Dentures – Azle, TX
Regain Your Complete, Confident Smile
Did you know that almost 40 million Americans are missing all their teeth? So, if you are struggling with gaps in your smile, you’re not alone. Fortunately, our team at Rubal Dentistry Azle can help with dentures in Azle! This effective, life-like, durable tooth replacement option can restore your complete, confident smile that you’ve been missing without invasive surgery. Ready to schedule your first visit? Contact our office today!
Why Choose Rubal Dentistry Azle For Full & Partial Dentures?
- Serving Azle and Surrounding Communities Since 1996
- Highly Trained and Experienced Dentist
- Low-Interest Financing Available
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
If you’ve suffered from moderate to severe tooth loss, you know how difficult it can be to complete daily tasks, like chewing your food, speaking clearly, and smiling with confidence. Fortunately, dentures are available to restore the appearance and function of your smile! During your consultation, we will examine your smile to determine whether or not dentures are the right tooth replacement option for you. Until then, here are some things to keep in mind.
Effects of Missing Teeth
Teeth are very strong, but they aren’t completely safe from damage. Teeth can be harmed in many different ways, including tooth decay, gum disease, and trauma to the mouth. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, there are many negative effects of tooth loss, like facial sagging, difficulty speaking, trouble eating, and low self-esteem. By replacing your missing teeth with dentures, you can improve all of these effects.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
Dentures are an ideal option for those who are missing several, most of, or all of their teeth. Depending on the number of teeth you are missing and where they are located in the mouth, we can put together a custom plan just for you. It’s important to have excellent oral health before getting dentures, so any tooth decay or gum disease will need to be addressed ahead of time. Once your smile is in ideal health, we can move forward with the rest of the dentures process.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
If dentures aren’t something you are interested in, or you don’t make a good candidate, there are a couple of other options that we offer:
- Dental Bridge: A dental bridge works by “bridging” the gap with a replacement tooth. The replacement tooth, also called the “pontic,” is supported by two dental crowns that are placed on the adjacent teeth. This is ideal for patients who are only missing one or a couple of consecutive teeth.
- Dental Implants: A dental implant is a screw-like post that is surgically insured into the jawbone to support a replacement tooth. This requires that the patient has a strong and sufficient jawbone. Dental implants have a higher upfront cost than dentures, but they are made to last for multiple decades.
Full Dentures
Designed to help patients who are missing an entire arch of teeth, full dentures are custom-made replacement teeth that sit atop a gum-colored base. While the high-quality acrylic perfectly balances comfortability and durability, the teeth are custom-made from natural-looking material that resembles every detail of real enamel. They are held in place by a combination of natural suction and a special adhesive to ensure you can smile, talk, and laugh with complete confidence and minimal movement. Plus, they are completely removable, which allows you to complete your oral hygiene routine hassle-free.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are ideal for patients who are missing several teeth in a single arch, but still have a few of their natural ones intact. Like full dentures, they are incredibly life-like, entirely removable, and have a gum-colored base. However, instead of being held in place by adhesive, a metal piece is used, which discreetly fits behind your existing teeth.
How Dentures are Made
You likely want to learn how dentures are made before you get them. After all, lots of folks prefer knowing what went into the replacement teeth they use. The good news is that Rubal Dentistry Azle can explain the details of denture creation to you! With our summary, you’ll better grasp how your new smile works and trust in its effects. Just keep reading to learn how dentures are made, or call us to find out more.
What are Dentures Made Of?
Whatever its type, every denture has two crucial parts: a base and artificial teeth. These two “pieces” comprise the restoration’s bulk, so you should consider them closely. Please learn about them below:
- Denture Base – A denture’s base acts as its foundation, keeping the artificial teeth secure. This part is often made of pink-colored acrylic, though other materials (especially nylon) can make good substitutes.
- Artificial Teeth – The artificial teeth are a denture’s tooth-replacing portions. Dental labs generally make them from resin or porcelain to match your smile’s color.
The Denture Creation Process
Since every denture is customized for its patient, creating one involves a multi-step process. The steps performed are:
- Step 1: Using a dental impression, our dentists will design a plaster model that matches your final denture’s size and shape.
- Step 2: A dental lab will use the model to make a wax gumline based on your grin.
- Step 3: When the wax gumline is ready, workers will set artificial teeth in it. They’ll then have made a prototype denture.
- Step 4: Our practice will receive and check the prototype against your mouth. We’ll send it back once we’ve confirmed its fit.
- Step 5: After boiling it to remove wax, a worker will place the prototype in a flask. They’ll apply plaster to the flask and have it sit in hot water.
- Step 6: A separator will go into the plaster layer and keep the acrylic from sticking. Next, this acrylic will be injected into the flask to replace the wax.
- Step 7: The dental lab will remove all plaster to reveal the final denture. Then, they’ll place the restoration in a bath to remove its residue.
- Step 8: The lab’s workers will remove your denture’s excess acrylic and polish its surface.
- Step 9: To ensure it works smoothly and easily, our office will fit your final denture for you.
