It’s estimated that 2.2% of adults under the age of sixty-four have no remaining teeth. When people get over the age of sixty-four that number naturally increases.
If you’re experiencing tooth loss, you have a lot of solutions available. However, one of the more popular options is dentures. This type of dental treatment can come in partial sets or full sets.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions about dentures out there. That’s why we made this guide.
In it, we’ll explore some of the essential denture care tips that anyone getting dentures in Lexington KY should consider. That way, you can decide for yourself if it’s the right decision for you.
You Will Likely Need a Tooth Extraction First
Dentists and oral surgeons tend to make every effort possible to save your natural teeth. They might use crowns, veneers, fillings, or root canals to achieve this.
Unfortunately, when all else fails you’ll need to consider extraction. If your teeth are decaying or weakened past the point of no return, you’re going to need extraction services.
The same goes if you want dentures. As you can guess, dentures simply don’t work if you still have your old teeth. However, the specific number of teeth you will need to be extracted will depend on the dentures you require.
If only a few teeth are decaying, but the rest of them are healthy, you’ll want a set of partial dentures.
Those who need full denture sets will need to get every remaining tooth extracted from their mouth before proceeding with the denture fitting process. This is important to consider because it represents an additional cost to the dentures themselves.
Dentures Can Be Expensive
Dentures have long been held as the more affordable tooth replacement option. However, just because it’s more affordable than say a tooth implant doesn’t make it cheap.
Most of the time you can usually expect to pay between $1,000 to $3,000 for an arch of dentures. However, denture costs can vary depending on a variety of factors. First, it matters if you have insurance.
Many insurance companies will cover 50% to even 100% of the cost of dentures. Unfortunately, nearly sixty-nine million Americans don’t have access to dental insurance, so this won’t be an option for everyone.
The material type also matters. Certain types of material, like porcelain, are more expensive than things like acrylics.
Even something as simple as the dentist’s geographic location can influence the price. Luckily, here in Lexington and London, they tend to be affordable.
If you’re worried about the cost, we recommend reaching out to the dental practice. They can work with you to find the types of dentures that best fit your budget.
You Still Need to Worry About Oral Hygiene
Your dentures aren’t your real teeth. However, that doesn’t mean that you can just ignore cleaning them. If you do some not only will your dentures degrade quicker.
Like regular teeth, they’ll also stain and look unnatural. What’s more, you’ll be at risk of gum disease when you ignore these cleanings.
To avoid this, make sure you’re brushing your dentures twice per day. Also, you can’t use a regular toothbrush to do this. So make sure you invest in a special toothbrush designed to clean them.
You’ll Remove Dentures When Not In Use
Many people make the mistake of thinking that dentures will be in your mouth all day until you go to sleep. However, this isn’t advisable. Leaving your dentures on all day will result in bad breath.
What’s worse it can also lead to a receding gum line. As such, you should only wear them when they’re needed. This will include when you’re eating or attending social functions.
However, if you’re just sitting around at home, take them out. Not only will it be more comfortable but it will prolong the life of your dentures.
Dentures Can Sometimes Be Uncomfortable
Even when dentures fit you perfectly, they might be slightly uncomfortable. Many people report that they can feel strange and slimy in their mouth early on. It’s not uncommon to develop mouth sores early on.
You’ll likely also notice yourself salivating more when food comes around. The good news is that this discomfort won’t last forever.
Once the dentures have adjusted to the soft tissue in your mouth, the discomfort will start to go away.
You’ll Need to Get Used to Them
Eating and talking with dentures in your mouth likely won’t come naturally. You might notice difficulty chewing. Or, when you talk, certain words and phrases might be hard to pronounce.
The good news is that adjusting to dentures happens naturally over time. You’ll need to change your chewing and speaking habits, but eventually, it will feel natural after the learning period.
Dentures Aren’t Permanent
Dentures aren’t meant to last long. At the most, you can expect them to last around ten years. However, more often than not they will give out well before that. This is especially true if you don’t take good care of them.
Sometimes a set of dentures can be repaired. Other times they’ll need to be replaced outright. If your dentures are damaged, never try to repair them yourself. Otherwise, you’ll likely damage them more.
Instead, bring them into a professional environment. If you want a more permanent tooth replacement solution, you should consider getting dental implants. Dental implants tend to last for decades.
What’s more, they can strengthen your jaw bone which isn’t a benefit that comes with dentures.
Just keep in mind that dental implants are much more expensive than dentures. However, you also need to factor in that you won’t need to get them replaced or repaired as often.
Think About Getting Dentures? Contact Jenkins, Morrow & Gayheart OMS
We hope this guide helped you learn more about getting dentures in Lexington and London KY. If you’re still stuck deciding between dentures and a different treatment option like tooth implants, then it’s time to get a professional opinion.
Here at Jenkins, Morrow & Gayheart OMS, we walk you through the pros and cons of each type of tooth replacement treatment.
That way, you can find the perfect solution for your needs. So if you’re ready for the individualized care you deserve, schedule an appointment with us today.
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