Dentures – Huntington Beach, CA
Regain a Healthy, Complete Smile
Not only does tooth loss affect your appearance, but it also potentially impacts your quality of life. Fortunately, you can say goodbye to the gaps in your grin via tooth replacement with dentures in Huntington Beach. At Pacific View Dental Group, we offer high-quality and affordable dentures so you can regain a healthy, complete smile without breaking the bank. If you’d like to learn more about this tooth-replacement solution, continue reading or schedule a consultation with our team today!
Why Do I Need to Replace My Teeth?
Every tooth serves an important role in your oral health and functionality. The more teeth you are missing, the more each aspect declines. Over time, any remaining teeth lose support, causing them to drift out of position. Not only does this increase your risk of cavities and gum disease but also additional tooth loss.
You will have difficulty eating certain foods which can lead to nutritional deficiencies from an incomplete diet. It is common to have slurred speech as it becomes harder to pronounce certain sounds. You may also notice changes to your appearance because your facial structures lose support. This can cause premature wrinkling and sagging of your skin.
Who Is A Good Candidate For Dentures?
Whether you’ve lost a few or all of your teeth, you can potentially be fitted with durable dentures to refurbish your smile. However, not everyone is automatically a good fit for these prosthetics. Before moving forward, you must schedule a consultation with Dr. Arditti to ensure your mouth can support them.
Keep reading below to learn more about what traits our team looks for, and feel free to contact us for more information!
Effects of Missing Teeth
Teeth can go missing for several reasons, but gum disease is the leading #1 cause. Once it progresses to periodontitis, your gums recede, leaving your teeth without a stable connection. In time, they can become loose or fall out altogether. Other common culprits include tooth decay, which can spread to your jawbone if left unaddressed, or physical trauma.
Whatever the reason, losing permanent teeth can impact you in different ways. For instance, your jawbone begins to thin without a root in place to stimulate new bone growth every time you bite down. This can lead to sagging, sunken cheeks, and even additional tooth loss.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
At your consultation, our team will examine your mouth to ensure there are no issues that might interfere with your artificial teeth. There are a few qualities we look for when considering whether dentures are the best way to restore a patient’s smile, including:
- Significant tooth loss
- Severe damage or decay
- Sensitive teeth
- Healthy gum tissue
- Sufficient jawbone density
Then, based on our findings, we’ll recommend complete, partial, or implant dentures to restore your mouth’s appearance and functionality.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
If we find that you’re not a good candidate for dentures right away, don’t lose hope! In some cases, a gum or bone graft is needed before you can proceed. Other patients might do better with a different type of replacement, such as:
- Dental bridges. These are ideal for people who have lost one or several teeth in a row. They include the right number of pontics (artificial teeth) with a dental crown on either end to close the gap in your grin.
- Dental implants. These are the only type of restoration that’s surgically placed into your jawbone for added strength and resilience in addition to many other unique advantages.
Types of Dentures
During your initial consultation, your dentist in Huntington Beach will evaluate your needs and recommend one of the following options:
Partial Dentures
If you only have a few missing teeth, partials may be a good option to consider. They replace teeth that are on opposite sides of your mouth and keep the existing teeth from shifting around. Partial dentures are custom-made to fit your mouth perfectly and seamlessly complete your smile. They’re attached to your remaining natural teeth with clasps.
Full Dentures
Full dentures are ideal for patients missing an entire arch of teeth. They’re designed using a gum-colored base and enamel-colored replacement teeth for a more natural appearance. Unlike partials, they’re held in place using natural suction or denture adhesive.
Implant Dentures
If you want a smile that’s long-lasting and as stable as possible, you should consider getting implant dentures. The prosthetic is attached to titanium dental implants that are surgically inserted into the jawbone. Once fully healed, you’ll be able to enjoy unmatched chewing and functionality. Plus, your new-and-improved grin can last several decades if properly cared for!
Benefits of Dentures
When you’re missing multiple teeth, it can be challenging to complete daily tasks, like chewing your food, speaking clearly, and smiling with confidence. Dentures are a life-changing tooth replacement option for patients who are missing several, most of, or all of their teeth because of the restoration’s ability to improve quality of life. If you have suffered from tooth loss, here are some of the benefits that dentures may be able to provide to you.
Psychological Benefits
People who are missing teeth can experience all sorts of psychological downsides. When there are obvious gaps, it’s common to feel insecure. This can make individuals less likely to engage in social activities. By restoring the appearance and function of your smile with dentures, you are more likely to experience improved self-esteem. Ultimately, dentures can reduce anxieties surrounding appearance, speech articulation, chewing ability, and more.
