Dentures – Saint Peters, MO
The Trusted Solution to Tooth Loss
Throughout your life, you never expected to find yourself living with missing teeth, but despite your best efforts, you now have gaps in your smile. Simple tasks like chewing a steak or speaking clearly have become more challenging. Not to mention, you no longer feel confident about your appearance. At Klassik Smiles, we understand your situation. Dr. Makwana offers the solutions you need to replace your missing teeth with full or partial dentures in Saint Peters.
Why Choose Klassik Smiles for Dentures?
- Cutting-Edge Digital Dental Impression Technology
- Start-to-Finish Dental Implant Treatment
- Dentist with 25+ Years of Experience
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
You likely know that dentures are a common solution for replacing multiple missing teeth. But are they the right choice for you? The answer depends on your unique needs and circumstances. It's worth noting that almost anyone with missing teeth can be a candidate for dentures. We encourage you to schedule a consultation with our team to determine if it’s a suitable option for you. We're here to provide personalized guidance and help you make the best decision for your oral health!
Effects of Missing Teeth
Approximately 178 million Americans are affected by tooth loss, with causes ranging from advanced tooth decay to severe gum disease and accidents involving mouth trauma. Regardless of the reason, the impact of missing teeth on both oral health and quality of life is significant.
Having gaps in your smile can make chewing more difficult, leading to dietary restrictions. Additionally, your speech may be affected, potentially undermining confidence and self-esteem due to the visible gap in your smile. You need to promptly replace your missing teeth to help alleviate these challenges and restore both function and confidence.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
If you’re missing most of your teeth or have an upcoming tooth extraction, dentures offer a promising solution for restoring a complete and aesthetically pleasing smile.
To determine your candidacy for dentures, a comprehensive examination of your mouth is necessary. This examination will evaluate the health of your gum tissue and jawbone, both critical for denture support.
Keep in mind that dentures require diligent daily maintenance for longevity. Therefore, a suitable candidate for dentures must be committed to caring for their prosthetic teeth. The specific type of denture you qualify for (whether it's a full denture, partial denture, or implant-supported denture) depends on the unique nature of your tooth loss.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
Our team may determine that dentures are not the best option for your tooth replacement needs. In such cases, we may recommend alternative solutions, including:
- Dental Bridges – When you're missing one or a few teeth in a row, dental bridges are a viable solution. It's important to note that traditional bridges require healthy teeth on either side of the gap for support.
- Dental Implants – Serving as artificial tooth roots, dental implants offer long-term stability and durability. However, eligibility for dental implants depends on the presence of sufficient bone in your jaw to support them.
Stop Living with Tooth Loss
Every tooth in your mouth has an important job. They allow you to chew and speak while also being necessary for your oral health. When even one is missing, it significantly decreases your quality of life. In addition, it can create new challenges when trying to maintain your dental health.
When a tooth is lost, the underlying bone and supporting structures begin to deteriorate. Over time, this can cause the adjacent teeth to shift toward the open space. This can lead to alignment issues, making your teeth more difficult to clean. As a result, you now have a higher risk for developing tooth decay and gum disease. As time goes on, the loss of support will also cause your teeth to become loose. Eventually, they may fall out, leading to even more dental complications.
To slow the challenges of tooth loss and to restore your quality of life, full or partial dentures may be the answer you need.
Partials
If you have one or several missing teeth, partial dentures, or partials, can help to fill the empty space. Using impressions of your mouth, a gum-colored base is created, which will feature prosthetic teeth. The partial denture is then held in place by attaching it to your adjacent teeth. The removable appliance will be made to match your remaining natural teeth to create a flawless, functional smile.
Partials provide an affordable and convenient solution to replace your missing teeth. You will be able to speak clearly and enjoy your favorite foods. In addition, a partial will provide your remaining natural teeth with the support they need to stay in place.
Full Dentures
When living with complete tooth loss on the top or bottom arch, full dentures can restore your ability to chew and speak with ease. A gum-colored base is created using impressions of your mouth. It will hold the prosthetic teeth that will be made to match your exact needs. The denture is then held in place using suction or an adhesive.
Although dentures have a bad reputation for looking fake, new advancements in dentistry now allow them to look more realistic. In addition, they will provide a more comfortable fit, so you do not have to worry about any slipping or irritation.
Complete Your Smile with Dentures Today!
You do not have to live with the challenges and insecurities of tooth loss. You can regain a complete smile with the help of Dr. Makwana. He will perform a comprehensive consultation to determine the best treatment for you.
Contact Klassik Smiles today to schedule your consultation for a complete smile.
