Choosing the Right Dentures in Houston

Treating a patient who has lost teeth is no simple task. This is especially true for patients who have lost multiple teeth.

Our teeth play many important, vital roles in our lives. They help us chew our food, form words, and shape our mouths.

When a tooth is lost, it can affect speech, eating, and drinking. If the space is left alone, the teeth around the gap can shift, changing the shape of the mouth.

 

When multiple teeth are lost, these problems are compounded.

Addressing Lost Teeth with Dentures

Dentures are a low cost method to replacing several lost teeth at once. They are especially beneficial for patients who would prefer to replace several teeth with spending on the more permanent dental bridges.

Dental bridges can replace one or two teeth that are adjacent, but it requires filing down teeth near the gap to create anchor points. Dentures can be held in place with a strategically placed metal plate.

While it seems like dentures are the better option, it still must be considered that they require a great deal of extra care than a dental bridge. They may also require more replacements as time goes on.

Partial and Complete Dentures

Dentures can either be made as a complete set to replace all of the teeth or as a partial set to replace only the number of teeth that are missing.

Complete dentures can only be created and installed once all existing natural teeth have been removed. The gums need to start healing to determine the final shape of the inside of the mouth so a perfectly shaped set can be fashioned.

Complete dentures can take between two and three months to create, meaning the patient will be without teeth for that period of time. Once complete, the dentures will replace all of the teeth and restore the patient’s bite, speech, and drinking ability to normal.

Partial dentures only replace teeth that are missing, and can replace anywhere from two teeth to all but one tooth. They are usually constructed with a central hub plate from which all the teeth are branched out to the appropriate position.

The dentist creates a mold of the patient’s mouth so that all of the teeth can be perfectly placed for a comfortable, secure fit.

This method preserves any remaining teeth and prevents them from shifting position by filling the spaces left by lost teeth. It is often a much more cost effective option to replace several teeth, especially for senior citizens.

Dental Insurance for Dentures

Dentures, both complete and partial, are typically well covered by dental insurance.

This can be especially helpful for seniors with a fixed income. Dental insurance can reduce the upfront costs of dental procedures in Houston by as much as 80%.

As we age, the gum line recedes, and this can give rise to gum disease and tooth loss. For this reason, seniors are 70% likely to get gum disease.

With dental insurance, procedures that address gum disease or replace lost teeth will be covered, making it easier on the patient to afford the corrective measures that will increase their oral health.