Dentures – Fitchburg, MA

What Are Dentures Made Of?

Dentures are comprised of two main parts: the base, which rests against your gums, and the artificial teeth. Here’s a closer look at each of these components:

• Denture base – This is the foundation of your restoration, and it’s what gives your artificial teeth support. It can be made from a variety of materials including acrylic, resin, or nylon, all of which can be made to match the surrounding gum tissue. Full dentures are often made from acrylic since the material looks very similar to natural gum tissue. Partial dentures normally incorporate metal clips into their acrylic bases.
• Artificial teeth – The replacement teeth are attached to the denture base and placed in precise locations, depending on the patient’s tooth loss. These teeth are usually made from resin or porcelain since they need to look and feel as natural as possible, not to mention, be durable enough to withstand daily tasks.

The Denture Creation Process

There’s a bit that goes into the process of making dentures; after all, they need to be highly personalized for your smile! Here’s a closer look at the main steps:

1. Impressions are carefully taken of your gums to create a replica of your mouth’s interior. This is what separates our dentures from store-bought one-size-fits-all dentures; they’re made to match the precise contours of your oral anatomy.
2. This mockup of your mouth is sent to a dental laboratory, where it’s used to create a wax model of your gumline. The replacement teeth are then attached.
3. This model is placed in a flask that’s filled with plaster to maintain its shape. It’s then placed in hot water to boil away the wax portions, leaving a working model.
4. Holes are drilled into the artificial teeth and acrylic is injected into the flask to replace the wax.
5. The plaster is carefully removed, and any excess acrylic portions are shaved away.
6. Finally, the denture is polished, trimmed, and adjusted as needed to ensure that once it’s delivered to you, it fits perfectly and looks great!

Adjusting To Your New Dentures

It’s very common for patients to experience some minor discomforts after they’ve received their new dentures, and you shouldn’t feel defeated if this happens to you; things will improve with time! During your adjustment period, you should stick to a diet of soft foods and liquids, slowly working your way up to harder foods as you grow more comfortable. Likewise, be sure you’re practicing speaking to get the hang of it and provide your facial muscles with exercise. Of course, you’ll also have to adjust to regularly cleaning your dentures – doing so will ensure they serve you correctly for years to come. If your discomfort continues to linger after the initial adjustment phase, don’t hesitate to give us a call so that we can help; it might be a sign that your denture isn’t fitting correctly.

Psychological Benefits

Your teeth aren’t solely tools for biting and chewing—they’re a source of pride and confidence! Losing any number of pearly whites can have a major impact on your self-esteem, as well as your quality of life. Many who suffer tooth loss end up experiencing an increased risk of issues including social anxiety, sadness, depression, or even anti-social tendencies. By renewing your smile with dentures, you won’t have to worry about the way you talk, laugh, or grin, and you’ll be able to eat virtually anything with unparalleled confidence; dinner dates and parties will seem lively once more, and you won’t hesitate to grin any time someone pulls out a camera!

Clearer Enunciation

It’s easy for us to take our ability to speak for granted—and our teeth play a pivotal role in dictation and enunciation. Your lips and tongue interact with your teeth to make certain sounds and control the amount of airflow within your mouth. If you have missing teeth, there’s a good chance that you might encounter varying levels of difficulty when it comes to conversing with others. However, upon receiving dentures, once you’ve made it through the initial adjustment period, you’ll be able to speak, whisper, or shout with clarity and ease!

Improves Nutrition

Tooth loss poses numerous problems when it comes to one’s diet and ability to eat; simply put, you cannot bite, tear, shred, and grind food sufficiently without all your teeth! This can lead to issues that directly affect your nutrition, such as malnutrition or indigestion. By returning your smile to a complete state with dentures, you’ll regain your ability to eat and absorb the nutrients that your body needs to remain well. You’ll be able to eat all of those hearty, healthy fruits and vegetables that keep you in tip-top shape!

Preserves Oral Health

When you’re missing teeth, your livelihood isn’t all that’s at stake—your entire oral wellness could become compromised! If you have gaps in your grin, the remaining teeth can slowly begin shifting out of place and leaning towards the gaps, to the point where they eventually fall out themselves. Without your natural teeth providing stimulation to your jawbone, bone resorption is a very real possibility. But with dentures, you can enjoy a complete smile that isn’t threatened by these issues.

Expands Opportunities

Your smile is often the most crucial component of any first impression, since it’s usually the very first thing that strangers will notice when they see you. This means that during job interviews, social gatherings, first dates, or any other time you’re in public, your smile is a priceless asset. For this reason, dentures can quite literally expand your career opportunities, enhance your personal relationships and open up doors you never even knew existed!

Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures

As previously mentioned, dentures aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Our denture dentists will first need to learn more about your dental needs and smile goals. That includes assessing the severity of your tooth loss, determining if any preliminary treatments are needed, and finding out which material is best for your restoration.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Typically, yes. That’s because implant dentures require oral surgery to place the roots of the implant directly into your jawbone. Before you let the higher cost deter you, it’s important to consider all of the benefits this innovative tooth-replacement solution offers. For example, while traditional dentures can last for around a decade, implant dentures can last for 20+ years with proper care. Plus, dental implants preserve your jawbone and provide added stability. So, make sure to talk to your dentist about each of your options in-depth.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

It’s possible! However, we won’t know until we take a look at your benefits. It’s possible that your dental insurance provider will cover a portion of any preliminary treatments, the dentures themselves, or both. Don’t worry – our team has extensive experience working with dental insurance companies. So, we can help you understand the cost and your benefits in an easy, straightforward way.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

Uninsured? Don’t let that stop you from getting dentures. Our team has another financial solution: CareCredit. This third-party financier offers several payment options so you don’t have to pay for your treatment in one lump sum. Instead, you can determine your monthly budget and pick a payment plan that suits your finances best! If you want to learn more about this financial solution, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.