Dentures – Brooklyn, NY
Rebuild Your Smile After Tooth Loss
If you’ve lost some teeth over the years, you’re far from the only one. In fact, about 40 million Americans are missing all of their teeth, according to the American College of Prosthodontists. Whether you just have a few gaps in your grin or an entire arch of missing teeth, you might have trouble doing everyday tasks like chewing and smiling confidently. Instead of suffering through these inconveniences, visit Ralph Avenue Dental Care to learn about your tooth replacement options. In many cases, we might recommend dentures in Brooklyn. With three different kinds of dentures available, we can use them to restore your smile no matter how many teeth you’ve lost.
Why Choose Ralph Avenue Dental Care for Dentures?
- Restorations Customized for Each Patient
- Caring and Gentle Dentists and Team
- Implant Placement Available from In-House Periodontist
Who is a Good Candidate for Dentures?
If you are missing one tooth, then a dental bridge or implant may be ideal. If, however, you are missing several teeth throughout your mouth, you’re missing multiple teeth in a row, or you’re missing an entire arch of teeth, then we might recommend dentures in Brooklyn. This tried-and-true tooth-replacement solution is custom-made for each patient, ensuring that the final result is a smile that looks and feels incredible.
Types of Dentures
At our Brooklyn dental office, we offer three different kinds of dentures: partial, full, and implant. As a result, we can restore your smile no matter how many teeth you’ve lost! Below, you’ll find a little more information about each of the options we offer.
Partial Dentures
For patients who are missing several teeth in a single arch, we might recommend a partial denture. This consists of a gum-colored base, lifelike prosthetic teeth, and metal framework that can be easily removed when it’s time to clean it. Don’t worry – the metal section fits discreetly behind your remaining teeth, preventing your dentures from drifting out of place without drawing unwanted attention to your smile.
Full Dentures
If you’re missing all of your teeth on your top, bottom, or even both arches, we can replace all of them at once with a full denture. This is a set of custom-made artificial teeth attached to a pink acrylic base that’s specifically designed to fit comfortably in your mouth. These teeth are made from natural-looking materials that perfectly mimic tooth enamel, allowing you to confidently smile without being self-conscious.
Full dentures are completely removable. You can easily take them out of your mouth when it’s time for bed. By using a mixture of natural suction against the gums and denture adhesive, you can rest easy knowing they’ll remain quite stable in your mouth.
Implant Dentures
Traditional full and partial dentures have been known to lose their fit every few years as the jawbone naturally changes after tooth loss. To prevent this, we can anchor a denture onto dental implants. These titanium posts are surgically placed underneath the gums and fuse with the jawbone, creating a sturdy foundation for long-lasting tooth replacement. In most cases, four to six implants per jaw are all that’s needed to secure a full or partial denture.
The Benefits of Dentures
There is a reason dentures continue to be popular decade after decade. Actually, there are several reasons! If you are currently in the process of deciding which tooth-replacement solution is best for you, read on to learn a few of the many benefits of this tried-and-true option.
Dentures Are Cost-Effective
It’s very common for patients to have some reservations about the cost when it comes to dentistry. However, dentures are quite affordable, especially considering that they can seamlessly replace a large number of missing teeth. Plus, dental insurance providers often cover a portion of the cost, so, if you are insured, you may not have to pay for the entire cost out-of-pocket!
Dentures Can Replace an Entire Arch of Teeth
As we mentioned above, dentures can replace a large number of missing teeth. So, if you are missing a few teeth in a row, an entire arch, or all of your teeth, a complete, healthy, and beautiful smile isn’t out of reach! Simply schedule a consultation with us so we can learn all about your dental needs. Then, with your face shape and smile goals in mind, we can create a custom denture that looks and feels incredible.
Dentures Allow You to Eat a Varied Diet
Following tooth loss, many patients have no choice but to eat mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, oatmeal, and other extremely soft foods. If this sounds all too familiar, we have some good news: this doesn’t have to be your new normal. Since dentures are crafted from high-quality dental materials, they can restore some of the strength of your bite as well, allowing you to eat a more varied diet.
Dentures Can Last for 10+ Years
It’s true! The key is taking good care of them on a daily basis so they remain in pristine condition. It’s also important to schedule a dental visit every six months so we can routinely screen for oral cancer, assess the condition of your gums, and make sure your restoration is in good shape. If any minor repairs are needed, we will likely be able to take care of them at our office.
Dentures Are Easy to Maintain
Maintaining your dentures doesn’t require any expensive dental care products. All you need to do is brush them twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste as well as soak them each night in a dentist-recommended cleaner. Habits like these may seem small, but they will go a long way in preventing an unpleasant odor from developing!
Dentures Aftercare
After you’ve started wearing your dentures, it’s important to take care of them in order to keep them in great condition and maximize their lifespan – they can last 5 to 10 years or more if you stay on top of things! Fortunately, denture aftercare is often very straightforward, but there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind.
Removable Dentures
Remove After Eating
No matter if you wear partial or full dentures, it’s important to always remove them after every meal so that you can rinse them off. This prevents food particles and bacteria from building up on them, sullying their appearance and making them unpleasant to wear. Plus, if you aren’t cleaning your dentures, each time you wear them, you’re increasing the likelihood of oral health issues like gum disease or decay in your remaining teeth.
Clean Your Restoration
Even though dentures replace your missing teeth, they do not negate the need for oral hygiene! You will still need to maintain your remaining natural teeth (if you wear partials) by brushing and flossing, and as far as your dentures are concerned, you’ll need to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a special denture cleaning solution to maintain their cleanliness. Never use hot water or regular dental hygiene products to clean your dentures, as this can warp or damage them.
