Dentist holding dentures in office room.

What you need to know about dentures

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Dentures continue to be an affordable way for patients to repair the smile after tooth loss. At Broadway Family Dentistry, Drs. Stanley Hirst and Bethany Jensen can educate you on the types of dentures available and what you need to know to protect and care for them over time.

Below are just a few of the common questions we hear from patients who are considering dentures for their smiles:

How long do dentures last?

With proper care, you can enjoy your dentures for many years. Our team can educate you on how to take care of your dentures to extend their longevity and ensure you get the most for your money!

What are the different types of dentures?

There are various types of dentures that patients can consider depending on the number of teeth they need to replace.

  • Partial dentures. Drs. Jensen and Hirst may recommend partial dentures for patients missing one or more teeth in the dental arch. These metal and acrylic appliances slide into place using the existing teeth for support and place false teeth where needed to repair the smile.
  • Full dentures. The more traditional type of denture is the full denture, which replaces all the teeth in your dental arch. These are made of high-quality acrylic to ensure they look as natural as possible in the smile. You keep these dentures in place with denture adhesives or natural suction.
  • Implant-retained dentures. One of the most popular options is the implant-retained denture. This is a denture that is more conservative and uses several mini dental implants along the arch that hold the full denture in place. Patients can enjoy all their favorite foods with implant-retained dentures, eliminating the fear of dentures sliding or falling out of place.

What are the benefits of dentures?

Dentures are:

  • Economical
  • Easy to use
  • Simple to clean and care for
  • Long-lasting
  • Adjustable
  • Natural-looking
  • Often covered by insurance

How do I care for my dentures?

Your dentist will supply you with denture care instructions to ensure that you protect your investment and enjoy your dentures. Denture care varies depending on the type of denture you have in place.

Who do I call to learn more?

Broadway Family Dentistry of Minot, ND is here to help educate you on dentures and other tooth replacement options available. Call for an appointment at 701-839-1299 today!

Dentures Minot, ND

What You Should Know About Dentures

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Dentures can give you the confidence you need to go about your daily activities, attend social events, and eat your favorite foods. At Broadway Family Dentistry, our goal is to help you feel and look your absolute best. If your teeth cannot be restored, we can make custom dentures to fit your specific needs.

Types of Dentures

Tooth loss may be the result of aging or an accident. When teeth are missing and cannot be restored, dentures are an excellent option. Dentures can be formed to replace a few or all of one’s teeth. Complete dentures are used for people who have lost all or the majority of their teeth. If you are missing only a few teeth, “fixed partial” dentures (also referred to as “crown and bridge”) are used. Partial dentures are carefully and meticulously installed in the mouth to make sure they do not cause a problem with the surrounding healthy teeth. Removable dentures are different from fixed partial dentures in that they are often used by patients who have lost too many teeth to need fixed dentures and too few teeth to get complete dentures.

The side effects

Like any dental cosmetic treatment or procedure, the results take some time to get familiar with. It is possible to get used to your dentures by practicing patience. Soon enough, you’ll be so used to your dentures that you’ll forget you’re wearing any. If you have any concerns about how to get used to your dentures, express your anxiety to your dentist. We want to ensure that we are helping you feel as confident and comfortable as possible with your new dentures.

Insurance coverage

The majority of dental insurance providers offer full or partial coverage for dentures. If you need dentures, make sure you contact your insurance provider to find out the specific details of your dental plan to see if you are covered.

Arrange a consultation

If you have missing teeth and think dentures may be right for you, contact Broadway Family Dentistry today. You can contact our office located in Minot, North Dakota by calling 701-839-1299.

Woman pointing at teeth

Why Dental Implants May Be Dentures’ BFF

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Dental Implants Minot, NDTooth loss is an important matter regardless of the number of teeth that are no longer present in the mouth. The team at Broadway Family Dentistry understands, and we put our best into recreating optimal structure as needed. In many cases, we recommend that denture wearers, or those who are facing dentures, consider adding dental implants into their future smile. Dentures and dental implants are both referred to as tooth-replacement options; but their differences make them the perfect pairing; best friends for life.

How Dentures and Implants Coexist

The best way that we can explain the relationship between dentures and dental implants is to say that it is the same relationship shared by your natural teeth and their roots. In the natural scenario, roots tether every tooth to the jawbone. Roots also send vibrations through the periodontal ligament into the bone, which signals the body to regenerate new tissue. In the denture-implant scenario, tiny titanium posts stand in for roots; they secure dentures into place and continue to provide the jawbone with the necessary stimulation to regrow rather than resorb.

Benefits of Implant Supported Dentures

There are a few notable reasons that patients appreciate the support gained from a few well-placed dental implants:

  • Optimal confidence through ultimate functionality. When you chew and speak and smile with your natural teeth, you feel confident. Nothing should slide out of place or fall out. Securing dentures to a few implants achieves the stability that is needed to assure your conversations and meals do not end with self-consciousness or embarrassment.
  • Natural look, natural feel. One of the downfalls to dentures is that the smile tends to look artificial. This may have been the case years ago, but not so much anymore. We put a great deal of time and effort into the creation of authentic looking false teeth; teeth that look just like your own. When this is coupled with the placement of dental implants, the only thing better than the look of your smile is the structural security you enjoy when you use your new teeth.
  • Long-term facial support. Teeth support lips, and the jawbone supports facial structure. Because implants retain the foundation of bone, the face experiences far less, if any, of the usual signs of denture wear, such as sunken lips.

Learn more about implant-supported dentures when you visit our Minot family dentistry practice. Call (701) 839-1299.

Tips to Keep Smiling with Dentures

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denturesLearn to live with dentures can be an adjustment. You may experience areas of soreness of discomfort, and you may find it difficult to talk or chew in the way you’re accustomed for the first little while. It’s also possible for you to have an increase in saliva flow during the first few weeks of wearing your dentures. Not only can these issues be a nuisance as you get used to your new chops, it can also make you self-conscious. Take heart: these inconveniences go away in time (typically after about 30 days), leaving you to enjoy your new smile relatively trouble-free.

Here’s how to wear your dentures with self-confidence:

  • Keep them clean. At bedtime, remove your dentures and use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean them. Use the same brush to massage your gums gently, removing any lingering food particles. Place them in a contained filled with denture-friendly liquid and rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash before calling it a day.
  • Go easy on the denture adhesive. Good-fitting dentures require a small amount of denture adhesive to keep them securely in place. When your dentures get older and don’t seem to fit as well, it can be tempting to remedy this by using a larger amount of adhesive. The better idea is to visit your dentist as soon as possible to improve fit and comfort of your existing dentures or discuss the possibility of getting new ones.
  • Easy slowly. As you adjust to your new mouth, it’s best to start with soft, easy-to-chew foods, and cut your food into small bites. Don’t feel rushed during meals; the more deliberate you are while eating, the more successful you will be at learning how to eat with new dentures.
  • Stand tall. Wearing dentures is an excellent way to improve your facial appearance AND your confidence. Don’t be afraid to smile!

Are you wondering if dentures may be right for you? Contact Dr. Stanley Hirst, DDS, and Bethany Jensen, DDS, at Broadway Family Dentistry today by calling 701-839-1299 to schedule a check-up.