Dentures – Richardson, TX
An Outstanding Solution For Missing Teeth
At Shwarts Family Dentistry in Richardson, we know it's natural to be concerned about your ability to eat, speak, and laugh with confidence after tooth loss. But rest assured that we can replace your missing teeth with beautiful, high-quality dentures to give you the function and appearance of a complete smile again. With a variety of options to meet everyone's needs, Dr. Shwarts will work with you from start to finish to make sure you love your results. If you’re missing teeth and want to know how dentures in Richardson can help you, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Why Choose Shwarts Family Dentistry in Richardson For Dentures?
- Treatment Plans Are Tailored To Meet Each Patient's Unique Needs
- Multiple Payment Options To Make Your Smile Restoration Affordable
- Personalized Care From an Experienced, Compassionate Team
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Anyone who has lost several teeth or all of their teeth can benefit from dentures. With that said, each patient has a unique medical and dental history, which we'll closely evaluate before making a recommendation. In addition to assessing your gums and jaws, Dr. Shwarts will also look at your age, budget, oral hygiene habits, and lifestyle choices such as smoking. His goal is always to make sure your treatment successfully serves your needs over the long term.
Effects of Missing Teeth
According to the American College of Prosthodontists, the most common reasons why people lose their teeth include tooth decay, gum disease, and trauma. When you are missing teeth, you are bound to experience some negative consequences. Here are just some of them:
- Lower Confidence: When you have gaps in your smile, you may feel less confident about your appearance. This can affect both your professional and personal lives.
- Difficulty Speaking: Without all of your teeth in your mouth, it can be difficult to express yourself clearly. This can make it much more challenging for people to understand you clearly.
- Facial Sagging: When you are missing teeth, the muscles in your face aren’t being supported. This can make your cheeks appear hollowed out and your lips can become wrinkled prematurely. Both of these characteristics will make you appear older.
- Difficulty Eating: Chewing your food thoroughly is important for proper digestion and absorbing the vitamins and minerals you need.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
Dentures are ideal for people who have experienced significant tooth loss or no longer have any healthy teeth in their mouth. People who receive dentures must be committed to maintaining a healthy oral hygiene routine and maintaining their restoration.
The number of teeth that you are missing will determine the type of denture you need. Dentures tend to be more affordable than other tooth replacement methods, making them a good option for patients who are on a budget.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
If you don’t make a good candidate for dentures, other options may be ideal for you. You may want to consider the following:
- Dental Bridges: If you are only missing one or a few teeth a dental bridge is likely ideal for you. A dental bridge requires healthy teeth surrounding the missing tooth or teeth to support it.
- Dental Implants: To support one or more replacement teeth, a titanium post is inserted into the jawbone, so patients must have a solid bone structure. This option is more costly than traditional dentures, but it’s intended to last for many decades.
Different Types of Dentures
Full Dentures
Full dentures replace all the teeth in the upper or lower arch. They're made with a gum-colored acrylic base that has prosthetic teeth set into it. Traditional full dentures are removable and stay in place through natural suction and denture adhesive. To keep them comfortable, they should be removed and cleaned each day with special products designed for denture care. With daily maintenance on your part and periodic adjustments from Dr. Shwarts, you can expect your dentures to last 5-10 years before needing a new set.
Partial Dentures
If you have several healthy remaining teeth in either the upper or lower arch, a partial denture may suit your needs perfectly. This is especially true if you're looking for a low-cost or temporary alternative to a bridge or implants. This appliance is made with a plastic base or metal framework that includes prosthetic teeth to "fill in the gaps" where needed. A partial fits around your remaining teeth with clasps and should be removed and cleaned each day.
Implant-Retained Dentures
While traditional full and partial dentures are certainly a great option, dental implants can make them even better. Typically, just 2-8 implants are needed per arch and will give you multiple advantages over traditional appliances. First, implant-retained dentures stay more securely in place, giving you unmatched strength and stability while also feeling more natural. In addition, your implant denture will continue fitting well for significantly longer, without the need for as many adjustments. You won't have to worry about embarrassing “slips” during conversations the way you might with a traditional denture. Finally, implants preserve your jawbone and help you maintain a more youthful facial structure over time.
What Are the Benefits of Dentures?
If you're missing teeth in Richardson, here are just some of the benefits you can expect from dentures:
- Dentures will greatly improve your self-confidence after tooth loss.
- Traditional dentures cost less upfront than other options, although they do require ongoing adjustments and can cost more in the long run.
- With the latest materials and techniques, modern dentures fit better than ever.
- Traditional dentures don’t require surgery.
- Dentures are fully customizable and can replace any number of missing teeth.
Over 35 million Americans have successfully used dentures to restore their smiles. If you'd like to learn more about how they can improve your dental health, give us a call today!