Adjusting to Your New Dentures
As you first adjust to dentures, your mouth will likely feel sore. That’s a normal side effect – you’ll need time to get used to your new teeth. Once you’ve practiced with your prosthetics, the dentures should feel more familiar.
All that said, certain steps would let you adjust more quickly. One example would be to exercise your facial muscles; you’d then have a mouth strong enough for dentures. On the other hand, you could eat soft foods (to avoid irritated gums) or use special adhesives (to keep dentures in place). These approaches would help your dentures feel natural in less time.
If the soreness from your adjustment persists, please call us. You may need more alterations to your new teeth.
Benefits of Dentures
As you age, tooth loss becomes less of a possibility and more of a probability. In fact, the American College of Prosthodontists says that there are over 36 million people in the US currently living without teeth. Luckily, you don't have to become part of the statistics! At Rubal Dentistry Azle, we offer high-quality denture prosthetics for our patients that are both accessible and highly aesthetic. If you're curious about how dentures can improve your quality of life, read more below. We’re confident you’ll love what you see, so if you’d like to talk to us about dentures, call today to schedule a consultation!
Psychological Benefits
Tooth loss is not an easy time for anyone, and the more teeth you lose, the more difficult it becomes. Negative feelings surrounding your missing teeth can manifest in different ways from anxiety and depression to lowered social engagement and self-esteem. Dentures can fill the gap in your teeth and your confidence! They renew your smile, creating strong and positive images and feelings so you can enjoy looking into the mirror and engaging with friends and family once again.
Clearer Enunciation
Missing teeth don’t just affect the aesthetics of your teeth, but it can also affect their function. Clear and concise speech, for example, depends largely on the proximity of your pearly whites. When you lose a few, especially in certain areas of your mouth, it can create impediments like slurring, sloshing, and whistling. Dentures can give your tongue better positioning, allowing you to engage in conversation with confidence.
Improves Nutrition
When you think of healthy foods, your mind probably envisions fresh fruits, crunchy vegetables, and a well-grilled piece of meat. However, many of these foods become far more difficult to process as you lose teeth. Some patients will even cut meals out of their diet completely if they’re considered a hassle. Dentures can help you expand your diet once again, allowing you to enjoy your favorite foods with greater ease. This will not only provide you with better nutrition, but it will also improve your digestion as well!
Preserves Oral Health
When you lose a tooth or two, it does more to your oral health than you may think. Over time, adjacent teeth will try to shift into the spaces left behind. This can lead to bite misalignments, jaw joint pain, headaches, and even accelerated tooth wear. Dentures prevent all this by preserving the space in your smile, keeping your teeth from shifting so your oral health stays intact.
Expands Opportunity
For better or worse, your smile is often the first thing that someone notices about you. A winning grin can not only make you appear more friendly and approachable but also more intelligent and put together. For employers and clients alike, these are green flags that signal working with you is a good idea. Dentures can restore the aesthetics of your smile, giving you a distinct advantage on your path to a better and more fulfilling career.
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
Because each denture is custom-made for a patient’s unique mouth, the cost of dentures in Azle can vary quite a bit from patient to patient. During your initial consultation, Drs. Frank and Jodie Rubal can provide you with a cost estimate for your new teeth after examining your smile and discussing your specific goals, needs, and preferences. Read on to learn more about the price of replacing your missing teeth with dentures.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures
These are the three main factors that will contribute to the cost of your dentures:
- The preparation before getting your dentures will influence the cost. This includes gum disease therapy and extractions when necessary.
- The materials used for the base and replacement teeth will play a role. The base is typically made from acrylic while the replacement teeth can be crafted from acrylic or porcelain.
- The number of teeth that you need to have replaced will impact the cost. The more teeth, the higher the cost.
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
Implant dentures do cost more than traditional dentures, but there is good reason for it. Instead of being supported by the shape and suction of the gums, they are held into place by a series of dental implants that are placed into the jawbone via a surgical procedure. This allows for additional benefits, like being more lifelike, having additional stability, lasting for several decades, and preventing jawbone deterioration.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
You can usually expect some amount of coverage with most dental insurance plans. Many provide up to 50% coverage, but this will vary depending on your individual plan. We’re in-network with many popular dental insurance plans. If you need help understanding your specific benefits, just ask our team.
To learn exactly how much you can expect your treatment to cost, schedule a consultation with us. We’re eager to help you smile again!
Dentures Aftercare
Dentures are an excellent option for those who have suffered from extensive tooth loss. However, even if you don’t have any healthy teeth remaining, you should still continue to see a dentist for routine checkups. These regular visits are important for a variety of reasons. Your dentist will continue to monitor any existing teeth and gum tissue. They will also be on the lookout for any abnormalities that could indicate oral cancer. When you have dentures, it is very challenging to notice this kind of thing on your own. Early detection from your dentist is key to making a full recovery!
Removeable Dentures
Remove After Eating
Once you finish a snack or meal, you should get into the habit of rinsing your dentures off. This helps to prevent the buildup of food debris and plaque. Be sure that the water you are using isn’t too hot, as high temperatures can warp the denture material, causing it to no longer fit properly.
