Dentures – Park Slope, NY
Rebuild the Beautiful Smile You Deserve
Did you know statistics show people with no teeth don’t have the same lifespan as those with a complete smile? One or more missing teeth can negatively affect your diet, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies because some foods are too difficult to chew. Not to mention, your words can sound slurred, making it difficult to communicate clearly and confidently. Your speech and diet aren’t the only aspects of your life affected by an incomplete smile. You don’t have to allow missing teeth to impact your quality of life. Dr. Sapienza provides the solutions you need to rebuild a beautiful, functional smile with high-quality dentures in Park Slope.
Who is a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Patients who have lost all or most of their teeth are often candidates for dentures. Your dentist in Park Slope will examine your mouth to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy. Depending on the results of your consultation, your dentist will create a personalized plan. It’s not uncommon for patients to need a little prep-work, such as tooth extractions or periodontal therapy. Although you may require additional treatments, it ensures your new smile will have a healthy foundation.
Types of Dentures
Dental prosthetics have changed quite a bit over the years. Dr. Sapienza has remained at the forefront to offer the most advanced tooth replacement methods. You have more options than ever to restore your smile. Depending on your degree of tooth loss and preferences, you might be a candidate for:
Partial Dentures
If you still have most of your teeth and they are healthy, you might be a candidate for a partial denture. It’s an oral prosthesis that fills the space of your missing teeth using recreations attached to a gum-colored base. It will feature clips or clasps to use your remaining teeth to hold it in place. Although the teeth will be fake, they will seamlessly blend in with your smile.
Full Dentures
If you’ve lost all your natural teeth, a full denture will restore your smile. Our office uses state-of-the-art technology to craft a custom denture that will fit your mouth like a glove. It is held in place using suction or an adhesive, so you can laugh, eat, and speak without any worries.
Implant Dentures
As an alternative to a traditional denture, you can anchor your new teeth in place using dental implants. Titanium posts will serve as new roots, securing your denture to your jawbone, so you’ll never have to deal with slipping or irritation. You’ll benefit from a nearly perfect replica of your real smile.
Benefits of Dentures
Losing multiple teeth can make it difficult to perform everyday activities like eating, speaking, and confidently displaying a smile. Fortunately, dentures are a life-changing solution for patients with tooth loss by significantly enhancing their quality of life. If you’re missing several, most, or all of your teeth, dentures can restore your smile with the following incredible advantages.
Psychological Benefits
If you suffer from tooth loss, you know from experience how gaps in your smile can negatively affect your self-esteem and quality of life. Like others in your situation, you may experience an increased risk of social anxiety, sadness, and even depression. Choosing to restore your grin with dentures will help significantly reduce these feelings! You will no longer have to worry about your appearance when you talk or laugh during social activities.
Clearer Enunciation
As you can imagine, missing teeth can make it difficult to articulate and pronounce certain words. The good news is that dentures can restore your entire smile, making it easier for you to talk with others once again. While it may take some time to adjust to them, with plenty of practice, you'll be able to speak fluently and confidently once again!
Improves Nutrition
Tooth loss affects more than just your appearance – it also impacts your ability to enjoy certain foods. Being unable to chew properly can lead to issues like indigestion and malnutrition. Luckily, dentures can restore your ability to chew, allowing you to expand your dietary options to more nutritious choices. You’ll be able to eat foods containing essential nutrients that promote optimal health!
Preserves Oral Health
When you have missing teeth, any remaining pearly whites can begin to shift and fill in the gap. Eventually, this can lead to further tooth loss and jawbone resorption if left untreated. Dentures can help prevent these complications by supporting the teeth in their proper positions. In addition, your restorations can withstand the pressure of chewing, allowing you to avoid further wear and tear of your remaining teeth.
Expands Opportunity
Did you know that your smile is one of the most crucial parts of a first impression? It’s often one of the first things most people notice about you, especially during job interviews, social gatherings, and first dates.
