Dentures – Beverly, MA

Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?

No matter how many teeth you may be missing, there is a good chance that you will be eligible to move forward with receiving dentures. Versatile in their ability to replace one, a few, or an entire arch of teeth, they are custom-made so that they look and feel natural once in place. Of course, just because you’re missing teeth doesn’t mean you can walk in and say you want dentures. Instead, you must schedule a consultation with a member of our team to discuss treatment as well as the best course of action for your smile.

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Effects of Missing Teeth

Gum disease is often the most common cause of tooth loss. Why? The symptoms are often disregarded by many individuals, eventually resulting in bone resorption, which can cause teeth to loosen and finally fall out.

Of course, gum disease isn’t the only reason for tooth loss. Dental decay and facial trauma can also be the reason you need tooth replacement. The important thing to remember is that no matter the reason behind your missing teeth, prolonging treatment will only cause your jawbone to shrink over time. This can lead to additional tooth loss and even facial sagging.

While your facial appearance will suffer, you can also expect difficulties to arise when trying to eat and speak.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

In most cases, patients who have extensive tooth loss are considered viable candidates for dentures. You might not think you’ll be eligible, but you should never count yourself out until you meet with a trusted denture dentist. It is during this visit that we will go over your oral and overall health history as well as discuss your goals, budget, and what you want your smile to look like.

Generally, if you’re in good oral health and have a healthy jawbone, you’ll be able to receive partial, full, or implant dentures. The choice is ultimately yours, but it’s necessary that our team make sure you’re able and ready to receive this type of restorative treatment.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

If after meeting with our team you decide that dentures are not the right option for you, there are alternative treatments you can choose from:

• Dental Bridges – A dental bridge is a great option if you are missing multiple, consecutive teeth in a row. Using two dental crowns and free-standing artificial teeth, the bridge is positioned and anchored into place using healthy abutment teeth on either side of the gap.
• Dental Implants – For a more permanent form of tooth replacement, you can opt for an implant bridge or implant denture. We will place the appropriate number of implant posts into the jawbone so that a stable foundation is made available for the custom restoration that will be secured on top.

Full Dentures

These appliances are made to replace all the teeth in the upper or lower arch (or both). Prosthetic teeth are built into a flesh-colored acrylic base to look very natural. Full dentures are held in place with natural suction and adhesive and should be removed and cleaned each day with denture care products. Dentures can last 5-10 years and usually need to be periodically re-lined and adjusted to continue fitting well.

With a full denture, you’ll have a brand new set of teeth that allows you to eat, speak, smile, and laugh with confidence.

Partial Dentures

A partial denture can include anywhere from one to several prosthetic teeth on either a plastic base or metal framework. It has clasps that fit around the existing teeth for support and, just like full dentures, should be removed and cleaned each time you brush your teeth. For some patients, partial dentures are a great low-cost or temporary alternative to a bridge or implant.

Implant-Retained Dentures

With the use of high-quality materials and the latest techniques, the modern dentures we provide look and feel better than ever. However, if you want even more chewing strength and stability, implants may be a perfect choice. 

In most cases, just 2-6 implants are needed per arch to anchor a denture into place. In addition to improving the stability of your appliance, implants also mimic natural teeth to maintain your bone mass and facial structure over time. You’ll also need much less adhesive or none at all, and won’t have to worry about “slips” the way you might with a traditional full denture.

Want to learn more about how dentures can benefit your oral health? Give us a call so we can create the best treatment plan for your smile!

Learn More About Implant-Retained Dentures

The Benefits of Dentures

Dentures are a top choice for countless patients facing tooth loss due to their comfort and cost-effectiveness. They can replace several or all of your teeth throughout an arch, helping you enjoy not only a complete smile again, but a variety of other life-changing advantages as well. Learn more about the transformative impacts that dentures can have on your life below.

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Clearer Speech

Each of your teeth play an important role in guiding your tongue as you speak, preventing slurring, lisps, and other speech impediments from occurring. When you have gaps in your smile, you’ll likely notice how much harder it is to enunciate your words, make certain sounds, and talk to others without feeling embarrassed. While it may take a little bit of time to adjust to speaking with your dentures in, they’ll allow you to communicate with greater ease.

A Balanced, Nutritional Diet

Missing teeth can severely limit the types of foods that you can eat, causing you to stick to mostly soft foods like yogurt, smoothies, and protein shakes. This can completely change your diet, causing you to avoid your favorite foods and even limiting your vitamin and key nutrient intake. Your dentures will allow you to chew smaller bites of meats and other chewy foods much easier, expanding your diet.

Oral Health Preservation

When missing teeth in Beverly aren’t replaced with prosthetics, it can put your smile at an even greater risk of experiencing more tooth loss, ultimately resulting in a slippery slope of declining oral health. Your dentures are simple to care for and keep clean, just follow your dentist’s maintenance tips and be sure to keep your gums clean to avoid additional concerns from arising.

Psychological Benefits

Tooth loss isn’t just an aesthetic issue. It can also have a noticeable impact on your mental and emotional well-being by affecting your quality of life. Studies have shown that those suffering from untreated tooth loss experience an increased risk of depression and social anxiety. By being able to confidently let your smile show, you can drum up conversations, go on dates, and carry on with your day-to-day life as you normally would without a dark cloud lingering over your head due to having gaps in your smile.

