Dentures – Arlington, TX
Regain a Fully
Functional Smile
According to the American College of Prosthodontists, an estimated 120 million adults are missing at least one tooth, while 36 million are missing all of their teeth. If you’re suffering from the effects of tooth loss, Dr. Whitmore and our team can help. We offer high-quality, durable, and natural-looking dentures in Arlington that can allow you to regain your confidence and ability to complete basic daily tasks like eating and speaking. To learn more about this treatment, call our office today to schedule a consultation.
Why Choose Robert A. Whitmore, DDS for Dentures?
- Dentist with 35 Years of Experience
- High-Quality Dental Materials Used
- In-Network with Dental Insurance
Who's a Good Candidate for Dentures?
There are several perks of dentures, but one of the most noteworthy ones is that they can help patients with moderate to severe tooth loss. So, if you are missing five or more teeth in a row, most of your teeth in an arch, or all of your teeth, there’s a good chance that dentures are the solution you’ve been looking for! If you are interested in learning about the qualities we look for in a good candidate, as well as the negative effects of tooth loss, this next section is for you.
Effects of Missing Teeth
All too often, patients assume that the effects of tooth loss begin and end with a less confident smile. That’s not the case. In fact, even in minor cases, it can make it difficult to eat a varied, well-balanced diet, maintain the alignment of your bite, and enunciate clearly. For all of these reasons, we recommend exploring your treatment options, even if others can’t tell you’re missing teeth when you smile.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
Typically, we recommend dentures for patients who:
- Are missing several or all of their teeth along an arch
- Have sustained bone loss that prevents them from getting dental implants
- Are dedicated to maintaining good oral health
- Have treated any lingering dental issues, like cavities and gum disease
With all of that said, the best way to find out if you’re a dentures candidate is by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Whitmore so he can learn about your dental history, the state of your oral health, and your smile goals.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
Of course, dentures aren’t the only tooth-replacement solution available. So, if you aren’t a candidate for one reason or another, don’t worry – we can also give you a complete, healthy, and beautiful smile again with:
- Dental bridges – Ideal for patients who are missing one tooth or up to four teeth consecutively, dental bridges are crafted from high-quality dental materials and supported with two dental crowns. As a result, they can seamlessly restore the strength of your bite as well as the appearance of your smile.
- Dental implants – This state-of-the-art tooth-replacement solution can help patients who are missing one tooth, an entire arch of teeth, and everything in between. Plus, the posts are inserted into your jawbone, which helps prevent bone loss while also providing unmatched stability and durability.
If you are interested in learning more about your treatment options, it’s time to take the next step: schedule a consultation at our Arlington dental office. The sooner you do, the sooner we can get to work rebuilding your smile!
Types of Dentures
The type of denture that your dentist in Arlington may suggest will depend on your unique tooth loss situation. Based on our findings during your initial consultation, we’ll walk you through our recommended restorative treatments and explain how they can help you achieve a complete smile again.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures typically contain a strategically-designed metal base that fits between your existing teeth. This base holds a gum-colored acrylic foundation that houses beautiful, lifelike replacement teeth. Once the partials are placed in your mouth, they’ll complete your smile and prevent your surrounding teeth from drifting out of place down the road.
Full Dentures
Full dentures are specially designed to harness the power of natural suction when placed over the gums, allowing them to stay firmly in place while you eat and speak. The base is made of a natural-looking, gum-colored acrylic that holds replacement teeth in place.
Implant Dentures
For patients who are looking for a longer-lasting, more natural-feeling solution for tooth loss, we also offer implant dentures that are secure to dental implant posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone. This allows them to not only restore the visible surface of teeth, but also the root structure, preventing jawbone erosion over time and preserving your natural facial structure.
The Benefits of Dentures
Although dentures are the tried-and-true solution for tooth loss, they remain an incredibly popular treatment thanks to their many incredible advantages. Regardless of how many teeth went missing, Dr. Whitmore can provide a resilient, lifelike restoration to improve your smile’s function and appearance.
Continue reading to learn more about the different benefits of rebuilding your grin with dentures, and please contact us if you have additional questions.
Psychological Benefits
Many people struggle to accept the sudden changes to their appearance caused by permanent tooth loss. For example, you might feel so self-conscious about the gaps in your grin or anxious about being judged for your dental condition that you try to remain tight-lipped or avoid spending time with others, which can detract from your daily quality of life.
Your new teeth are carefully customized to resemble your own enamel and connective tissues, helping you look and feel like the most attractive and confident version of yourself.
Clearer Enunciation
Your teeth play an essential role in your ability to communicate because you press your tongue against them to make the different sounds needed to form words. Unfortunately, tooth loss can cause issues, such as a lisp or slur, that can make it harder to speak clearly.
Dentures function as artificial teeth, and although it may take about a month for your tongue and other sensitive tissues in your mouth to adjust to their presence and dimensions, many patients are eventually able to overcome these changes in their speech patterns.
Improves Nutrition
Tooth loss can also contribute to additional health concerns, such as gastrointestinal issues or malnutrition, because you’re less able to chew a variety of nutritious foods thoroughly enough to be easily swallowed and digested.
Fortunately, your prosthetics restore a portion of your original chewing power, allowing you to enjoy a wider range of wholesome meals that support your oral and overall well-being.
Preserves Oral Health
Any remaining teeth in your mouth could shift out of place to fill in empty spaces left by the ones that fell out, which can wear down your enamel unevenly and cause damage or decay. Not only that, but your exposed gum tissue is prone to sustaining injury or infection without protection.
Wearing dentures helps ensure everything remains in its rightful position and shields the tender tissues in your mouth to preserve them.
Expands Opportunities
Studies have shown that having dental problems has been negatively associated with the probability of being employed. This is partly because your smile is one of the first things others notice about you, and gaps in your grin might not make a favorable impression during important interviews.
Replacing your missing teeth can boost your confidence so you can put your best foot forward, contributing to better professional achievements, more meaningful relationships, and a more fulfilling social life.
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
It makes sense to want to make sure your dentures in Arlington will be affordable. Our team is happy to help you understand the cost of your new smile and will gladly address any questions or concerns you may have about finances. During your consultation, we’ll also be sure to review your expected expenses and payment options. If you’d like more information so you can prepare for your appointment, simply keep reading!
Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures
Several factors can affect the cost of dentures in Arlington, which is why it’s difficult to provide an accurate estimate before we’ve performed a thorough oral exam. Here are the types of things that can be involved in the price of dentures:
- How many teeth you’ll be replacing.
- The materials you’d like your restoration to be crafted with.
- Preliminary treatments like gum disease therapy or tooth extraction.
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
Implant dentures do tend to be more expensive than traditional dentures, but you do get what you pay for. The dental implants used in this type of denture will keep your restoration secured firmly in place, allow you to eat a much wider range of foods, and help preserve your jawbone and facial features. They also tend to last longer than traditional dentures, meaning you could very well save money by needing fewer repairs or replacements. If the high quality of an implant denture appeals to you, don’t hesitate to ask our team for more details!
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
Dentures are typically considered to be “medically necessary,” and most dental insurance plans cover around 50% of the costs. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that every plan is a bit different. Our team can help you navigate the fine print of your benefits so you can get the most out of your monthly premium.
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, there are other ways you can make dentures more affordable in Arlington. We’re proudly partnered with CareCredit; a third-party financier that offers patients a variety of monthly payment plans. Once you’re approved, you can choose the payment plan that works best for you and break your total treatment cost down into smaller, more bite-sized chunks.