Dentures – Long Beach, NY
Ready to Replace All of Your Missing Teeth
Losing multiple teeth or all of your teeth has serious implications for your ability to enjoy your favorite foods as well as speak and smile confidently in public. You need a replacement that you can rely on, and Dr. Glen, along with the rest of our team at our Long Beach practice, can offer precisely that with natural-looking, affordable dentures. You’ll once again have a beautiful, functional smile that lets you feel good about yourself. Contact our office today to set up a consultation.
Why Choose Dr. Glen’s Happy Teeth for Dentures?
- Convenient Putty-Free Digital Impressions
- Fully Customized Prosthetics That Feel Natural
- In-House Dental Implant Placement Available
Who's a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Almost anyone with missing teeth can be an excellent candidate for dentures. The first step to receiving one of these beautifully lifelike prosthetic dental appliances is to schedule a consultation at our Long Beach office. At this meeting, one of our dentists will carefully evaluate your oral health to determine the best way to replace your lost teeth. If you’re not ready to receive dentures yet, you may be able to become an excellent candidate later after undergoing preliminary treatments to restore the health of your gums or jawbones.
Effects of Missing Teeth
Tooth loss is often caused by genetic factors, age, and infection or injury, and it can lead to a range of oral and overall health issues such as:
- Indigestion due to insufficiently chewed food
- Malnutrition due to the patient becoming unable to eat certain foods
- Facial sagging due to the cheeks losing support
- Difficulty speaking caused by alterations in the way sounds are formed in the mouth
- Diminished self-esteem resulting from an incomplete smile
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
Dentures can be an excellent option for many patients who have experienced significant tooth loss or whose teeth are severely compromised as long as they are in sufficient oral health. You may be a candidate for dentures if:
- You have lost multiple teeth along the top or bottom arch and they cannot be replaced with a single dental bridge.
- All or most of your upper or lower teeth are gone.
- You still have healthy gum tissue and a strong jawbone that can easily bear the burden of replacement teeth.
Dentures are often more affordable than other restoration options, which can make them a great choice for patients on a budget. The best type of denture for you mostly depends on the number of teeth you are missing. Partial dentures are great for those who are missing a few or many teeth throughout the mouth while full dentures can be excellent for those who are missing an entire dental arch. Implant dentures are secured using titanium dental implants so they can provide maximum chewing power.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
Dentures are not the best tooth replacement solution for everyone. That’s why we offer several other restoration options such as:
- Dental bridges: These devices are several artificial teeth strung together in a row, making them ideal for those who are missing one or several consecutive pearly whites. They can be secured using dental crowns placed on healthy teeth or dental implants surgically placed in the jawbone.
Dental implants: These titanium posts are surgically placed in the jawbone where they fuse with their surrounding bone structure through the natural process of osseointegration. This allows them to provide a superior hold that gives restorations like crowns, bridges, and dentures superior chewing power. While this option is more costly than traditional dentures, it is permanent.
Types of Dentures
There’s more than one kind of denture; the kind you get depends on A) how many teeth you’ve lost, and B) the state of your oral health. Your three main options are:
- Full Dentures: An entire row of artificial teeth is attached to an acrylic gum covered base in order to replace an entire arch at once. Any remaining teeth will need to be removed from the arch in question before full dentures can be placed. The restoration is held in place by natural suction between the base and the gum tissue.
- Partial Dentures: You can think of a partial denture like a puzzle piece; it’s specially designed to fit right into your smile, replacing teeth wherever the gaps happen to be. Metal clasps are used to secure it in place.
- Implant-Retained Dentures: About 4 to 6 dental implants are placed in the gums so that they can support your dentures, giving them greater stability and permanence. Your dentures will be permanently attached to your mouth and can be brushed as if they were real teeth.
Benefits of Dentures
Dentures have been around for centuries, and during that time they’ve been improved so that they can provide beautiful smiles of the highest quality possible. Many of the common benefits include:
- A lifelike prosthetic that you can be confident in.
- Improved biting and chewing capabilities, especially if the dentures are supported by an implant.
- The ability to speak clearly again.
- Durable restorations that can last for many years with the right maintenance.
- Improved oral health and a more nutritious diet.
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
Just like any other dental restoration, the cost of dentures will vary from person to person. There are all sorts of factors that contribute to the price. During your initial consultation, we’ll be able to determine exactly how much your new restoration will cost. In the meantime, here are some things for you to take into consideration.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures
There are three main factors that will contribute to the cost of your dentures:
- The preparatory work needed before you’re able to get your restoration will contribute to the overall cost. This includes treatments like gum disease treatment and tooth extractions.
- The materials used to create your dentures, like acrylic and porcelain, will affect their cost.
- The number of teeth that you are needing to have replaced. Usually, the larger the restoration, the more it will cost.
Keep in mind that cheaper doesn’t mean better when it comes to dentures. By opting for budget dentures, you are more likely to require frequent repairs and replacements. When you invest in a quality restoration, you will notice the difference.
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
Yes, implant dentures are more costly than traditional dentures, but there is good reason for it. Instead of being supported by the shape and suction of the gum tissue, implant dentures are held into place by a series of dental implants that are placed into the jawbone via a surgical procedure. This allows for numerous additional benefits, like being more lifelike and having additional stability. You don’t need to replace them every 5 to 7 years either, as dental implants are made to last for several decades.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
In the majority of cases, you can expect some level of coverage for dentures. Many insurance plans cover up to 50% of your treatment, but this will vary depending on the plan you have. We are in-network with Delta Dental, but we also welcome out-of-network providers. If you have any questions about your plan and what it covers, talk to one of our friendly team members.
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, this doesn’t mean that you’re completely out of luck. We have an In-House Savings Plan that can help you save on treatments completed at the practice. We’re also happy to accept low-interest financing through Lending Tree! This can help you split up payments over several months. For more information about your financial options, give us a call!
To find out exactly how much your dentures will cost, schedule a consultation with us. We’re eager to give you your smile back!
Dentures FAQs
Dentures are a lifechanging tooth replacement option for people who are missing most of or all of their teeth. However, replacing your missing teeth is a huge decision, so it pays be well informed. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions we are asked about dentures in Long Beach. If you don’t see the information that you’re looking for below, give us a call. We’d be happy to explain more about the process and get you started with an initial consultation.
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’s broken off most of the enamel. If all of the teeth in an arch are decayed or infected with gum disease, replacing them with dentures may be a viable option, but your dentist will explore all of your options before recommending extractions for dentures.
Can I Sleep with My Dentures?
Dentists generally recommend taking your dentures out at night when you go to bed. When you first get your dentures, you will typically be told to keep them in your mouth for 24 hours, including while you sleep. After this, you should be taking them out every evening. This is because wearing dentures restricts the circulation in your gums, leading to soft tissue irritation and potentially speeding up ridge resorption. Taking dentures out gives the gums a chance to recover and get the nutrients they need during the night.
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 prescribed pain medication as directed and the discomfort should improve 3 to 5 days after the procedure. When you first receive your new dentures, some minor irritation may occur while your mouth adjusts to the new appliance. The amount of time this will last varies from person to person. Give us a call if pain persists so we can take a look.
Will Dentures Change the Shape of My Face?
When you lose your teeth, your facial muscles will begin to sag, and that can give your face a sunken appearance. Getting dentures will provide support to the facial muscles that have collapsed, therefore improving your appearance.