According to a 2019 study, poor oral health is closely associated with a lower probability of being employed. For that reason alone, completing your smile with dentures could boast significant improvements to your oral health and career opportunities in the long run!
Understanding the Cost of Dentures
With dentures, you can enjoy a lifelike solution for replacing missing teeth while regaining your ability to chew, speak, and smile. Still, you’ll want to be aware of the price of your treatment before undergoing the process. After all, various factors can influence how much you’ll need to pay for renewing your grin. Read on to learn about the cost of dentures as well as your options for making your treatment work within your budget.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures
The most common factors that can impact the price of your prosthetics include:
- The number of teeth : Needing to replace more teeth will raise the cost of your treatment.
- The materials used : Dentures can be made out of various materials, such as acrylic or porcelain—each of which has its unique price.
- Additional services : If other treatments are required, like gum disease therapy or tooth extractions, they can affect the overall cost.
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?
It’s no secret that implant dentures will come with a higher price, as it’s easy to see why! By embedding titanium posts into the jawbone to support your prosthetics, you’ll be able to enjoy a more stable, natural-feeling, and longer-lasting solution for renewing your missing teeth. You also won’t need replacements as often as traditional dentures, which typically need to be readjusted or replaced every 5-7 years. For this reason, they can arguably be considered more cost-effective than other restoration treatments, as you’ll be able to enjoy their benefits for much longer while caring for them with simple cleaning techniques.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
Since dentures are essential for restoring smiles and improving oral and overall health, they’re likely to be covered by dental insurance. In many cases, you can expect to receive around 50% coverage for the total cost. Of course, every policy is different, so you’ll need to confirm the details with your provider before committing to anything. Our knowledgeable team will also be happy to help you understand your plan and make the most of your benefits!
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable
Even if you don’t have insurance, it doesn’t mean you’re completely out of options. You can still explore alternative financing plans with our third-party financier, CareCredit, which can split up the cost of your treatment into monthly installments. Furthermore, these payments come with little-to-zero interest, meaning you can save more money in the long run while being able to enjoy a fully restored smile for many years to come.
Denture FAQs
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
Whether you are missing a few teeth or an entire arch, you may be a candidate for dentures. During your initial consultation, your denture dentist in Park Slope will take the time to conduct an oral exam, ask you a few questions, and learn all about your smile goals. From there, he can determine your viability. The good news is most patients who are diligent about their oral health are rock-solid candidates! Even if an untreated condition like gum disease initially stands in your way, the appropriate restorative care can be worked into your treatment plan.
Is It Hard to Talk with Dentures?
As your mouth adjusts to your new dentures, you may experience a bit of a learning curve. During this time, it’s important to be patient with yourself and take it slow. Try reading a magazine aloud and repeating the more difficult words (like “sixty”) until you’re able to say them without a lisp. You should also try biting down and swallowing before you speak which will prevent slippage and excess saliva from messing up your speech. Remember: the more you practice, the faster the adjustment process will be.
What Can’t You Eat with Dentures?
Whether you’ve been struggling with tooth loss for years or a couple of months now, you know the detrimental impact it can have on your smile. Fortunately, dentures can help restore your bite force, allowing you to enjoy your meals pain-free again! Still, it is a good idea to avoid foods that can tug on them like peanut butter and gummy candies. Nuts, raw carrots, and other hard items pose a risk of damaging your restoration as well which is why you should always exercise caution.
How Can I Reduce the Cost of Dentures?
If you have dental insurance, then you’ll be happy to know many plans cover at least a portion of the cost. Since we accept most providers here at the office of Dr. Frank Sapienza, let us help you maximize your benefits and minimize your out-of-pocket cost! We also happily accept flexible financing through CareCredit which can break up the cost into manageable payments that fit into your monthly budget. Don’t worry – our team will review all the various financial options with you in-depth at your consultation. That way, you can make an informed decision on which path is right for you.
Schedule Your Appointment
Dr. Sapienza and his team can provide you with the solutions to gain a confident smile. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation for dentures.