Keep Your Dentures Safe
Your dentures are an investment, so you should be sure to take extra great care of them when you aren’t wearing them to avoid losing or breaking your restoration. When you clean your dentures, place a towel underneath the area where you’re working so that if you drop them or they accidentally fall, they are less likely to break. Similarly, don’t set your dentures on countertops, coffee tables, or nightstands where they might accidentally be knocked off, and aim to keep them away from young children and pets.
Remove Dentures When You Sleep
Dentures are designed to fit as comfortably as possible, and you might enjoy wearing yours so much that you’re tempted to fall asleep with your restoration still inside your mouth. This is unwise, though, since it can lead to soft tissue irritation that also causes sores and possible infection. Your gum tissue needs a break from wearing your dentures all day long, so remove them at nighttime – this is also a daily opportunity to clean them! When you aren’t wearing your dentures, store them in a container of water.
Notice Changes
You shouldn’t go a day without inspecting your dentures for signs of wear or damage. If you notice something’s off, or if your dentures don’t seem to feel or fit the way they used to, don’t hesitate to contact our Brooklyn office. Dentures that have sustained damage can be repaired or replaced as needed, but you should never try to do this yourself with household tools. In some cases, though, your existing dentures may simply need to be refitted or relined.
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
It’s natural to have questions about any type of dental treatment—but when it comes to replacing missing teeth with dentures, one thing you might be concerned about is the associated cost. Since dentures are designed specifically for each patient’s unique tooth loss, they come in various sizes, shapes, and types, all with differing price points. However, there are normally a few common factors in play that contribute to the total cost of dentures in Brooklyn. Here’s a closer look!
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures
There are numerous factors that can contribute to the total cost of dentures, including things like:
- The extent of your tooth loss, including how many teeth are missing and where they were located.
- The materials that will be used to make the dentures; dentures can be made from a variety of components, including types of metal, acrylic, and more.
- The type of denture you need: full, partial, or implant-retained.
- The need for any preparatory procedures, like gum disease treatment or tooth extractions.
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
Implant dentures, or dentures that have been connected to surgically placed dental implants, are one of the absolute best means of addressing tooth loss. However, if you’re familiar with dental implants, you might initially assume that implant-retained dentures are going to break the bank if you opt for them. Implant dentures are indeed higher in cost than their traditional counterparts, due to the process for receiving them and the amount of effort that goes into crafting them. That said, the higher price is well worth it for all of the life-changing benefits they can grant to patients—one of which being the fact that they can last for multiple decades.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
In many cases, dentures are deemed medically necessary since tooth loss comes with a long list of oral health disadvantages. This means that it’s very possible for your plan to cover things like the initial consultation, certain preparatory procedures, or even the dentures themselves. Since every insurance policy is different, though, it’s wise to know the details of your plan beforehand. Our team is happy to review your policy with you and ensure that, before you commit to receiving your dentures, all of your questions are answered and you’re making the most of your available benefits!
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
Lacking dental insurance doesn’t mean you’re totally out of options when it comes to making dentures more affordable. In addition to accepting most dental insurance plans, our office is also partnered with CareCredit, a third-party financer who can help qualifying patients find a flexible payment plan that fits comfortably within their budget. Remember, it’s always worthwhile to replace missing teeth, so don’t let concerns about cost come between you and a complete, beautiful smile!
Denture FAQs
Have a question about dentures in Brooklyn? You’re in the right place! For specific questions, it’s best to get in touch with our highly trained, knowledgeable, and friendly team. Of course, if you can’t get on the phone right now or simply want to do more research online, that’s okay too. In that case, keep reading for the answers to a few of the most frequently asked questions about dentures.
Can I Sleep with My Dentures?
Technically, yes. However, it’s usually recommended that you take them out when you turn in for the evening. This is largely because dentures can restrict the circulation to your gums, which can result in irritation to the soft tissue in your mouth. So, for the sake of your oral health, don’t sleep with your dentures. Instead, place them in a glass of water or a dentist-recommended cleaner overnight. That way, they are clean and fresh come morning.
Is It Hard to Talk with Dentures?
In the beginning, you may experience a bit of a learning curve with dentures. Don’t worry – you’ll adjust quicker than you think, especially if you practice! One of the best things to do is read out loud to yourself, repeating the more difficult words as needed. Once you feel more comfortable, you can practice conversing with a trusted loved one. If you’re having some difficulty, try biting down and swallowing first. This will help secure your dentures in place and prevent extra saliva from muddling your speech. Above all, remember to be patient with yourself! It may take some time, but you will master speaking with dentures.
Why Do My Dentures Smell?
If your dentures smell, the root of the problem may be bacteria that’s trapped. Or, it could be sores or an infection from rubbing against your gums (something that happens with ill-fitting dentures). In both cases, the best thing to do is talk to your denture dentist in Brooklyn. At your appointment, they can learn more about your concerns, take a look at your restoration, and pinpoint the root of the problem. In some cases, removing the smell is as simple as implementing a solid oral hygiene routine. If your denture is loose, then the solution may be to have it replaced.
Can You Kiss with Dentures?
Of course! Dentures won’t get in your way of sharing a kiss with a special someone. Naturally, you’ll need to be gentle and go slow, especially as you’re getting used to them.
Can I Use Regular Toothpaste to Clean My Dentures?
It’s best not to use regular toothpaste since the abrasive ingredients can leave behind microscopic scratches. Although you may not be able to tell at first, they can make your dentures look dull over time. Plus, the little imperfections can collect bacteria! So, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and water instead. You can also use mild dishwashing liquid, but don’t use other household products, like bleach.