Boosted Confidence

Hand-in-hand with the psychological benefits of dentures, you’ll be able to enjoy a massive confidence boost, which can affect both your personal and professional life. Oftentimes, a person’s smile is the first trait that others notice, and with a greater desire to show your bright and complete grin, you’ll be able to make positive lasting impressions.

Understanding the Cost of Dentures

Most types of dental work have a price that can vary from patient to patient, and dentures are no exception. When you meet with Dr. Blake or Dr. Staniek, they’ll go over the variables that can affect the cost of dentures in Beverly and provide you with a reliable estimate. After your consultation, you’ll have a good idea of not only how much you can expect to pay, but also how your new smile will look and feel.

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Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures

Each denture is personalized to meet your needs, so there are multiple factors that can influence the price of dentures. Your denture dentist in Beverly will discuss these variables, which include:

• Any preliminary treatments you might need (gum disease therapy, tooth extractions, etc.)
• The number of teeth you’re replacing
• The materials used to craft your denture

Keep in mind that cheaper does NOT always mean better, especially when it comes to dentures. Cheap dentures are often uncomfortable or might break easily. For a prosthetic that you’re going to be using and placing in your mouth every day, it’s worth investing in a high-quality solution.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Implant dentures require the surgical placement of several dental implants, making them more expensive than traditional dentures. However, most patients with implant dentures have gone on to sing their praises and claim that they’re worth every penny.

Simply put, implant dentures are a worthwhile investment. They won’t shift out of place, they allow you to chew a variety of healthy foods, and they prevent the jawbone loss that often occurs after teeth go missing. You also won’t need to replace them every five to seven years like you would a conventional denture. Because implant dentures can last for 30+ years, they’ll end up paying for themselves several times over in the long run.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Fortunately, most dental insurance policies provide some coverage for dentures, typically up to 50 percent. Of course, every plan differs, and deductibles and annual maximums also come into play. Our practice accepts virtually all dental insurance plans, so feel free to ask our friendly team for help making the most of your benefits!

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

If you don’t have dental insurance, or if your plan doesn’t provide as much coverage as you need, there are other ways of making dentures in Beverly affordable. For example, we can help you split up your treatment costs into monthly installments through CareCredit. This third-party financing company offers low- to -no-interest payment plans based on credit approval, and it can make just about any dental treatment fit into your budget!

Maintaining Your Dentures

We always recommend spending time each day maintaining your dentures. With a few good habits, you’ll help them last longer and have a better experience overall:

• Soak your dentures each night in a special solution and make sure to brush them each day as well, which will keep them much cleaner than soaking alone.
• Dentures can easily break if they’re dropped, so only handle them over a soft hand towel or basin of water.
• Be sure to keep your dentures moist at all times to prevent them from drying out and cracking.

Also, continue seeing us for regular checkups so we can make any necessary adjustments and address small issues like chips, cracks, or bends before they become more serious.

Finally, make sure to keep everything healthy by gently brushing your tongue, gums, and the roof of your mouth twice a day and flossing carefully around any remaining teeth.

Frequently Asked Questions - Dentures

Do you have questions about what life will be like with dentures? Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions that we receive from our patients who are on the fence about replacing their missing teeth with full or partial dentures.

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What should I do if I lose or damage my dentures?

Many patients accidentally damage their dentures while cleaning them or lose them when they take them out and don’t place them in a protective case or glass of water. In these cases, it’s vital to immediately contact Drs. Blake or Staniek so we can repair or replace them as soon as possible. Although it may be tempting to make DIY repairs, this often results in uncomfortable side-effects, such as gum irritation and infections. We’ll fast-track your new or repaired dentures to make sure that you have a functional and complete smile as soon as possible.

How long does it take to get dentures?

The process of getting dentures typically takes place over the course of two or more appointments and several weeks. First, we’ll take impressions of your mouth to make a model that our dental laboratory will use to craft your restorations. Once we receive your permanent restorations, we’ll call you in to make sure they fit properly and let you know what adjustments you can expect to go through in your daily life. If we need to make any additional changes to the prosthetic, we’ll do that before sending them home with you.

If you have any questions after the process is complete, don’t hesitate to contact our office!

Does dental insurance cover the cost of dentures?

It’s important to note that every dental insurance plan differs, which is why you should always contact your provider to double-check what your benefits cover. However, most full dental insurance policies offer some type of coverage for dentures, sometimes up to 50 percent. Patients are also often responsible for paying their deductible and co-payments as well, so keep this in mind. If you have any questions or would like some help navigating your insurance benefits, be sure to ask one of our friendly office staff!

How long do dentures last?

Dentures typically last between five and seven years with daily maintenance. Just like with your natural teeth, they can wear down and become discolored over time. Plus, without jawbone stimulation that was once offered by the root of your natural teeth, your facial shape will change, making your restorations fit differently. Due to all of these reasons, it’s important to get regular checkups to ensure that your dentures fit and function properly.

If you’re looking for a more permanent solution that can help prevent jawbone erosion, you can ask our team about dental implants as well! These replace the entire structure of missing teeth, including the roots.