Dentures & Tooth Replacement near Portland, ME

Effects of Missing Teeth

To understand the importance of replacing any teeth that you’ve lost, it’s best to go over how this occurs and the consequences of losing any number of pearly whites. Firstly, some of the most common reasons for missing teeth include gum disease, decay, poor oral hygiene habits, and accidental injuries to the face. Certain systemic conditions can also result in tooth loss, such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

Having some or all your teeth missing can lead to several complications in your oral health. The most prominent consequences include jawbone deterioration, dental shifting, difficulty chewing, trouble speaking, facial sagging, and significantly reduced self-esteem.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

Nearly any person who’s suffering from moderate to severe tooth loss, or struggling with extremely sensitive or decayed teeth, can be a candidate for dentures. Of course, It should be noted that you’ll need to have healthy gums before getting dentures, so gum disease treatment might be necessary in some cases. You’ll also need to be committed to practicing strict oral hygiene to maintain both your dentures and your mouth for a successful treatment.

The kind of denture you’ll get will also be based on the number of teeth missing. We can provide you with partial dentures, full dentures, or implant dentures, depending on what works best for you and your budget. Fortunately, these prosthetic teeth are cost-effective and can last many years before needing replacements.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

Other than dentures, you might want to consider other tooth-replacement options to achieve the full and beautiful smile you deserve, such as:

• Dental bridges: For those who are missing one or multiple teeth in a row, a dental bridge can easily close the gap in your smile. This treatment requires tooth preparation, as the healthy natural teeth on either side of the space will need to have some enamel removed to make room for the restoration.
• Dental implants: With titanium posts embedded into the jawbone, we directly anchor your new pearly whites to your facial structure for superior stability. Not only will this allow you to enjoy a more lifelike bite and smile, but the implants will also help prevent jawbone deterioration and can last a lifetime with proper care.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

Psychological Benefits

Losing some or all of your pearly whites can result in negative consequences to both your oral health and psychological well-being. Without all of your smile, you’ll be more likely to want to hide or cover your mouth, and this can result in reduced self-esteem. You might even be less willing to participate in social events. By restoring your smile with dentures, you can renew your confidence and eliminate any anxieties you may have with your chewing ability, speech, appearance, and more.

Clearer Enunciation

People usually need all of their teeth to speak as clearly as possible. This is because we press our tongues and lips against them to enunciate properly. Without them, many words and sounds can become more difficult to say. With dentures as your new teeth, you’ll be able to renew your entire smile as well as your ability to speak more clearly. This can take some time and practice, but your prosthetics should feel more natural in no time.

Improves Nutrition

Tooth loss can make it challenging to chew and eat your meals, especially those consisting of tougher foods. Without the ability to grind and chew effectively, you can end up experiencing issues like indigestion and malnutrition. By rebuilding your smile with dentures, you’ll also be able to expand your dietary choices again, allowing you to munch on more nutritious foods for better oral and overall health.

Preserves Oral Health

Whenever your teeth go missing, any nearby remaining ones can begin to move out of place. By wearing dentures, you can help prevent your other pearly whites from becoming misaligned or avoid further tooth loss altogether. Additionally, your prosthetics will help bear some of the pressure when eating, minimizing any wear and tear to your natural teeth.

Expands Opportunities

Most people will first notice your smile when initially meeting them. This can make your pearly whites extremely important when getting ready for a job interview, promotion, or even a first date. To improve your overall appearance, you can replace your missing teeth with lifelike and long-lasting dentures. Not only will you be free to show off a beautiful smile, but you’ll also boost your confidence when going to important social events.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures

Every situation is unique, so it’s impossible to have a flat rate for dentures. There are several components to the cost of your new smile. Your denture dentist in Falmouth will examine your mouth and learn more about your goals to create a personalized treatment plan. We’ll provide you with an estimate based on your needs, with can include:

• Preparatory treatments
• Type of denture
• Number of teeth being treated
• Materials used

You can find many discounted materials, but they’ll cost you more in the long run. Your dentist will help you choose the best materials to ensure your denture is comfortable, durable, and looks natural.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Implant dentures in Falmouth cost more than traditional treatments upfront, but for good reason. They replicate the entire tooth structures, not just the portions above the gum line. This creates a nearly perfect replica of your real smile that can last for 30 years or longer with the right care. You’ll save money down the road because you won’t need to pay for replacements. Dental implants also improve your oral health, so you can avoid common issues associated with missing teeth to lower your overall dental expenses to save even more money. Not to mention, you can’t put a price tag on the benefits you’ll enjoy.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Most dental plans can be used to offset the cost of dentures, but they may not cover the entire amount. Don’t worry, we will keep your new smile within your budget. You can use your dental insurance to reduce the cost of certain steps in your treatment, like the consultation, tooth extractions, or imaging. After reaching your deductible, your dental insurance can pay up to 80% of the expenses until hitting your annual limit. A member of our team will work on your behalf with your dental insurance to maximize your benefits. We’ll explain how your coverage is being used and if there’s any remaining balance.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

Besides using your dental insurance, we also accept multiple payment methods for any out-of-pocket costs, including:

• Traditional Payments: Our office accepts cash, checks, and credit cards.
• Third-Party Financing: Pay for your dentures using monthly installments through a third-party financer.

