Dentures Louisville
Filling in the Gaps with Dentures
If you’re missing more than one tooth, you’re likely already aware of how those gaps can affect the look and health of your smile. You have many restoration options available to you, each with specific benefits, but the most tried-and-true is dentures. As the typically least expensive tooth replacement choice, dentures in Louisville can help you regain your ability to eat and speak as well as smile with confidence. Contact our office to schedule an appointment if you would like to discuss how you can take back your smile.
Why Choose Bell Dental for Dentures?
- Three Dentists Available to Rebuild Smiles
- High-Resolution Digital Imaging for Improved Accuracy
- Modern, Natural-Looking Prosthetics for a More Lifelike Smile
Who is a Good Candidate for Dentures?
One of the many reasons for dentures’ enduring popularity is that most people with missing teeth meet the criteria for these replacements. In fact, these customized prosthetics can accommodate any number of lost teeth and can be used to complete nearly any smile. However, because we want to set you up for success with your restorations, we will make sure dentures are right for your unique case!
Effects of Missing Teeth
You may only realize how much you use your teeth after they are lost. Biting and chewing become much harder without teeth! However, even if you have just one missing tooth at the back of your mouth, this gap can have a devastating impact on your oral health and confidence. The space in your arch allows your other teeth to shift. In fact, your bite can change, which not only can affect how you eat but also can cause jaw pain, uneven enamel wear, and breakage.
In addition, not having a full set of teeth can prompt you to hide your smile, and studies have shown that smiling often can boost your mood. In other words, smiling can help make you happier.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
Unlike with other, more advanced prosthetic teeth, you must have an infection-free mouth to get dentures. That’s it! You can’t have gum disease or another oral health issue. If you do, it only means you’ll need preliminary care, such as gum disease treatment, to address the problem. Once your mouth is healthy again, we can proceed with custom dentures for your smile.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
Of course, you have other replacement choices, such as dental bridges and implants. For a bridge, you need to have not only a healthy mouth but also two strong teeth surrounding the gap. These serve as anchors for the restoration.
Various types of dental implants have additional requirements. For traditional implants, you must have good oral health and sufficient jawbone density to support the posts. However, with All-on-4 implants, jawbone density is less of a concern. During your consultation, we can discuss your replacement options and the minimum requirements for each one.
Types of Dentures
Because your mouth is unique, there isn’t a single option that fits everyone. At Bell Dental, we offer three types of dentures to meet various needs: partial, full, and implant-retained. Our experienced, knowledgeable dentists can help you determine which type is most suited for your situation.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are a great option to replace multiple teeth, even if they aren’t consecutive or near each other in the mouth. If you still have healthy teeth, partials can help you preserve what you have and restore what you’re missing. This type of oral appliance is usually secured with a metal clasp.
Full Dentures
If you’re missing the entire arch of teeth, full dentures may be your best restoration option. Even though you have no more natural teeth, you still need to take care of your oral health. Removable full dentures can be easily cleaned and stored overnight, and your gums still need to be protected from harmful bacteria.
Implant Dentures
For added security and improved long-term oral health, you could opt to have dental implants placed beneath the gum line and have your dentures attached to these posts. Implants bond to and strengthen the jawbone, creating a firm foundation for your partial or full dentures.
How Can Missing Teeth Impact Your Health?
Gaps in your smile can affect more than your appearance. In fact, missing multiple teeth and failing to replace them can impact your oral and overall health. For instance, fewer teeth in your mouth could cause you to chew your food insufficiently, which can lead to indigestion. Also, any remaining healthy teeth can shift to compensate for the missing ones, potentially causing misalignment in your bite, jaw pain, and more tooth loss in the future.
Benefits of Dentures
As a popular restoration option, dentures have many benefits, including the following:
- They look natural. Advances in materials and techniques mean that your custom-made dentures can be truly unique and appear completely natural.
- They restore function. With dentures, you can bite, chew, speak, and smile the way you used to.
- They are more comfortable than ever before. With dentures made specifically to fit you, they should feel comfortable.
- They are typically removable. If you get only dentures, you can easily remove them for cleaning and overnight storage.
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
Are you ready to replace your missing teeth and regain your self-confidence? Dentures are among the most popular and cost-effective tooth replacement solutions available today. In fact, according to The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, nearly 40 million people currently wear full dentures! However, several factors can affect the cost of restoring your unique smile. Keep reading below to obtain a better understanding of the cost of dentures in Louisville.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures
Three major factors influence the cost of dentures:
- Preliminary treatments to prepare your mouth for dentures, such as tooth removal or gum disease therapy
- The quality of acrylic used to make the gum-colored base of the dentures
- The material selected to craft the custom replacement teeth, which are usually made from acrylic or porcelain
It’s important to remember that the cheapest option for dentures isn't necessarily the best choice. When it comes to what goes in your mouth, quality matters! Dentures made from higher-quality materials are more likely to last longer and fit comfortably.
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
Implant dentures typically cost more upfront than traditional dentures. However, they are usually a wise investment over the long term. Because dental implants integrate directly with the jawbone, implant dentures offer maximum stability and a natural appearance that their traditional counterparts cannot match. Individuals with implant dentures can eat their favorite foods without worry and speak and laugh with full confidence. In addition, dental implants can last for decades with proper care! Traditional dentures, meanwhile, typically must be replaced every five to seven years.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
Most dental insurance plans cover around 50% of the cost of dentures. However, every plan is different, so be sure to check with your insurance provider before making any final decisions. If you would like assistance understanding your insurance coverage, do not hesitate to reach out to our knowledgeable team! We are always happy to help patients understand their policies and maximize their insurance benefits.
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
At Bell Dental, we are committed to ensuring all our patients have access to affordable dentures in Louisville. That is why we are proud to offer an in-house membership plan for patients without dental insurance. For one low annual fee, you can receive exceptional preventive dental care and qualify for discounts on restorative services, such as dentures. We also work with CareCredit to offer flexible monthly payment plans.