If you have one or more missing teeth, then you are probably focused on the way they look. And that is understandable. After all, your appearance not only affects how you feel about yourself but also what others think about you. In other words, a complete smile is an invaluable asset.
In addition to your appearance, Reynoldsburg, OH dentist Dr. Mick is also concerned about how tooth loss affects your oral and general health. Research shows that just having one missing tooth increases your risk of additional tooth loss, the risk of decay in your remaining teeth as well as periodontal disease. Furthermore, your overall health may be compromised if you are unable to eat nutritious foods that help you maintain a healthy diet. For these reasons, replacing missing teeth will not only enhance your appearance but may just help to also improve your health.
Dr. Mick has created partial and full dentures for many patients. He makes sure that they not only look good but feel great, too. He teams up with a skilled craftsman at our dental lab to give you a prosthesis that is designed to replicate your natural smile.
The American College of Prosthodontists notes that close to 175 million people in the United States alone are missing at least one tooth. The older people get, the higher that number is likely to get as well. If you’re missing multiple teeth on opposite sides of your mouth, Dr. Mick can restore your smile using a partial denture. These restorations are either fixed or removable, depending on your preference.
Removable partial dentures use a metal base and series of clasps or brackets to attach to nearby teeth. This ensures the restoration can remain stable. Inside the base are false ceramic teeth. Our office can design a partial denture that replacing single teeth, multiple consecutive teeth, or teeth all around your arch if needed. Regardless of your needs, you can expect a comfortable tooth replacement.
To ensure the fixed partial stays in place, Dr. Mick will need to make minor adjustments to the enamel of certain teeth. These teeth also could be covered with dental crowns, allowing your new teeth to not only remain stable but look natural. Keep in mind that crowns can also be attached to implants if your natural teeth are not healthy enough to support a partial or bridge.
Are you missing all of your teeth? In that case, you are among 35 million people, according to The American College of Prosthodontist. For many like you, full dentures have proven to be the best aesthetically and economically. Your dentist near Columbus, OH will create dentures that are comfortable and that fit securely along your gums. You won’t need to be concerned about dentures that click or slip when you eat. The denture base is shaded to closely mimic the color and shine of natural gum tissue. Each tooth in the denture is hand-set into your unique arrangement needs and cosmetic concerns, and will rejuvenate your smile and have the shape and sheen of natural teeth.
Deciding to get a denture is a very big deal, as one can often help a patient eat, speak, and smile normally after not being able to do so for years. Of course, it’s alright if you have questions you’d like to ask before committing to treatment. We’ve answered some of the most popular ones below, and you can always reach out to Dr. Mick and our team to get more information.
The process of getting a denture always requires the patient to make multiple visits. Typically, these involve a consultation where we get to know the patient and have a chance to examine their mouth, and then we take impressions to start designing their prosthetic. From there, the patient will be fitted with multiple “audition dentures” until they find the perfect look and fit, and this will be used to create their final denture. And, if the patient needs to have a few teeth removed, this and the necessary recovery can affect the timeline as well. All in all, the entire experience can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Fortunately, Dr. Mick will give you a much more concrete estimate when you come to see him in person.
Yes! Today’s dentures are nothing like the bulky prosthetics your parents or grandparents might have worn. Modern-day dentures are designed to recreate nature down to the smallest detail. And, Dr. Mick will also make sure that your prosthetic is made to suit your unique face. Rather than giving you a generically attractive set of teeth, he’ll personalize your denture so that it helps you look like the absolute best version of you.
Right after getting dentures, we recommend that a patient stick to a soft food diet while they adjust to eating with them. After that, a patient can basically have whatever they like, with a few caveats. Ideally, the patient should either avoid or be very careful when eating particularly hard or sticky foods that could damage their dentures. They also need to be careful when having extremely hot beverages, as the prosthetic can sometimes make it difficult for a person to gauge temperature until the liquid reaches their throat. Most find it easier to cut things like meat and other tough-to-chew items into smaller bites as well. With these considerations in mind, the average patient will find they are able to eat a wider variety of items compared to before they got their dentures.
Yes, most dental insurance plans will help pay for dentures, as they are considered an advanced restorative procedure. The amount of coverage can vary from policy to policy, but it tends to be about 50% of the prosthetic. It’s important to note that while a plan might help pay for a denture, it may not cover the dental implants used to support it. We will go over all of these details at your consultation so you’ll know exactly what to expect when it comes to your financial commitment. If needed, we can also discuss how you can space out the cost using low-to-no-interest financing with CareCredit or LendingClub.