The cost of dentures is not one of its main selling points. And the price can vary depending on the type of denture you need, the subtype within that type, the materials used, and the professional you go to. But, generally speaking, how expensive can dentures be? And how can you get a discount on dentures?
Yes, “free dentures” is a real thing. You can find no-cost dentures, you just have to know where to look. And you may be surprised by some of the options, some specifically for low-income people and some for anyone. And this is good news, because it’s not fun to live without teeth or with unhealthy teeth.
Maybe you just got dentures. Maybe you’re considering it. Either way, you’ll need to be informed before you buy. That’s why we’ve put together this detailed article full of reviews of the top denture adhesives on the market. And did you know there are different types of adhesives? Yes, we’ll talk about those too.
You might think “flipper tooth” is a funny name for a partial denture, but it’s also a very useful type of tooth replacement option. A flipper tooth is often the answer to questions like “what happens when I lose or damage a tooth?” and “do I have all of my teeth ripped out?”
The lining of dentures don’t last forever, hence the need for a denture reline. If you already have dentures, you should expect to have your dentist reline your dentures at some point. If you don’t yet have dentures, you’ll want to know the ins and outs of when, why, and how much.
Good oral hygiene is just as important after getting dentures as it is after. In fact, it’s probably more important afterward. And one easy and effective way is to use an ultrasonic denture cleaner. How do they work? Why isn’t brushing alone enough? And how can you know which ultrasonic cleaner to choose?
Not all dentures replace every single tooth in your mouth. Whether you’ve had acute tooth damage or tooth decay to only certain teeth, you have the option of getting partial dentures. It’s easy to guess what a partial denture is, but you should know the ins and outs and the different types.
Losing your teeth is no longer a problem nowadays, thanks in part to denture implants. And the great thing is, you have plenty of options when it comes to denture implants, implant-supported dentures, and full-mouth dental implants (all essentially the same thing). Implants have pros and cons, and this article will help you discover if they’re right for you.
So you’re considering getting dentures. You’ve realized you need them, whether you’ve lost some teeth due to injury, gum disease, or tooth decay, or you just want a full, bright smile.
Whatever the case, we have all the info that you’ll need to know about dentures and what to expect if you decide to get them.
Dentures are basically replacements for any missing teeth. This can include full dentures or partial dentures.
There are two basic types of dentures: full and partial. Although they may seem self-explanatory, there are also details that many people don’t know about.
Full dentures are the type that most people imagine — a full set of pearly whites with a flesh-colored section that fits over your gums.
The base of an upper denture covers the entire roof of your mouth, while the lower denture is shaped like a horseshoe (otherwise it would get in the way of your tongue).
Under the umbrella of full dentures, there are two subtypes of full replacements: conventional and immediate.
A conventional full denture job is when the dentist removes any remaining teeth and gives your tissues time to heal, which can take several months. So yes, you will have no teeth for many months.
Then once all the tissues in your mouth are healed, they will give you a full set of teeth.
When you get immediate full dentures, you get your replacement teeth right after your remaining teeth are removed.
This option is nice because you don’t go without teeth for months. But on the flip side, several months after you get them, the dentist will have to reline them because the bone supporting your teeth re-shapes as it heals.
Partial denture replacements, which can be removable, involve attaching a metal framework to your natural teeth.
Sometimes the dentist will have to put crowns in, then attach the denture to those crowns as anchors. The temporary partial denture is often called a tooth flipper.
You probably want to know what dentures are made of, seeing that you’ll be putting them in your mouth and eating and drinking with them in.
Let’s break down each part of dentures and look at what the materials are.
Typically, the teeth of dentures are made from different types of resin or porcelain. Although resin is the preferred material nowadays, porcelain is still used in some cases.
Some of the benefits of porcelain teeth are:
But they do have some disadvantages:
Recently, acrylic resin dentures have been the most common type. Here’s why:
But of course, these, too, have disadvantages:
All dentures need a framework for support, which is also called a plate. This plate is usually made from one or more of these types of materials: acrylic resin, nylon polymer, or chrome cobalt metal.
If you choose to get dentures, the dentist will take an impression of your gums, which they then use to create a mold. They take that mold and use it as the basis for a wax model, to which they add the artificial teeth.
And this can take differing amounts of time, depending on whether you choose a conventional or immediate denture replacement.
You don’t want to travel across your state just to take care of your teeth. That’s why the question on your mind may be, “How can I find someone near me to do my dental work?”
We actually have a tool to answer this very question. Using this search tool, you can enter your zip code to see what dentists are near you. We have a database of 100,000 dental professionals, so you’re bound to find a quality one near you.
This brings us to the question, how do you go about getting dentures?
In this section, we’ll take you through the step-by-step process of getting dentures so you know what to expect.
This is a conversation that will probably happen naturally as you have regular dentist visits. You or your dentist can bring it up and talk about your options.
Once you’ve settled on getting dentures, with your dentist’s recommendation, you’ll start the process of removing unhealthy teeth and getting fitted for a replacement piece.
After your dentist has evaluated the condition of your natural teeth and determined the best course of action and what type of dentures to get, they will figure out which teeth are healthy or unhealthy.
You’ll schedule a time to have the unhealthy teeth removed and leave any remaining teeth intact. And as mentioned before, it will take several months for your gums to heal, and your dentist will discuss waiting for dentures or getting immediate dentures.
Next, your dentist will take an impression of your mouth, as we briefly mentioned above. You’ll continue to go back for appointments where they will take more impressions of your mouth to track any changes (as healing mouth will change slightly).
This will give your dentist an exact image of your mouth in order to get perfectly fitted dentures.
This may seem like a big decision, but just think of it like trying on some new clothes. They have to blend well with your face and fit your personality. Basically, they should look like your natural teeth.
Dentures come with different shapes, sizes, and hues of teeth, so you’ll have options. And not to worry, your dentist will be there to help you decide. Also, it’s a great idea to bring a close friend or family member with you so they can give you their input.
This is the moment when the dentures go into your mouth for the first time. Your dentist will put them in, and you’ll wear them every day until your next visit, where you can make any adjustments to make sure they fit perfectly and are as comfortable as possible.
Understandably, adjusting to your dentures can be difficult, especially for the first few weeks or months. Simple things like talking or eating may need some practice.
The muscles of your cheeks and tongue will have to learn to hold the dentures in place. You may have extra saliva. It might feel like your tongue doesn’t have enough room. And your mouth may be generally sore or irritated.
These are all common issues. Fortunately, there are things you can do to ease the process of getting used to your dentures.
Here’s a list of some things you can do to care for your dentures and make the adjustment to your new teeth easier:
In addition to proactively caring for your dentures, you will want to avoid certain things too. Here are just a few things to stay away from:
If you experience problems with your new dentures, just know that it’s common for that to happen.
The most common issues with dentures include soreness, difficulty swallowing or talking, and loosening when your mouth is open wide (like during yawning). You may experience the dentures shifting in your mouth — if this continues to happen, you should a use a denture adhesive.
Also don’t be surprised if you have problems saying certain sounds, like “S” or “Th” sounds. This isn’t something you should worry about as your dentist can usually correct it by adjusting the dentures.
Basically, anything that seems like a denture problem, the best thing to do is contact your dentist.
Just a quick word here on how dentures and dental implants are different.
Both meet the need of replacing missing teeth. Generally, dentures are not as expensive as implants, and they’re more easily removable. However, implants can be easier to care for as you can treat them like your natural teeth.
It all comes down to your preference and what your dentist recommends for you. Every mouth is different.