The Benefits of Dentures
Dentures are a time-tested way to overcome the daily challenges that accompany extensive tooth loss, aiding you in performing everyday tasks like chewing your food and speaking to others. Why do around 40.99 million Americans rely on dentures to re-complete their smiles? The answer lies in the many advantages that this type of dental prosthesis offers. If you’re still not sure whether dentures are right for you, read on to learn about the benefits that they bring.
Psychological Benefits
It’s hard to feel confident in your smile when there’s a lot of empty space in it. As such, it’s not uncommon for people who have experienced tooth loss to feel anxious in social situations, and some may even develop symptoms of depression. Dentures are designed to resemble natural teeth as closely as possible, thus once again giving you a beautiful smile. This can help you feel a lot more comfortable when engaging with others and allow you to maintain a much more positive outlook on life overall.
Clearer Enunciation
Being able to clearly pronounce your words is crucial for being able to communicate effectively. However, when certain teeth are missing, you may find yourself unable to make certain sounds, which can interfere with your ability to speak in a way that’s understood by other people. Dentures replace all of your missing teeth, thus making it possible for you to enunciate properly and hold conversations with your friends and family.
Improves Nutrition
Without teeth, you’ll be unable to eat certain foods, and your nutrition will likely suffer as a result of your limited diet. But thanks to dentures, you will have a lot more options regarding your meals. With a full set of teeth, you will be able to chew a wider variety of foods again. This makes it easier for you to get all the nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy.
Preserves Oral Health
Of course, when it comes to replacing your missing teeth, it’s definitely important to note the impact on your oral health. If you still have some natural teeth remaining, they will likely start to drift toward any gaps in your grin. However, partial dentures can fill in the empty space and help ensure that your teeth stay in their proper alignment.
On top of that, missing teeth can affect the way that the pressures of chewing are distributed throughout your mouth. This can cause remaining teeth to wear down more quickly than normal. However, well-made dentures can bear some of the weight of chewing, thus protecting your teeth.
Expands Opportunities
A beautiful smile can open a lot of doors in life. For example, when meeting a potential employer for the first time, a confident grin can help you make the right sort of first impression. Replacing your missing teeth with dentures could therefore end up making more of a difference than you might realize for your career and other aspects of your life.
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
Dentures do not come at a set cost. There are several variables that could end up influencing the amount that you pay for your new teeth. We can discuss these variables when you visit our office, and we can give you our estimate of the price. Of course, we’ll also discuss your financial options; our goal is to ensure that you’re able to restore your smile in a way that is as affordable as possible.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures
There are a few questions that need to be answered in order to figure out what the ultimate cost of your dentures will be:
- How Many Teeth are Missing?: Depending on the extent of your tooth loss, you could end up paying for a partial denture or a full denture.
- Do Any Preparatory Treatments Need to Be Performed?: You may require tooth extractions before you can receive dentures, and gum disease treatment might have to be performed in some cases. These procedures come with their own price tags.
- What Will the Dentures Be Made Of?: Dentures can be made out of a variety of materials. Note that cheaper materials aren’t automatically the best choice since they often result in dentures that are more prone to breaking.
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
You can have dentures attached to dental implants in order to enjoy new teeth that feel more natural inside your mouth while also allowing you to eat virtually anything you want. Naturally, you can expect implant dentures to cost more than traditional ones. However, this is balanced out by the fact that implant dentures have the potential to last for decades and can provide various oral health benefits such as preventing bone loss in your jaw.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
Many dental insurance companies will indeed help pay for dentures. You’ll typically need to meet your annual deductible before coverage kicks in. Once you do, you can normally expect your plan to cover around 50% of the cost of dentures. Of course, there are a lot of dental insurance plans out there, and the details of each one tend to vary. Don’t be afraid to reach out to us if you need any help navigating your benefits.
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
We accept Aetna, MetLife, Delta Dental, and various other dental insurance plans. But what if you don’t have dental insurance at all? In this situation, you may want to consider financing to make paying for dentures less of a burden on your budget. We are happy to work with a number of reputable lenders, with CareCredit being a notable example. It’s easier to pay for your treatment when the cost is spread out over a matter of months, particularly when there’s little to no interest to worry about.
Maintaining Your Dentures
Your new dentures in St. Peters can change your life, but in order to hold onto all of these benefits they have to offer and continue enjoying them, good maintenance and aftercare is critical. At Klassik Smiles, our team is happy to help you keep up with your new full or partial removable denture by offering helpful tips and routine professional cleanings. Below, we’ve outlined some important steps you can take each day to make sure they continue to function perfectly for you.
