Everything You Need to Know About Dentures in Matthews, NC

Age, poor oral hygiene, illness, and trauma can lead to dental problems, including tooth loss. Losing even a single tooth disrupts the natural balance in your mouth and impacts the function and appearance of your smile. Without teeth or dental restorations, your facial features sag or take on a ‘shrunken’ or older appearance. Dr. Patel and Dr. Alston, your top dentists in Matthews, NC, offer custom-made full and partial dentures to restore your smile.

When it comes to dentures, many people recall their grandparents’ dentures shifting in their mouths or sitting in a glass of water. It’s time to change that image! Denture technology has vastly improved, enabling patients to eat, speak, and smile confidently!

Here, we will explain everything you need to know about dentures, including the benefits, types, costs, and potential for insurance coverage.

Replace Missing Teeth With Dentures

Losing a tooth, several teeth, or an entire arch leaves gaps in your mouth. This impacts your ability to eat and speak naturally and smile with confidence. Dentures are an option to achieve a complete smile again!

What Are Dentures?

A denture is a removable option to replace missing teeth and the surrounding tissue. Dentures are made with artificial or false teeth attached to a resin-based or polymer structure that resembles natural gum tissue. Our modern, custom-made dentures fit snugly and comfortably in the mouth and look natural. 

Benefits of Dentures

Properly fitting dentures improve your oral health and appearance. The benefits of dentures include:

• Improved bite – Replacing your missing teeth improves your chewing surface. This allows you to enjoy your favorite meals without food particles falling into the spaces left behind from missing teeth.

• Natural speech – Your teeth, lips, and tongue work together to form sounds and words. Speaking is difficult without teeth because your tongue doesn’t have teeth to press against to create sounds. With dentures, your tongue, replacement teeth, and lips are properly positioned to form natural speaking patterns.

• Restored smile – Modern denture technology produces restored, natural-looking smiles. You can be proud to show off your smile.

• Improved facial structure – When you are missing teeth, your cheeks and facial structures begin to droop. Dentures help fill out your face, giving you a more youthful appearance. 

Types of Dentures

There are several types of dentures. Some replace just a few missing teeth, and some replace an entire arch. Here are a few of the most common dentures.

Full or Complete Dentures

If you lose all of your teeth due to injury, infection, or a health condition, you need a replacement option. A full or complete denture replaces an entire arch of teeth. Patients may use complete dentures for the top or bottom row of teeth or a whole set.

Conventional full dentures include artificial teeth that are attached to a plate that fits firmly against your gums. The gum plates and fittings, which may be gum-colored acrylic or metal, are not noticeable to others. Adhesives keep the dentures from moving around in the mouth. The dentures look natural and fit comfortably.

Partials and Hybrid Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are just that – partials. They replace a few missing teeth instead of the entire row. When a patient still has healthy teeth available, partial dentures replace those that have been lost or extracted. The false teeth sit on a metal framework and are clipped to the remaining teeth.

In some cases, your dentist may place crowns on the adjacent healthy teeth. These teeth serve as anchors for your denture. Although they have similar functions, partial dentures are removable, while dental bridges are fixed.

Patients may also choose metal-free partial dentures. Instead of metal clips, this type of denture uses lightweight, biocompatible clasps that are unnoticeable. This is often a more aesthetically pleasing option.

Temporary Dentures

Also called immediate dentures, temporary dentures are placed as soon as your teeth are extracted. This means you never have to go without your teeth. Your extractions and dentures can be scheduled for a single dental appointment.

However, after your teeth are extracted, your supporting bone will change and reshape itself as it heals. This changes the way your denture fits. Once your mouth has completely healed, your dentist can create your conventional dentures.

Implant-Supported Dentures

Traditional dentures simply rest on your gums and can be removed as needed by the patient. Implant-supported dentures, or overdentures, are attached to dental implants. This denture replaces an entire arch of teeth and is an option for patients with adequate bone structure to support the implants. 

After the teeth are extracted, dental implants are placed in the jaw bone. Abutments connect the implants to the denture. This keeps the denture stable and secure in the mouth. While the denture will not move around, it is also permanent and can only be removed by your dentist.

How Much Do Dentures Cost in Matthews, NC?

The cost of dentures varies based on several factors, including the type, size, materials used, additional procedures needed, and insurance coverage. While the average national cost of a basic denture starts around $300-$500, a premium full denture may cost $2,000-$4,000 per plate. This does not include the cost of extractions or additional procedures. The price for dental implants and dentures is often higher due to the nature of the restoration and procedures involved.

Does Insurance Cover the Cost of Dentures?

Many dental insurance plans cover at least a portion of the cost for dentures. In most cases, the insurance company pays 50% of the cost of dentures, and the patient covers the balance. Co-pays and deductibles still apply.

Please remember that most dental benefits plans have annual maximums. If you already had a substantial amount of dental work in a given year, your insurance company may cover less than 50% of the total cost of dentures. Whenever possible, it is always wise to pre-plan your dental work with your dental team to ensure you maximize your dental benefits.

Get Custom-Made Dentures and Partial Dentures in Matthews!

Don’t let missing teeth stop you from smiling! Restore your smile and your confidence with custom partial or full dentures in Matthews, NC! Book an appointment today to learn more about our dentures and your tooth replacement options.