Clearer Enunciation
Without having a complete smile, it can be much more difficult to speak. To pronounce words, your lips and tongue need to be positioned properly. Without being able to touch your tongue to your teeth, some words are very difficult to enunciate. Since dentures replace your missing teeth, they allow you to speak more clearly. After a short adjustment period and some practice, talking will come naturally.
Improves Nutrition
Many nutritious foods are tough in texture. This includes fruits, veggies, and healthy proteins. When you can’t chew your food thoroughly, you can experience things like indigestion and malnutrition. With an improved ability to chew, dentures allow for a more expansive diet full of nutritious foods. In the end, your body will receive more of the essential nutrients it needs for optimal overall health.
Preserves Oral Health
If you still have some remaining healthy teeth, dentures can help to prevent them from shifting around to other areas of the mouth. Also, dentures bear some of the weight of chewing, therefore reducing the wear and tear of the existing teeth.
Expands Opportunity
Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. When it comes to job interviews and getting promotions, it’s crucial to make a great first impression, and a complete smile is certainly an advantage. When you feel more confident about your appearance, it will show in the way you present yourself. This means greater opportunities in your professional and personal life.
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
After learning about dentures, you’re probably more excited than ever to start rebuilding your smile. However, you may be wondering about the cost of dentures in Huntington Beach before you decide to move forward with the process. During your consultation, our team at Pacific View Dental Group will conduct an oral examination and explain which factors will affect the final price. Following the appointment, you’ll have a better understanding of what you can expect to pay for your treatment.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures
Multiple considerations can influence the price of dentures in Huntington Beach, including:
- Any work needed beforehand like tooth extractions or periodontal therapy
- The number of teeth you’re missing
- The type of acrylic used for the base (part that is dyed to match color of gum tissue)
- The materials your denture will be made of (usually porcelain or acrylic)
Is cost a priority? If so, you may be tempted to opt for cheaper dentures. Even though the upfront cost is certainly lower, they tend to break easily and require replacement much sooner than you’d expect. That’s why quality should always be of utmost importance, regardless of the cost.
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
Yes, implant dentures are generally more expensive than traditional ones. However, there’s a good explanation for that. They require oral surgery and the placement of multiple dental implants, making them more reliable for everyday use since they do not shift out of place. Many patients discover this method of tooth replacement is well worth the investment because of several tremendous benefits.
Not only do implants stimulate the jawbone, but they can last decades or even a lifetime with proper care and maintenance with help from your denture dentist in Huntington Beach. That means you won’t have to worry about replacing your dentures nearly as often!
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
Dentures are considered a major procedure which is why most dental insurance plans will cover approximately 50 percent of their cost. Certainly, every policy is unique, meaning the amount of coverage provided will vary from patient to patient. If you have any questions about your plan, contact your insurance provider or ask our dental team for assistance. We will gladly review the details of your policy and do everything possible to maximize your benefits and reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
We understand not everyone has dental insurance which is why we offer an additional financing option to make your dental bills much easier to manage. With CareCredit Financing, you can split up the total cost of your treatment into smaller, budget-friendly monthly installments. Options even come with little-to-no interest!
Also, we have a wellness and prevention program that, among many benefits, offers you 10 percent off treatments like dentures. Ready to begin down the path to a beautiful, complete smile? Contact us today to schedule a consultation so we can answer any questions you might have.
Dentures Aftercare
Your dentures restore your beautiful smile and help you chew a wide variety of nutritious foods, so you’ll probably want to do what is necessary to ensure they work well for as long as possible. Even if you have lost all your natural teeth, it’s still crucial to make smart eating decisions, practice excellent oral hygiene at home, and see Dr. Arditti regularly at her office for routine exams and cleanings. Here’s a brief guide to how to properly care for your dentures so they can last for years to come, but please contact our staff if you’d like to learn more.
Removable Dentures
Remove After Eating
Food debris and sugary residue can cling to your teeth after snacks or meals. After eating, remove and thoroughly rinse off your dentures to flush away plaque and lingering food particles. Remember not to use hot water, as the heat can warp your dentures and ruin their fit.
Clean Your Restoration
Use a soft-bristled brush and a little bit of nonabrasive toothpaste, denture cleanser, unscented hand soap, or mild dish soap to gently clean each surface of your dentures. Don’t use normal toothpaste since it is abrasive enough to leave unsightly scratches on your artificial teeth. If you’re not putting your dentures back in right away, soak them in a container of water or denture cleanser to prevent them from drying out and warping. Always rinse your dentures before wearing them again, as denture cleaning products are not intended to be placed in the mouth.
Keep Your Dentures Safe
When cleaning your dentures, always fill the basin of your sink with room temperature or lukewarm water and place folded towels across the surface of your countertop to create a cushion in case you drop your appliance. It’s also crucial to make sure that your dentures stay out of the reach of pets and small children when they are out of your mouth.
