According to the American College of Prosthodontists, about 40 million adults are missing all of their teeth. If you’re suffering from the effects of this issue, you’re not alone. Having gaping holes in your smile can impact your overall well-being, ability to complete everyday functions, and your self-esteem. The good news is, there is a natural-looking solution that can help. At Fromuth & Langlois Dental of Manchester, we offer customized full and partial dentures to replace several or entire arches of missing teeth. Dr. Stephen Langlois has even been honored with the Quintessence Award for his clinical achievements in restorative dentistry. If you’d like a beautiful and repaired smile, contact our office today to schedule an appointment!
With the ability to restore anything from a few missing teeth to an entire arch, dentures are far more versatile than people think. During your consultation, Dr. Shah will examine your mouth to determine whether or not this tried-and-true solution is right for you. Although most people are able to move forward with the process, there are instances where preliminary procedures may be necessary to get your oral health up to par. Even if you’re not initially a good candidate, there are several things that can be done to make you a viable one.
At your appointment, we’ll assess your unique tooth loss situation to figure out which type of denture works best for your smile. Don’t worry – we’ll help you weigh the pros and cons of your options and outline a cost estimate so you can know what to expect. Based on our evaluation, we’ll recommend one of the following:
Partial dentures, also known as removable bridges, are recommended for patients who are missing several teeth in a single arch. Instead of having to sacrifice their remaining healthy teeth, they can use this strategically designed restoration. The replacement teeth and a small gum-colored base are connected to a metal clip or bracket that can easily be taken in and out of your mouth. The foundation shape is made to easily and unnoticeably fit behind your existing teeth, keeping your replacement ones from shifting while you speak or eat.
Full dentures are recommended for patients who are missing an entire arch of teeth. Customized replacement teeth made from natural-looking materials that resemble home-grown enamel sit atop a gum-colored acrylic base. Because full dentures are removable, patients can take them out before they go to bed to give their mouth a break, this feature also makes them easier to clean. Traditional dentures stay securely in place using natural suction and denture adhesive, allowing for added stability and durability. If patients would like an unwavering and more permanent option, these restorations can also be retained by dental implants.
For patients who don’t have a lifestyle that would easily meld with traditional dentures, they can have them retained by implants, or titanium posts that are placed under their gums. These are used to provide your dentures with a secure, comfortable, and long-lasting foundation to be placed on top of. To find out if you’re a good candidate for this modern restorative procedure, you’ll need to schedule a consultation with a dentist in Manchester, such as Dr. Fromuth or Dr. Langlois.
By choosing to replace your missing teeth with dentures, you can expect to reap several incredible benefits! Some of those include:
Each patients’ tooth loss situation is different, which makes it difficult to put a single cost on replacement options. When you visit Fromuth & Langlois Dental of Manchester for a consultation, we’ll examine your mouth and develop a customized treatment timeline, so you know exactly what to expect along the way. During this appointment, we’ll also be able to answer any questions you have about how much your restorations are going to cost and whether your insurance will cover it.
When determining the cost of dentures, you’ll want to keep three main factors in mind. This includes preparations needed to make a denture feasible, the materials used in the base of the denture, and the materials used for the restorations.
For example, if you need to have teeth extracted beforehand, this will increase your overall cost. Furthermore, differing types of acrylics can be more or less expensive depending on how well they can be customized to match your existing gum tissue. Additionally, porcelain teeth tend to reflect light and remain more durable than acrylic teeth.
At the end of the day, dentures are an investment, which means ensuring their longevity does not necessarily mean opting for the cheapest option possible. You’re going to be wearing it for hours a day for years to come, so it’s best to choose a denture that focuses more on quality than anything else!
Implant dentures are generally considered to be more expensive than traditional dentures because they require dental implants to be properly attached. An implant denture remains affixed to a series of implants that are surgically placed inside of the jaw beforehand. This gives the prosthesis a substantially improved foundation and prevents slipping and shifting while in use. In many ways, it’s an investment that pays off in the long-term because it also ensures the denture lasts much longer, especially compared to a traditional denture (which typically requires replacement after just 5 to 7 years of use.)
Dentures often fall into the category of “major procedure” and therefore have around 50% of their cost covered by the average dental insurance plan. However, insurance coverage can largely vary from plan to plan, which means it is likely to be covered, but not guaranteed. Regardless, our team members at Fromuth & Langlois Dental of Manchester will be happy to help you confirm your specific benefits before any phase of treatment begins.
Even if you do not currently have dental insurance, you can still make your denture fit into your budget. Our dentists are happy to offer third-party financing through plans from CareCredit. This option allows you to pay for care over the course of several months in more manageable installments, making it possible for just about anyone to afford a new smile. Alternatively, we encourage you to learn more about our office’s in-house membership plan. After signing up, you only need to pay a monthly fee as well as a one-time activation cost to start saving on many dental services. This makes it easier to prioritize your costs on tooth replacement.
Millions of Americans have missing teeth. If you’re a part of that group, you know from experience how gaps in your smile can affect your appearance and overall quality of life. Luckily, you don’t have to live that way forever. At Fromuth & Langlois Dental of Manchester, we offer dentures to help you enjoy a fully functioning grin once again. Of course, it’s completely normal to have a few concerns about the process before committing to it. To help you out, we’ve decided to answer some frequently asked questions below.
Most patients have to wait about six to eight weeks after getting their teeth pulled to receive dentures. However, the exact amount of time varies from person to person depending on the type of denture in question. Even though two months may sound like a long time, it’s necessary to ensure your gums have sufficient time to heal properly. Immediate dentures can be placed on the same day as an extraction, but they will need to be swapped out sooner as the shape of the jawbone changes while you heal. If you’re receiving implant dentures, you’ll need to wait about four to six months for the implant to fuse with the surrounding bone tissue via osseointegration.
When you first get your dentures, you’ll be asked to keep them in your mouth for 24 hours, including sleep. After that initial period, it’s strongly recommended that you remove them every night before bed. That’s because wearing dentures restricts the circulation in your gums, leading to soft tissue irritation and potentially speeding up ridge resorption. By taking them out daily, you allow your gums an opportunity to recover and get the nutrients they need throughout the night. Additionally, sleeping with dentures is associated with poor oral hygiene and an increased risk of pneumonia.
It shouldn’t! If you need to have oral surgery before getting dentures in Manchester, you’ll likely experience mild discomfort following the procedure. However, you can easily manage it by using cold compresses and taking your pain medication as directed. Once you actually start wearing your dentures, you might have slight irritation while your mouth adjusts to the new appliance. Although this adjustment process can last months, the exact amount of time will vary from patient to patient.
Initially, you may difficulty speaking with dentures because you’re so used to talking with your natural teeth. The good news is that any lisp or speech impediment you develop should go away as soon as you adjust to the oral appliance. You can speed up the adjustment process by reading aloud, having more conversations with loved ones, and repeating difficult-to-pronounce words. If your dentures move while you speak, you can use denture adhesive for extra stability.