Remove Them After Eating
Just like with your natural teeth, food can become lodged on and around your replacement ones after you enjoy a snack or meal. Taking them out after big meals and giving them a thorough rinse will help remove buildup of plaque and chewed food to keep it from leading to irritation and other gum problems. While it may make sense to rinse them using hot water, we advise against this, as it can warp the materials your denture is crafted from and alter their fit. Instead, use room temperature, slightly warm, or cool water.
Clean Them Daily
In addition to rinsing your dentures after each meal, you’ll also need to give them a more thorough cleaning every day to remove the harder-to-reach and more stubborn areas of debris buildup. One of the top ways dentures get broken is when they’re placed on a slick countertop, so be sure to start by placing a small towel on your bathroom counter to set them on to keep this from happening.
You can opt for either a special denture cleaning or soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your prosthetic. Use clear hand or dish soap, being sure to avoid abrasive cleansers like toothpaste that could scratch them. We also recommend bringing your dentures in St. Peters in for a professional cleaning once or twice a year.
Keep Them Safe
Although your dentures are made from durable materials that can withstand daily use, that doesn’t mean that they can’t be broken or damaged. That’s why we recommend being cautious with them whenever they’re not protected within your mouth. You can do this by storing them up high and out of reach, either in a glass of water or a storage case (mainly for partials) whenever they’re not in use. This will ensure no children or pets will be able to reach them.
Remove Them Before Bed
Every night before bed, you’ll need to remove your dentures to give your gums a break after a day of wearing them. This will help make sure your gums are receiving enough blood circulation, preventing irritation caused by overuse, and aid in the cleaning process. Full dentures need to be soaked in either a glass of room temperature water overnight or denture-soaking solution to help them maintain their fit and shape.
Be Mindful of Changes in Their Fit
As your dentures age and your oral structure begins to change, it will also be important to remain on the lookout for signs that your prosthetic doesn’t fit your mouth properly. If you notice any of the following, be sure to bring your denture to our team at Klassik Smiles so we can examine and reline them, if necessary:
- They feel loose and tend to slip and shift while you eat and speak.
- You notice signs of oral infections, like thrush.
- Swelling, inflammation, and sores on the gums.
- Pain and bleeding of the gums.
- Bad breath or a strange taste in your mouth.
Denture FAQs
If you’ve suffered significant tooth loss, dentures are a great solution to restore a beautiful, functional smile. They’ve been used for decades as an effective option to replace missing teeth in one or both arches. Although they have a long track record for success, it’s normal to have a few concerns before you’re ready to commit to them. We’ll explain everything during your initial consultation to help you feel confident in the decision you’re making for your smile. While you wait for your visit, here are the answers to a few of the most common questions patients ask us about dentures in Saint Peters.
Will my dentures feel natural?
Let’s face it, dentures have a bad reputation for looking fake and being uncomfortable; however, modern advancements in dentistry have resolved many common complaints. Our office uses the latest dental technology to ensure a snug, comfortable fit to minimize any slipping and irritation. Although it will take a few weeks to get used to wearing your dentures, in no time at all, they will closely feel like your natural teeth. If you’re interested in a more stable solution for tooth replacement, ask us how we can secure your denture using dental implants.
How long do dentures last?
Dentures are made of durable material, but they won’t last forever. Not only will they undergo daily wear and tear, but your gums and jawbone will change shape over the years. As a result, it’s normal to expect to need a replacement every five to seven years. You can help preserve your dentures by caring for them properly every day. Don’t forget to visit our dental office often for maintenance, like having them relined. You can choose a more permanent option with implant dentures. You’ll never need to worry about having them replaced with the right aftercare.
How much do dentures cost?
There isn’t a set fee for dentures because their cost is determined by several factors, like the materials that are used and the number of teeth you’re replacing. We’ll provide you with a custom estimate during your initial consultation and explain the fees associated with your plan. Our dental office accepts several payment options to keep your new smile affordable. Besides traditional methods, we also accept third-party financing. Based on your credit approval, you’re given the funds you need, which you’ll repay using a plan that accommodates your budget.
Can I use my dental insurance to pay for dentures?
Every dental insurance policy is unique, but many plans offer some coverage for dentures. We’ll help you utilize your benefits to offset the amount you need to pay out of pocket. After reaching your annual deductible, you’ll have access to your yearly allowance to lower the amount you pay. A member of our team will work on your behalf to file the necessary claim forms to maximize your coverage. We will explain how your policy is being used to pay for your new smile and if you owe a remaining balance. We will help you find the solutions you need to complete your smile without breaking the bank.
