Dentures – Tyler, TX
Enjoy a Beautiful Smile
If you’ve experienced significant tooth loss, you’re not alone. At least 35 million Americans have lost all their teeth in one or both arches. Thankfully, you don’t need to live with an incomplete smile. We offer the latest solutions for dentures in Tyler to restore your confidence and quality of life. You can rest assured knowing your new teeth will closely look and feel realistic to chew, speak, and smile without any worry.
Why Choose Southern Oaks Dental for Dentures?
- Personalized solutions for each patient.
- High-quality, durable materials.
- Advanced technology for a comfortable fit.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
In truth, being a good dentures candidate doesn’t take much. Almost anyone with missing teeth can qualify for treatment. Still, you’ll need to consult Dr. Markle in person to know for sure. Only he can confirm whether dentures would really work for you. Even if they wouldn’t, our office can help you qualify later by restoring the health of your gums and jaw. As for the other details of denture candidacy, just keep reading to learn more!
Effects of Missing Teeth
As you consider dentures, it’s helpful to review tooth loss’s causes and effects. This step lets you see how treatment can protect your health.
First of all, people lose teeth for a great many reasons. Sometimes a tooth decays so much that it falls out or needs extraction. In contrast, gum disease might wear down the bone and tissue securing your pearly whites. People could even have their teeth knocked out from an accident or injury.
Regardless of the cause, however, the effects of missing teeth are consistent. The condition typically makes eating, speaking, and smiling harder. Similarly, the resulting smile gaps will slowly erode your jawbone. That process, in turn, could trigger a facial collapse. It may even result in yet further tooth loss.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
As stated before, most patients can qualify for dentures if they lack teeth. That being said, there are other relevant factors to consider.
One such element is your oral health. Dentures, you see, do more than replace already-missing teeth; they can also replace sensitive or decaying ones. On the other end, though, the restorations only work when a patient’s gum and jaw tissues are healthy. Ideal treatment candidates thus need a commitment to proper dental care.
The number of teeth lost should also be noted. You’ll need one of two possible denture types based on how many you lack. A partial denture, for instance, is best for replacing a few teeth. Meanwhile, a full model is only valid when all pearly whites along an arch are gone.
Even your finances can be a qualifying factor. Dentures, after all, are cheaper than other restorations. Therefore, they’re a great option for patients on a tight budget.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
Don’t worry too much if you’re not a good denture candidate. Should that be the case, we have additional options. More specifically, Southern Oaks Dental has two other restorative services available. These include the following:
- Dental Bridges – As fixed restorations, dental bridges are composed of crowns fused to a pontic. They thus require healthy surrounding teeth to work properly. Otherwise, a bridge lacks the necessary support.
- Dental Implants – Unlike dentures or bridges, dental implants are prosthetics placed in your jawbone. They thus fuse with your jaw over time. This fusion process ensures they remain secure, but also makes treatment a tad expensive.
Types of Dentures
You have more options than ever to replace your missing teeth. We’ll perform a thorough consultation to determine the extent of your tooth loss to create a personalized treatment plan. Based on your individual needs, you might be a candidate for:
Partial Dentures
If you still have a few healthy teeth, a partial denture may be right for you. Prosthetic teeth are fixed in a gum-colored base with a metal framework that allows it to clip onto your teeth. Your partial is carefully crafted to match the appearance of your natural teeth to blend in when you smile.
Full Denture
A full denture treats an entire arch of lost teeth. Prosthetics are set in an acrylic base that rests on top of your gum tissue. It’s held in place using suction or an adhesive. Although they have a bad reputation for looking fake, new advancements have improved their fit and aesthetics.
Implant Denture
You can enjoy the next best thing to your real teeth by supporting your denture with 4 to 10 dental implants. Titanium posts are surgically placed into your jaw to anchor your denture to your bone.
Benefits of Dentures
Dentures provide a variety of benefits to restore your quality of life. When choosing to replace your missing teeth, you’ll enjoy:
- Improved confidence
- Ability to chew a variety of foods
- Improve your oral health
- Convenient solution
- Supports your facial tissues
- Durable to withstand the pressure of regular chewing
- Speak clearly
Caring for Your Dentures
Although your dentures aren’t subject to tooth decay, you still need to maintain your oral hygiene routine and take the time to care for your dentures each day. You can help promote the longevity of your new smile by following a few tips:
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your dentures at least once a day.
- Soak your dentures at night in a cleaning solution.
- Remove your dentures at night to give your gums time to rest.
- Don’t let your dentures dry out.
- Don’t expose your dentures to excessive heat.
- Visit your dentist at least twice a year for preventive care.
- Have your dentures relined regularly.
Denture FAQs
Are you exploring different ways to replace your missing teeth? You can learn more about dentures in Tyler by checking out the frequently asked questions below! From the average age for dentures to what foods to avoid when wearing false teeth, we cover many of the hot topics. If you have any additional questions about dentures, do not hesitate to schedule a consultation at our office with Dr. Markle.
What is the Average Age for Dentures?
People of all ages can potentially be candidates for dentures. That said, tooth loss is far more common among older patients. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 66% of adults between the ages of 40 and 64 are missing at least one tooth, compared to only 33% of adults aged 20-39. Since the need for false teeth increases as you age, it should come as little surprise that over half of all people aged 65-74 wear some form of dentures, according to the American Dental Association.
Can I Use Regular Toothpaste to Clean My Dentures?
Keeping your dentures clean by brushing them every day is very important. However, you should not use regular toothpaste to do so, as it can leave microscopic scratches on the surface of your dentures. Instead, use hand soap, mild dishwashing liquid, or a specialized denture cleaner to brush your dentures. In addition, choose a soft-bristled toothbrush over a hard-bristled one.
What Can’t You Eat with Dentures?
While you can eat many of your favorite foods with dentures in Tyler, you will likely have to make some slight adjustments to your normal diet. Certain foods can be harder to chew with dentures or can even damage your false teeth. For example, sticky foods like peanut butter and gummy worms can pull your dentures out of place. Nuts, popcorn, apples, corn on the cob, and other hard foods can damage or dislodge dentures. While you do not have to avoid these foods entirely, you should limit how often you eat them and take extra precautions when you do. Lastly, tough meats like steak or pork chops require an excessive amount of chewing. This can put a lot of stress on both your dentures and your gums.
Can I Sleep with My Dentures?
In general, it is recommended that you take your dentures out every night when you go to bed. Your gums need a break! Wearing dentures restricts the circulation to your gums, leading to soft tissue irritation and potentially speeding up ridge resorption. Taking your dentures out nightly give your gums a chance to rest and recover. Dentures should also be removed for oral hygiene reasons. Bacteria thrives in dark, moist spaces like the underside of dentures. For this reason, sleeping with dentures has been found to be associated with a higher risk of pneumonia.
How Much Do Dentures Cost?
Dentures are one of the most affordable ways to replace missing teeth. The final cost of your full or partial dentures will depend on a number of factors, such as:
- The number of teeth you want to replace
- The quality of materials used to craft your dentures
- Whether any remaining teeth need to be extracted
- Your dental insurance coverage
Every smile is unique. The best way to determine if dentures are right for you is to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Markle, an experienced denture dentist in Tyler. He will thoroughly examine your teeth, create a custom treatment plan, and provide you with an accurate cost estimate.
Complete Your Smile Today
If you’re ready to love the smile you see in the mirror, dentures may be an option for you. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation to treat your tooth loss. We’ll create the individualized plan you need to smile confidently and enjoy your favorite foods again.
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