Remove Dentures When You Sleep
Since wearing dentures restricts circulation to the gums, it’s important to leave them out for at least eight hours so your mouth can rest and clean itself. Neglecting to remove your dentures every day can lead to soft-tissue irritation, gum disease, and possibly pneumonia. Most patients remove their dentures before bed, and it’s important to soak them when they are out of the mouth to prevent them from drying out and losing their fit.
Notice Changes
Examine your dentures from time to time and report any changes you find to Dr. Arditti. Problems to look out for include mouth sores, gum irritation, bad breath, the appliance moving around in the mouth, or clicking sounds. If your dentures become damaged, don’t try to repair them yourself, as this can damage them further. Instead, call our office so we can schedule an emergency appointment. While we may be able to address the issue by adjusting your denture, we may need to recommend replacing it if it cannot be repaired.
All-on-4 Dentures
To care for your all-on-4 dentures, brush them twice daily with nonabrasive toothpaste and a soft-bristled manual or electric toothbrush. It’s also crucial to floss at least once a day, and you may want to invest in floss threaders to help you clean beneath your appliance. If traditional floss isn’t your preference, consider using a water flosser instead. You may also want to try using a sulcus brush, as these are 1/3 the width of conventional toothbrushes and great for cleaning between your dentures and your gums. Rinse daily with antibacterial mouthwash to prevent the accumulation of harmful bacteria, plaque, and tartar.
Denture FAQs
How Often Should I Wear My Dentures?
We highly suggest wearing your dentures as much as you can throughout the day, particularly when you first get them. This can speed up the process of your mouth adjusting to them. However, you shouldn’t wear them 24/7. Removing your dentures at night will give your gum tissue and jawbone a chance to recover. While you sleep, let your new teeth soak in a glass of denture cleanser or room-temperature water so that they don’t dry out and lose their shape.
How Do I Properly Take Care of My Dentures?
In addition to soaking your dentures overnight, you should take them out and rinse them off with water after every meal. This prevents food debris from lingering and attracting harmful bacteria that could contribute to painful gum infections. Also, scrub your dentures clean every day with a soft-bristled denture brush and a nonabrasive denture cleanser. After waking up and before inserting your dentures, gently brush your tongue, gums, and palate to get rid of any plaque that may have built up during the night.
Will I Need to Use Dentures Adhesive?
As long as your dentures fit properly, you actually shouldn’t need denture adhesive in order for them to stay in place when you’re chewing or speaking. With that being said, it may bring you some peace of mind if you’re nervous about them slipping. It can also help stabilize your dentures as you’re getting used to eating while wearing them.
How Long Will My Dentures Last?
The answer to this question depends on which type of denture you have. If you’re getting a traditional full or partial denture, you can expect it to last between five and ten years. On the other hand, an implant denture can last significantly longer due to the powerful bond that the implant posts form with your jawbone. In fact, dental implants can last up to 30 years with the right aftercare.
Should I Have All My Teeth Pulled to Get Dentures?
Repairing a damaged tooth whenever possible is always preferable to replacing it. Tooth extractions of any kind will only ever be recommended if deemed absolutely necessary, like when a tooth is too damaged to save thanks to extensive decay, severe infection, or trauma that has broken off most of the enamel. If all the teeth in an arch are decayed or infected with gum disease, replacing them with dentures may be a viable option, but Dr. Arditti will always explore all of your options before recommending extractions for dentures.
Will It Hurt to Get Dentures?
If you need to have teeth extracted before getting dentures, you are likely to experience some discomfort after the oral surgery. Take your prescribed pain medication as directed. The discomfort should improve 3 to 5 days after the procedure. When you first receive new dentures, some minor irritation may occur as your mouth adjusts to the new appliance. The amount of time that the discomfort lasts will vary from person to person. If discomfort persists, give us a call.
Is It Hard to Talk with Dentures?
When you first get dentures, it will take time to get used to speaking with them because you’re so used to speaking with your natural teeth. The exact amount of time it takes varies from person to person, but generally speaking, the more you practice, the faster the adjustment process goes. Reading out loud to yourself and repeating difficult-to-pronounce words is a good exercise. Speak slowly at first. Fast speech can come out muffled if you aren’t used to talking with dentures.
Can You Still Eat Steak with Dentures?
Tough meats like steak are often difficult to chew with dentures, but it is still possible to do so if you take all the right precautions. Select tenderloin and other beef cuts that don’t contain as many connective tissues or muscle fibers, as these elements are what often make steak difficult to chew. Be sure that the meat is thoroughly tenderized ahead of time. Cut the steak into small, manageable pieces – the smaller they are, the easier they will be to chew.