Rest assured; you’ll know exactly what you’ll have to pay before committing to any procedure. If you have any questions about your dental insurance or payment options, contact our office today to speak with a member of our team.

Removable Dentures

Remove After Eating

Once you’ve finished enjoying a meal, it’s a great idea to take out your dentures to give them a good rinse. Not only will this keep you from collecting food debris in your mouth and prosthetics, but it can also help you avoid the accumulation of plaque and harmful bacteria that can impact your oral health. Simply use warm water to clean them, as hot water can easily warp your dentures and cause them not to fit you well anymore.

Clean Your Prosthetics

When it’s time to thoroughly clean your dentures, it’s best to remove them from your mouth. This will allow you to clean the underside of the prosthetics as well as your gums—both of which are common places for bacteria and plaque buildup to occur. Make sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and use mild hand soap or denture cleanser to clean them. Regular toothpaste can be too abrasive for the material and can lead to wear and tear. Rinse them again to get rid of any residual cleaning chemicals, as you won’t want to ingest them. If you aren’t putting them back on, store them in water to keep them moist and help them retain their shape.

Keep Your Dentures Safe

The last thing you’d want is to accidentally chip or break your dentures while cleaning or handling them. That’s why you should at least place a soft towel underneath you just in case your prosthetics slip from your hands. Also, be sure to keep your dentures out of reach of pets and small children so that they stay safe.

Remove Dentures When You Sleep

After the first 24 hours of getting your dentures, you’ll need to remove them every time you go to sleep. This is so your gums have a chance to receive the minerals and nutrients necessary to keep them healthy and strong. Leaving your prosthetics on for too long can restrict circulation and result in irritation of soft oral tissues. Sleeping with them can also raise your risk of pneumonia and plaque, so be sure to store them in a glass of water or denture cleanser to keep them bacteria-free.

Notice Changes

Always be on the lookout for any signs of complications of mouth sores, irritation, and infection. If you see something wrong or any abnormal changes, notify our team sooner rather than later to get the issue resolved. Also, if you notice your dentures are feeling loose or not fitting normally, we can likely adjust them or see if you require a replacement so that you can return to enjoying your full smile.

What is the average age for dentures?

Although tooth loss is not necessarily inevitable as you age, it does become more common with older patients. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the percentage of adults over the age of 40 who have lost at least one tooth is about twice as high as that of adults aged 20 to 39. The American Dental Association also found that nearly 57% of people between the ages of 65 and 74 wear a denture of some sort.

The need for tooth replacement generally increases with age, but dentures in Falmouth could potentially be a suitable treatment for patients of all ages.

Can I use regular toothpaste to clean my dentures?

It’s important to clean your dentures every day, but you should NOT use toothpaste to do so. Toothpaste is abrasive and can create microscopic scratches on the surface of your dentures, which can lead to severe damage over time.

Instead, clean your dentures with mild dishwashing liquid, hand soap, or specialized denture cleaning solutions. Make sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush as well. It also helps to soak your dentures overnight in denture cleanser or lukewarm (never hot) water.

Can I sleep with my dentures?

Technically, you can, but as a denture dentist in Falmouth, Dr. McVety strongly encourages you to remove your dentures before bed. The only exception is when you first get your dentures, when you’ll probably be told to wear them for 24 hours. After that, you should take them out every evening. Not only does this give you a chance to clean your dentures by letting them soak, but your gums and jaw can recover after holding the prosthetics in place all day. Additionally, bacteria can build up in the space underneath dentures if they’re worn for too long, increasing your risk of infection.

Is it hard to talk with dentures?

Learning to talk with new dentures can take a few weeks since your mouth needs time to get used to the new appliance inside of it. If you’re wearing a denture on the upper arch, you may develop a minor lisp as a result of changes in the palate.

Luckily, there are ways to speed up this adjustment process:

• Practice reading aloud to yourself (especially words with a lot of “s” sounds if you have a lisp).
• Talk slowly. Your words might come out muffled if you speak too quickly too soon.
• If your dentures tend to shift when you speak, bite down on them and swallow before you start talking to ensure they’re in the right position.
• While you’re adjusting, wearing a small amount of denture adhesive can stabilize your new teeth.