Clean Your Restoration
When it’s time to clean your dentures, take them out. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a small amount of hand soap, mild dish soap, or denture cleaner to gently brush your dentures. You shouldn’t use regular toothpaste because dentures aren’t made to stand up to abrasive materials. If you aren’t going to be using your dentures again right away, place them in a container of water or denture-cleansing solution so they don’t dry out. Remember to always rinse your dentures thoroughly before you put them back in your mouth.
Keep Your Dentures Safe
When it’s time to clean your dentures, it’s a good idea to place a towel beneath you just in case they slip out of your hands. This will reduce the probability of them becoming damaged. Remember to keep your dentures out of reach of any small children or curious pets.
Remove Dentures When You Sleep
When it’s time to go to bed, you should take out your dentures. This is because wearing dentures restricts the circulation in your gums, leading to soft tissue irritation. Sleeping with dentures has also been associated with higher levels of gum and tongue plaque. As you sleep, keep your dentures in a denture-soaking solution. Allowing them to dry out can cause them to permanently lose their shape.
Notice Changes
You should always be on the lookout for changes so you can address them with your dentist. This includes mouth sores, gum irritation, and signs of infection. If your dentures become damaged, don’t attempt to repair them on your own. Instead, give us a call so we can take a look.
All-on-4 Dental Implants
If you have all-on-4 dental implants, the aftercare process is a little bit different. You should brush your dentures twice daily using a soft-bristled manual or electric toothbrush and nonabrasive toothpaste. Floss your replacement teeth every day. You should also consider investing in a water flosser. For extra freshness, use an antibacterial mouthwash.
Denture FAQs
If you’re missing several, most of, or all of your teeth, dentures can be a lifechanging tooth replacement option. However, choosing a tooth replacement option is a huge decision, so it pays to be well-informed. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions we receive about dentures in Azle. If you don’t see the information that you’re looking for below, don’t worry! Give us a call and we’d be happy to answer your questions 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 has 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 solution, but your dentist will always 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’ll 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. 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 while you sleep.
Will It Hurt to Get Dentures?
If you need to have teeth extracted before you get dentures, you are likely to experience some discomfort after the oral surgery. Take your prescribed pain medication only as directed. The discomfort should improve 2 to 5 days after the procedure. When you first receive new dentures, some minor irritation may occur while your mouth adjusts to the new appliance. The amount of time that this lasts will vary from person to person. If it persists, give us a call so we can help.
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 mean providing support to the facial muscles that have collapsed, therefore improving your appearance. Ill-fitting dentures may not give your facial muscles the proper support they need, so you should have yours refitted or replaced as soon as you realize it doesn’t fit properly.
What is the Average Age for Dentures?
If you’re worried that you’re too young for dentures, you can set your mind at ease. Although it’s more common to experience tooth loss later in life, there are many reasons younger people need to replace missing teeth, too.
That said, according to the CDC an estimated 1 in 5 adults who are 75 years or older have lost all their teeth as compared to about 1 in 10 who are between 65 to 74. A smaller number (about 27%) of adults between 20 to 39 have lost one or more teeth to tooth decay or physical trauma and need prosthetics to restore their smiles.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
There are three types of dentures and each is used to handle different sets of circumstances and so has its own unique requirements.
For instance, full dentures rely on a firm suction against your gums over the bony ridges in your mouth to remain in place all day. That means you must have healthy connective tissues and sufficient jawbone density to support them. Partial sets have metal clips so they can attach to healthy teeth in your mouth, so if yours are overly decayed, you may not be a good candidate.
Meanwhile, implant dentures involve oral surgery so you must be healthy enough to safely undergo the procedure. You also must have enough jawbone material to fuse with the implant for it to be successful.
Is it Hard to Talk with Dentures?
It can often take about a month for your tongue and the supporting muscles in your mouth to adjust to wearing your dentures all day. It’s common to develop a mild lisp or other changes in your speech patterns until you’ve become desensitized to their presence and have relearned how to enunciate different sounds with them in place.
You can ease this transition by taking the time to practice more at home when you’re alone and won’t feel embarrassed if you make a mistake. You might try reading out loud to yourself so you can hear problem areas and focus your efforts on smoothing them out. You can also repeat more challenging sounds, like “s” or “th”, until you feel confident that you’re expressing yourself clearly.
What Can’t You Eat with Dentures?
These restorations are the tried-and-true solution for tooth loss because they’re a versatile and reliable way to replace missing teeth. However, you must watch what you eat to protect them so you can continue to enjoy their many benefits.
We recommend that you avoid sticky foods like candy, taffy, or peanut butter that can cling to their surface or yank them out of place. You might also want to steer clear of overly hard options like nuts, popcorn, or tough bread that can get stuck in and around your restoration when you bite into them on top of potentially chipping or cracking your new teeth.
Other foods that require copious amounts of chewing, like steak, should be cut into smaller pieces so that you can grind them up sufficiently enough to be easily swallowed and digested.