Dentures – Park Slope, NY

What are Dentures Made Of?

Dentures are made from two main components, outlined in more detail below:

• The base. This is the foundational piece that gives your new teeth their structure. It can be made from different materials, like nylon, porcelain, resin, or metal, but the most popular option is gum-colored acrylic that can be carved to look like your natural connective tissues. Partial dentures also usually have metal clips that anchor to healthy teeth in your mouth.
• The artificial teeth. The pontics, or the artificial teeth, are usually made from resilient ceramic or resin that reflects light like enamel. Both options can be customized to be the correct shade, size, and shape for beautiful, lifelike results.

The Denture Creation Process

It might vary somewhat depending on your unique circumstances, but usually, dentures are designed using the following step-by-step process:

Step #1: Our team in Brooklyn will make impressions of your upper and lower teeth and gums, as well as your bite alignment, to make a plaster model of your teeth that will be used to provide the dimensions for your dentures.

Step #2: The impressions and cast are sent to a special dental laboratory that uses them to begin designing your dentures. They start by placing a wax gum line on the model.

Step #3: Next, artificial teeth are set into place using a mechanical instrument called an articulator. The wax will be shaped and carved to look like natural connective tissues.

Step #4: This wax version of your restoration is sent to Dr. Sapienza so we can schedule you for a fitting. We’ll note whether any adjustments need to be made, and send your dentures back to be finalized.

Step #5: The lab tech will place the wax dentures in a flask, fill it with plaster to maintain the shape of the model perfectly, and set the container in boiling water to melt away the wax portions.

Step #6: Holes are made in the pontics so the acrylic material that’s injected to replace the wax will attach to it. A separator is added to keep the plaster from clinging to the acrylic.

Step #7: The plaster is carefully removed with specialized tools and then your acrylic dentures are placed in an ultrasonic bath to remove any remaining residue.

Step #8: Excess acrylic is trimmed away, and your new teeth are polished to perfection.

Step #9: Your dentures will be returned to Dr. Sapienza to schedule you for a final fitting and send you on your way with your beautifully restored smile!

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

It often takes about a month for your tongue and the other tissues, muscles, and ligaments in your mouth to adjust to the presence of your new teeth. It’s normal to develop mild aches or temporary speech impediments, like a lisp or slur, until you’ve grown more accustomed to their size and shape.

You can ease this transition by sticking to soft foods at first to avoid triggering the tender tissues in your mouth. You can also practice speaking or reading to yourself alone at home to practice challenging sounds or words until you feel more confident enunciating them.

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!

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.

Removable Dentures

Remove After Eating

One of the greatest benefits of this treatment is that you have a complete mouth full of teeth to help you grind your food sufficiently enough to be easily swallowed and digested. Plus, your restoration can’t get cavities!

While you don’t need to worry they’ll develop decay, you should rinse them after meals to remove food particles and bacteria. Rinsing your teeth under running water after meals helps you prevent plaque growth that contributes to gum disease. Remember to use cool or room-temperature water because heat can warp the acrylic base so it no longer fits.

Clean Your Restoration

It’s also essential to regularly wash your dentures to keep them in good condition. You should remove them twice daily to gently but thoroughly scrub all sides with a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild dish soap or a special paste that won’t abrade the materials.

Then, you can rinse your restoration under water before reinserting it and continuing your day. If it’s evening, it’s better to place your dentures in a glass of water or soaking solution after brushing them.

Keep Your Dentures Safe

Your prosthetics are notoriously slippery during cleanings and can be chipped, cracked, or broken if they fall from a great enough height or onto a hard enough surface. You can protect them by placing a soft towel or cushion beneath you while you brush them so they have a gentler landing if they tumble from your fingertips. 

Also, remember when you’re not wearing them to store them out of the reach of small children or pets who are less likely to handle them correctly.

Remove Dentures When You Sleep

You may feel tempted to sleep in your dentures once you’ve acclimated to their presence in your mouth, but this usually isn’t recommended. Your body produces less saliva at night, providing ideal conditions for germs to flourish. Because your prosthetics are pressed against your gums all day, they trap bacteria against the tender tissues and are more likely to cause disease if they’re not removed and cleaned.

Furthermore, your gums need a break from supporting your restoration to improve circulation so your body can deliver essential nutrients to your teeth and gums to fight potential infections and prevent sores from developing.

Notice Changes

Paying attention to your own dental condition helps you notice slight changes that might point to a more serious underlying concern so you can get seek assistance before it worsens. For instance, if you notice your gums are dark or puffier than usual, you may have a periodontal problem that requires an appointment with our team.

Also, if your dentures are broken, please call for assistance rather than try to fix them at home. Many household products, like super glue, aren’t intended for oral use and can be toxic if ingested. If your new teeth are loose or clicking, let us know so we can check that they’re still fitting correctly.