dentures, or implant dentures.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
If dentures aren't the best option for you, there are alternative tooth-replacement solutions we can explore:
- Dental Bridges: Ideal for replacing one or more adjacent missing teeth. This option involves preparing the surrounding teeth to support the bridge by shaving a small amount of enamel. With proper care, you can enjoy your new smile for over 10 years.
- Dental Implants: This method involves placing a metal post into your jawbone, serving as a permanent tooth root. Unlike dentures, implants are directly anchored to the bone, offering superior stability. With minimal maintenance, implants can last several decades or even a lifetime.
Types of Dentures
At Olson Family Dental, we offer 3 types of dentures to provide our patients with the option that works best for their needs:
Partial Dentures
Are you missing multiple teeth in different parts of your smile? We can use a custom-made partial denture to complete your smile without altering any of your natural teeth. This prosthetic completes your set of teeth by filling the gaps like putting together missing puzzle pieces. Using wires or clasps that latch onto your natural teeth for support, a partial denture is a stable way to restore the appearance of your smile while keeping your remaining teeth.
Full Dentures
For patients who are missing all or most of their teeth, Dr. Olson will recommend a full denture. This restoration is one of the best ways to replace all of your missing teeth at once. We custom-make dentures using a gum-colored resin base, which is attached to artificial teeth. These dentures are lighter and more flexible than those in the past, allowing for maximum comfort. Dentures are designed to rest on top of your gums, and they stay in place using natural suction or mild adhesive.
Implant-Retained Dentures
Combining the best of both worlds, implant-retained dentures are prosthetics that are supported by dental implants. These are tiny titanium posts that are rooted in the jawbone to act as artificial tooth roots. Dr. Olson, your expert dentist in Springfield, can use an average of 4 dental implants to anchor your denture in place. The result is the strongest and most beautiful full smile replacement available.
How Dentures Are Made
As one of the most convenient options for replacing missing teeth, dentures offer many benefits. However, understanding how these prosthetics are made to look so natural and effectively restore your bite can be helpful. Read on to learn what you can expect from the general creation process.
What Are Dentures Made Of?
Dentures are typically made up of two main components: the gum-colored base and the artificial replacement teeth. Here's what you can expect from each part:
- The Base – This is the foundation for your new teeth, designed to fit your exact mouth impressions and closely resemble your natural gum tissue. It can be made from nylon, acrylic, metal, resin, or porcelain. Most full dentures use acrylic for its ability to match the appearance of natural gums, while partial dentures often incorporate metal clips to securely attach to nearby healthy teeth.
- Artificial Teeth – The replacement teeth attached to the denture base are usually crafted from resin or porcelain. Both materials are highly durable, but porcelain is often preferred for its remarkable resemblance to natural teeth in both look and feel. Porcelain is primarily used for full dentures, as it can be abrasive to any remaining natural teeth.
The Denture Creation Process
Since each denture is custom-made for the patient, Dr. Olson follows a multi-step process to create it. The key steps are as follows:
- Step 1 – Dr. Olson will take a dental impression, which will be used to create a plaster model that matches the final denture’s size and shape.
- Step 2 – Our office will send the plaster model to a lab, where technicians will use it to create a wax gumline.
- Step 3 – The lab will set artificial teeth into the wax base, forming a prototype denture that will be used to craft the final version.
- Step 4 – The wax denture will be sent to the dentist for a fitting. After testing, it will return to the lab for the final restorations.
- Step 5 – The wax will be removed by boiling the denture, and the denture will be placed in a flask filled with plaster and hot water.
- Step 6 – A separator will be applied to the plaster to prevent the acrylic from sticking. Acrylic will then be injected into the flask to replace the wax.
- Step 7 – The plaster will be removed to reveal the denture, which will be placed in a bath to remove any remaining residue.
- Step 8 – Any excess acrylic will be trimmed from the denture, which will then be polished.
- Step 9 – The patient will have the denture fitted, and the dentist will make necessary adjustments to ensure it functions smoothly.
Adjusting to Your New Dentures
It's normal to experience some discomfort or soreness when you first receive your dentures. This happens because your mouth, gums, and any remaining teeth need time to adjust to the new prosthetics. To help your dentures feel more natural as quickly as possible, try sticking to softer foods to practice chewing, repeat difficult sounds and words, and consider using adhesive if you need extra support. If you have any concerns, please reach out to our team, and we'll be happy to assist you.
The Benefits of Dentures
We offer dentures because they provide our patients with these helpful benefits:
- Patients enjoy a full, white, and beautiful smile for public events and appearances.
- Dentures increase your quality of life, allowing you to confidently smile for any occasion.
- Completely removeable, full dentures are easy to clean and maintain.
- Implant-retained dentures preserve the health of your jawbone by stimulating it after tooth loss.
- Dentures increase your biting power, allowing you to eat a more varying diet, which also helps with your overall health.
- With proper care, dentures can last for years to come.
Does it sound like you could benefit from dentures in Springfield? Contact our office today to get started on a beautifully complete set of teeth.
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
Now, you may be wondering, “but how much do dentures in Springfield cost?” In short, it depends! Since each restoration is custom-made, the price can vary. As a result, it’s near impossible to provide an accurate estimate without a personal consultation. Until then, you can read on to learn more about the financial investment involved with dentures.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures
When determining the cost of dentures in Springfield, there are several factors that need to be considered:
- The need for preliminary treatments, like tooth extractions or gum disease therapy
- The materials that are used, like acrylic or porcelain
- The extent of your tooth loss (ex: replacing a few missing teeth vs. an entire arch)
When researching the price, keep in mind that cheaper isn’t always better. Dentures crafted from lower-grade materials may be more cost-effective upfront, but they will likely need to be replaced more often and won’t function nearly as well. So, aim for quality.
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
In short, yes. Since they require oral surgery and the placement of several dental implants, they typically are more expensive. With that said, they also provide patients with a multitude of noteworthy benefits. To start, they often last for 15+ years with proper care, making them more permanent. Plus, their stability makes them more lifelike, allows you to eat a more varied diet, and prevents embarrassing slips.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
Have dental insurance? Then there is a good chance that a portion of the cost of dentures will be covered. In fact, since it’s considered a “major” procedure, insurance providers typically contribute around 50% of the cost. Of course, the fine print on dental plans varies, which is why it’s always a good idea to double-check your benefits beforehand. Since we file with most major insurance providers, we’d be happy to help you with this step of the process!
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
Don’t have dental insurance? Don’t worry – that’s where CareCredit comes in. This trusted third-party financier has helped countless patients make their care more affordable. By signing up, you’ll be able to pick a payment plan that works best for your budget. Even better, qualified patients can enjoy little-to-no interest attached! As a result, getting treatment from our denture dentist in Springfield is never unattainable.