Dentures – North Naples, FL

Effects of Missing Teeth

There are many reasons a person might lose their teeth (i.e., facial trauma, tooth decay, and gum disease). Certain health and development conditions can also be the reason an individual does not have a complete smile. However, when it comes to the effects of tooth loss, the American Academy of Periodontology states many consequences can arise, such as:

• Facial sagging
• Difficulty speaking
• Difficulty eating
• Poor self-esteem
• Jawbone deterioration
• Additional tooth loss

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

To be considered a good candidate for dentures, Dr. Makram will need to complete a full examination of your oral health. Experiencing substantial tooth loss, dealing with tooth sensitivity or decay, or having gum and jawbone issues are just a few of the instances that dentures can help to fix. But as a patient, you must be willing to commit to good oral hygiene if you want your dentures and a new smile to last.

Depending on the number of teeth you are missing, you will receive a full or partial denture. It is also possible to be recommended for an implant denture or immediate dentures. Traditional dentures are more affordable than other tooth replacement options, which can be helpful for anyone who might be on a budget.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

If you do not believe dentures are right for you, or your denture dentist suggests an alternative form of treatment, there are a few, including:

• Dental Bridges – This is an ideal solution for anyone who has multiple missing teeth. Designed to fill in the gap, it consists of two dental crowns that fit over healthy abutment teeth, while pontics (artificial teeth) rest on top of the gums.
• Dental Implants – Unlike traditional dental bridges and dentures, dental implants are titanium posts that mimic natural tooth roots. Placed within the jawbone, they create a solid foundation and can support an implant partial or implant denture depending on how many teeth you are missing.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

Psychological Benefits

Whether you’ve lost one tooth or all of them, tooth loss can take a serious toll on your self-esteem. In fact, it’s not uncommon for patients with gaps in their smile to experience social anxiety, sadness, and depression. Fortunately, modern dentures can restore your smile in a way that doesn’t compromise on durability or aesthetics. With a strong, natural-looking smile again, you’ll be able to laugh, talk, and go about your day with a renewed sense of confidence!

Clearer Enunciation

To create words, your tongue makes distinct movements against the back of your teeth. So, it’s not surprising that tooth loss can negatively affect your speaking patterns. Don’t worry though – dentures are custom-made for each patient, which means they won’t protrude in an unnatural manner. While it’s normal for there to be a slight learning curve when it comes to speaking with them, it won’t take long before you’re speaking with them effortlessly.

Improves Nutrition

With a compromised bite, everything from raw vegetables to whole fruits can be difficult to chew. As a result, many patients struggling with tooth loss also experience malnutrition and indigestion. With dentures, we can rebuild your bite, expanding your diet in the process. That way, you can prioritize getting all of the essential vitamins and nutrients you need, benefiting your oral and overall health in the process.

Preserves Oral Health

While a few missing teeth may not seem like a huge concern at first, it’s important for our patients in Naples to understand that the gaps can cause the surrounding teeth to shift out of place. Unfortunately, this can lead to further tooth loss, making it a vicious cycle. Luckily, dentures can fill the open spaces and provide the surrounding teeth with the support they need to stay in their proper positions.

Expands Opportunities

Did you know that your smile is one of the first features people notice upon meeting you? Naturally, you want yours to be in pristine condition for important dates, job interviews, and social gatherings. If tooth loss is currently standing in your way, then dentures can boost your confidence, improve your oral health, and open the door to new opportunities in the process.

What Are Dentures Made Of?

When it comes to the parts of your denture, there are two parts: the base and teeth. To understand what goes in to making these pieces, let us provide additional information:

• Denture Base: The base of a denture is its foundation. Often made from acrylic, porcelain, resin, nylon, or metal, it is fabricated to match the color of your gum tissue so that it blends in seamlessly. This process is the same for both full and partial dentures, except that partials contain metal clips that attach to natural teeth to help keep the prosthetic in place. While most bases are made out of acrylic, it’s not uncommon for many to use nylon as well.
• New Teeth: Although artificial, these teeth are made from resin or porcelain and thankfully, look more natural than those created 30 or 40 years ago. Porcelain is often the most frequently used material because of its natural-looking appearance and similarity to regular tooth enamel. These teeth are also durable and stable so you worry less about accidentally damaging them.