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
Dentures are personalized to meet your exact specifications, which is why there is rarely a specific cost for any one denture. However, there are factors you can take into account before you complete treatment. To learn more about them, keep reading below so you can stay informed ahead of your tooth replacement consultation.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures
The three most important factors that influence the overall cost of your dentures include the following:
- Preparation – This may include treatments like tooth extractions to remove decayed teeth or gum therapy to address gum infections beforehand
- Acrylics – The type of acrylics used for the base can be higher or lower quality depending on your budget and are color-matched to blend in with your gums
- Replacement Teeth – The teeth used for your denture can be made from either acrylic or porcelain, with the latter being the more expensive variety
Keep in mind that cheaper is not typically better. For something that’s going to be kept in your mouth for hours (and years) at a time, it’s better to invest in something that is of high quality and designed to last!
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
Implant dentures require the placement of dental implants before the restoration can be attached, which inherently makes the treatment more expensive. As a result, your tooth replacement will not slip out of place or shift while in use, making them more permanent and lifelike overall. Additionally, implant dentures largely pay for themselves in the long-term when you’re not forced to pay for replacement dentures (which occurs every 5 to 7 years on average).
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
Most of the time, dental insurance will provide some level of coverage for dental insurance. However, they generally only offer to pay for some of the costs associated with treatment. The level of coverage you receive will depend on the plan provided by your insurance company and can fall anywhere between 80% and 50% coverage. Our team is more than prepared to help guide you through the process of confirming your benefits so you get the best value possible.
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
Just because you don’t have dental insurance doesn’t mean you can’t still make your care affordable. Those who need to fit dental services into a budget can look into our office’s financing options. Not only do our solutions allow you to enroll into payment plans that range between 6 and 36 months in length, but you can expect little to zero interest attached in many cases. Additionally, our VIP Member Plan provides discounts on many services, including 15% on dentures!
If you’d like to learn more, please give our office a call to set up a consultation dedicated to dentures!
Denture FAQs
Dentures are an outstanding solution for missing teeth, and we want you to feel 100% confident if you choose this tooth replacement option. That’s why, for your convenience, we’ve gathered some of the most common denture FAQs in Richardson to help you stay informed. If you don’t see the answers you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to give us a call or schedule your consultation!
I’m Interested in Dentures—Where Do I Start?
If you’re interested in replacing your missing teeth, your first step should be to schedule a consultation with Dr. Shwarts. During this initial visit, he can help you choose the replacement option that’s best for you. First, he’ll take the time to have a discussion about your smile goals and address any concerns you may have. Then, he’ll review your medical history and inspect your mouth for any signs of oral health issues. If he finds evidence of tooth decay or gum disease, he’ll work with you to create a plan to correct these issues first. Once your oral health is on track, he’ll fully explain all your tooth replacement options as well as his recommendations.
How Are Dentures Cared for?
Just because your dentures aren’t vulnerable to cavities like natural teeth doesn’t mean you can slack off on your oral hygiene! Keeping your dentures clean plays a key role in maintaining a healthy mouth. If plaque and food debris aren’t cleared away regularly, you increase your risk of serious oral health issues.
Since your regular toothbrush and toothpaste are too abrasive to be used on your dentures, you’ll need to use soft-bristled brushes and denture cleaning solution instead. You should brush your dentures at least once a day as well as every time you take them out, if possible. You’ll also need to soak your dentures in cleaning solution every night to ensure every nook and cranny is free of bacteria.
Will I Be Able to Eat Normally with Dentures?
Dentures can help you regain your missing teeth right away, but they do take some time to get used to. When you first begin to wear your dentures, it’s completely natural to find eating somewhat awkward. As you navigate how to bite and chew with your new teeth, we recommend sticking to a diet of soft, nutritious foods and using a small dab of denture adhesive.
With practice, eating will gradually become easier and you’ll be able to eat crunchier, and stickier foods again. Eventually, you should be able to comfortably enjoy most all your favorite foods. This process is unique to every patient, but it typically takes about a month or so.
How Long Do Dentures Last?
With the help of modern dental technology and materials, dentures now last longer than ever before! We’re proud to craft each of our custom dentures out of lifelike and durable materials for the longest-lasting results. With the proper care, your dentures may last between 5 to 10 years before needing to be readjusted or replaced.
However, the same doesn’t hold true if you choose to pair your dentures with dental implants! Since dental implants fuse directly with the jawbone, they can replace teeth for 30 years or more. In fact, as long as you care for it properly and protect if from injury or infection, you can easily expect your newly rebuilt smile to last for the rest of your life!
If you’re ready to regain your complete, confident smile, call us today to see if dentures are right for you!
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