The Denture Creation Process

The process of creating your dentures is a timely one that requires patience. Lab technicians work diligently to craft customized teeth that look beautiful and feel comfortable once in place, so it’s important that you understand the timeline before agreeing to treatment:

• Your dentist will start by measuring your jaw and taking impressions of your gums, which will be used to create a model of your mouth. This will help to ensure the proper shape and size of your denture.
• A cast is then made and sent to a dental laboratory. Here, lab technicians will begin the process of creating your artificial teeth and base. They will also build a wax version of your gumline.
• Once the artificial teeth are created, they will be set into place, and an articulator will use wax to hold the teeth in place. If minor adjustments are needed, the technician will work to ensure that the wax base matches your natural gum color.
• After the completion of creating the wax dentures, our team will receive them for a fitting. After you try them on, the model will be returned to the lab for final creation. You will be provided a temporary denture while you wait for your final one.
• Technicians will remove any wax by boiling the dentures and placing them in a flask that holds plaster. Once poured in to maintain the shape of the denture, it is placed in hot water so that the dentures will melt.
• Small holes are then created in the teeth so that the material will attach. A liquid separator will be added to the plaster to keep any acrylic from sticking, which is then injected into the flask.
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• After removing the plaster, your dentures are ready to be placed into an ultrasonic bath to remove any remaining plaster.
• Should there be any additional acrylic, technicians will cut it off and trim it down before giving your new teeth a final polish.
• You’ll then return to our office for a final fitting and allow our team to make final adjustments.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

Once you receive your new dentures, you may be eager to resume life as normal, but it will require an adjustment phase. Sporting your new smile takes practice, especially when it comes to speaking and eating. With your new teeth in place, you’ll likely need to speak slowly at first so that you don’t slur your words, and you’ll want to eat softer foods to help strengthen your facial muscles. Using denture adhesive can also help to keep your prosthetic in place while enjoying your favorite meal. At any point, while wearing your dentures should you experience increased discomfort, don’t hesitate to call Dr. Makram, as you might need to have them adjusted.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures

Each patient who prepares to receive dentures must be evaluated according to a host of different factors. However, the three most important include:

• Preliminary treatments you might need (i.e., bone grafting, periodontal therapy, tooth extractions)
• The materials used to create your dentures (the base and artificial teeth), which are typically made of acrylic and/or porcelain
• The number of teeth you are missing and whether you will require a full denture, partial denture, or implant denture

As you do your research to determine how much you plan to spend on your new teeth, it’s important to remember that cheaper is not always better. Lower quality materials tend to break and require more frequent adjustments and replacements. This can cause you to spend more money in the long run, so consider the important investment you’ll be making by choosing higher quality dentures in North Naples that will last much longer.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Yes, implant dentures are more expensive up front; however, when you compare the level of maintenance and upkeep to traditional prosthetics, you’ll actually save more money over the course of your lifetime. Implant dentures offer greater stability because of their placement and fusing with the jawbone. They’re also more reliable and fully functional, allowing you to eat, speak, and smile without worrying about your artificial teeth slipping or falling out. Not to mention, you’ll avoid buying denture adhesives and special cleaning supplies because they act and feel just like regular teeth. One of the most unique benefits of implant dentures is that they can last 30 years or longer with proper care.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

As you review your dental insurance policy, you will most likely find there is some level of coverage for traditional dentures. Typically, they will be covered anywhere from 50-80% if you are seeing a denture dentist in North Naples who is in-network with your insurance company. To help you find out how much your insurance will agree to cover, you can work with a member of our team. They will review your policy and answer any questions, so you can have a clear understanding of how much your out-of-pocket expenses will be.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

If you’re uninsured or need assistance paying the remaining balance of your bill after filing with dental insurance, you’ll be pleased to learn that Dr. Makram works closely with both CareCredit and Lending Club to provide flexible financing options. These plans can make it possible for you to break up the cost of your treatment using a low or zero interest payment plan. This allows you to stay within your budget while ensuring your smile will look and feel its best for years to come.

Removable Dentures

Remove After Eating

Once you’ve finished eating a meal, you’ll want to remove your dentures so you can rinse them off. The last thing you’d want is to allow food and debris to accumulate on your prosthetics, which can increase the chance of plaque buildup. Be sure NOT to use hot water when cleaning them, as increased heat can risk warping the material, resulting in ill-fitted dentures.

Clean Your Restoration

The best way to clean your brand-new teeth is to remove them first. You’ll want to use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid damaging the material over time, especially the underside, and a tiny amount of denture cleanser, hand soap, or mild dish soap to carefully clean your dentures with. Regular toothpaste can often be too abrasive for your prosthetics. Place your prosthetics in a small container of denture cleanser or water to keep them clean and moist. Before putting them back on, rinse them off, as you won’t want to ingest these cleaning materials.

Keep Your Dentures Safe

Make sure to place a towel underneath you on the counter before cleaning your dentures. This can help lower the risk of them breaking or getting damaged if you accidentally drop them during your cleaning routine. Also, keep your prosthetics out of the reach of pets and small children.

Remove Dentures When You Sleep

Before heading to bed, take your dentures out. Having them on while sleeping can end up restricting blood circulation to your gums, which will irritate the soft tissue and increase the chance of complications like pneumonia and gum/tongue plaque. Instead, soak them in a glass of water or denture cleanser overnight to help keep them from drying out and losing their shape.

Notice Changes

Keep watch of any changes you might notice in your dentures so you can inform your dentist. If you start experiencing any issues like gum irritation, mouth sores, or indications of infection, notify our team right away so we can address the root of the problem. In some cases, we may need to realign your dentures or completely replace them. If your prosthetics get damaged, come see us for treatment instead of trying to fix them by yourself, as you can end up damaging them further by accident.

All-on-4 Dentures

If you opted for All-on-4 dentures, then your aftercare process may look slightly different. Make sure to brush your prosthetics twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste, just like your normal teeth. Don’t use any products with baking soda or stain-removing ingredients, as these can harm the surface of your artificial pearly whites. You should also floss at least once a day, and use floss threaders to clean between your dentures and gums. A water flosser can also be a good investment to make your cleaning routine much easier. Rinse with antiseptic mouthwash frequently to avoid plaque and tartar buildup.

Can I Sleep With My Dentures?

Dr. Makram strongly advises all patients with dentures to remove them before going to bed. Why? There are several reasons, including:

• Your bone and gums need time to breathe and restore necessary nutrients
• Continuous wear can lead to irritation over time as well as ridge absorption
• Bacteria can form underneath your dentures and put you at risk for pneumonia should you leave them in your mouth overnight

It is recommended that you allow your dentures to soak while you sleep so your mouth can “rest” and your prosthetics can be cleansed of bacteria and particles that form throughout the day.

Is It Hard to Talk with Dentures?

You will notice when you first receive your dentures that it may be more difficult to talk. Fortunately, this is only temporary and will dissipate within a short period of time. The adjustment phase is different for every patient, but you can take steps to shorten this timeframe. To do this, simply spend time reading aloud to yourself or others, speak slowly, and practice saying difficult syllables and sounds. You can also try using denture adhesive, which will help to keep your prosthetic in place while eating and speaking.

Can I Use Regular Toothpaste to Clean My Dentures?

It’s natural to assume that regular toothpaste is safe to use on both regular tooth enamel and customized prosthetics; however, this is not true. Your denture dentist in North Naples will recommend non-abrasive toothpaste because it is gentler on the material. Regular toothpaste is highly abrasive and can scratch your artificial teeth, causing them to dull. To minimize the risk of damage and stains on your prosthetic, make sure you’re cleaning your dentures after every meal and using only a soft-bristled toothbrush.

Will Dentures Change the Shape of My Face?

Tooth loss can cause your facial shape to change. Over time, your jawbone will deteriorate, resulting in a sagging appearance often referred to as “facial collapse.” Fortunately, dentures support your facial muscles and improve your overall aesthetic. However, you should be mindful of how well your denture fits. Those that no longer fit correctly will lack proper support. It’s important that your dentures fit comfortably and correctly inside your mouth, so don’t be afraid to talk to your dentist about having your denture refitted or replaced.