Dentures – San Antonio, TX

Regain a Complete, Healthy Smile

gray-haired woman smiling with dentures in San Antonio

Although your teeth are designed to last a lifetime, several factors, such as trauma, tooth decay, and gum disease, can cause you to lose teeth. If you do not replace missing teeth, you will quickly lose confidence from an incomplete smile. However, your quality and enjoyment for life are not the only areas to suffer. You can develop oral and overall health complications, like additional tooth loss and nutritional deficiencies. To regain a complete, healthy smile, there are several types of dentures available. Dentures are an affordable, convenient, and effective means to treat tooth loss. At Laith Family Dentistry, we offer dentures in San Antonio to give you a confident, healthy smile.

Types of Dentures

two full dentures and two partials

Depending on your degree of tooth loss as well as the state of your oral health, we may recommend one of the three main types of dentures:

Full dentures recreate an entire row of lost teeth using an acrylic base and natural-looking ceramic teeth. They’re secured in place with natural suction and an over-the-counter denture adhesive as needed.
Partial dentures fill the gaps in your grin when you still have some healthy teeth remaining. These teeth are anchored onto a metal framework that clasps behind your natural teeth to inconspicuously complete your smile.
Implant-retained dentures are attached to dental implants that have been inserted into the jawbone. Once the titanium posts have integrated with your jaw, we can place a custom-made full or partial denture on top. Not only do implant-supported dentures prevent bone loss, but they deliver unmatched stability and longevity compared to traditional dentures.

The Benefits of Dentures

Woman smiling while talking on phone in living room

For decades now, patients struggling with tooth loss have used dentures to restore the look, health, and function of their smiles. If you’re considering doing the same, then keep reading to learn some of the benefits you can expect to enjoy with this tried-and-true tooth-replacement solution!

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Lifelike Appearance

Senior couple smiling while drinking coffee at home

To this day, many patients hear “dentures” and think of the bulky, ill-fitting, and obvious ones used decades ago. Remember, dentistry and technology have advanced significantly since then. As a result, they are more lifelike than ever before! Plus, the base is gum-colored, and each replacement tooth is custom-made to suit your specific dental needs and aesthetic desires.

Clearer Enunciation

Group of friends smiling on walk outside

Since even a small gap between your teeth can make enunciating clearly difficult, you can imagine what happens following tooth loss! The good news is that partial dentures can seamlessly fill the open spaces, making it easier to communicate. If you don’t have any of your natural teeth left, don’t worry – that’s where full dentures come in. Once you’re past the initial learning curve, you’ll be talking like normal again!

Improves Nutrition

Woman smiling while eating lunch with friends at restaurant

Sadly, patients with tooth loss often wind up eating the same soft, bland, and boring food day in and day out. One of our biggest concerns with this is malnutrition from the lack of a varied diet. With dentures, we can restore some of the strength that was lost, allowing you to enjoy fresh fruit, cooked vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods that are necessary to maintain your oral and overall health.

Preserves Oral Health

Mature man smiling during dental checkup

Patients often ask us why they need to replace a missing tooth that no one can see. If you’ve wondered the same thing, then it’s important to know that even a small gap in your smile can negatively impact your oral health. In fact, bone loss and dental drift are just two examples of ways it can suffer. Fortunately, dentures can address moderate to severe tooth loss to help prevent issues like these from arising.

Can Last for a Decade or Longer

Man in black turtleneck smiling outside

After investing your valuable time and money in restoring your smile, the last thing you want is to turn around and do that all over again the following year. Don’t worry – dentures can last for 10+ years if you care for them properly. That includes taking good care of your teeth and gums, cleaning your restoration after each meal, and coming in for a checkup and cleaning twice a year.

If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of dentures, schedule a consultation with us. We’d love to help you on your journey to a healthy, complete, and beautiful smile!

Understanding the Cost of Dentures

woman biting into a red apple

The price of your dentures will depend on multiple factors, including the material used to create the teeth and the exact type of denture you’re receiving. For instance, a full denture costs more than a partial, and implant-retained dentures cost more than traditional ones. The good news is that most dental insurance plans will at least partially cover the cost of dentures. Our team members will gladly work with your insurance company to help you fit your new smile into your budget.

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Factors that Affect the Cost of Dentures

When you’re thinking of getting dentures, you’ll want to take three main portions into account. This includes preparation ahead of the denture being designed and placed, the materials used as part of the base, and the replacement teeth that attach to the base.

During your consultation, our office will confirm if any existing teeth need to be removed in order to make room for a denture or if a partial denture can be made to accommodate remaining teeth. Additionally, the quality of the acrylic used to design the gum-colored base can influence final cost. If you choose porcelain teeth over acrylic material to replace teeth, you can expect a more lifelike and more durable denture overall that costs a bit more.

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Implant dentures are generally more expensive than traditional dentures because dental implants are a substantially more advanced form of tooth replacement in comparison. An implant denture relies on a series of dental implants to keep the denture in place, ensuring they do not slip or shift like traditional dentures can. This makes them appear more lifelike as well, giving you more confidence to smile and eat your favorite foods. Their improved appearance combined with their superior longevity makes them a fantastic long-term investment. However, it also means that you’ll need to complete oral surgery before you can receive them.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

Dentures generally fall into the category of “major restorative procedure” since they involve the replacement of multiple (and even all) teeth. This means they are often covered by dental insurance plans, but not always. In many plans, they receive up to 50% coverage, but this will vary depending on your coverage. Our dental team will make sure to confirm your specific benefits ahead of time so that you are aware of your out-of-pocket costs before treatment starts.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

If you don’t currently use dental insurance, that doesn’t mean you can’t still afford your dental care. For example, one financing option many patients take advantage of is CareCredit, a third-party company that enables patients to make monthly payments on their dental care with little-to-zero interest attached. Not only can you spread the cost of your care over several months or years, but you can easily qualify with the help of our accommodating team members. Of course, we encourage you to give us a call directly so you can set up an in-person consultation.

Dentures FAQs

What Is It Like Wearing Dentures?

Millions of Americans have made dentures a part of their normal, daily lives. Smiles have been brought back to life with this invaluable restorative treatment. When wearing your dentures, you can expect there to be an adjustment period. Why? Because your mouth needs time to adjust to the foreign object now living within it. Your speech and eating abilities might not be as strong at first, but to help you adjust, you can practice speaking in front of a mirror, and you might find it easier to eat soft foods in the beginning.

It won’t take much time to get past the initial phase, and before you know it, living with dentures will be a normal part of your everyday life.

Can Dentures Slip?

With new improvements, the likeliness for your dentures to slip is rare. It’s normal to be worried or concerned that your dentures will fall or slip while in the company of others, but the way dentures are made today, it reduces the chances of slippage, especially when used in combination with a dental adhesive.

Will I Need to Replace My Dentures? If So, When?

Typically, you can expect your dentures to last anywhere from 5 to 8 years. Over time, your jawbone and gums may shrink or shift, leading to a necessary realignment or readjustment. By taking good care of your dentures and making sure to see us for frequent dental cleanings and checkups, you can promote their longevity.

Do I Still Need to See the Dentist?

If you want the short answer: Yes! Just because your natural teeth are no longer there doesn’t mean other problems can’t still arise in your oral cavity. Your regularly scheduled dental appointments should still occur every six months. This is because you can be at risk for gum disease and oral cancer. Early detection is a vital component to both conditions, especially the latter. Plus, as you age, your risk for developing oral cancer can increase.

Apart from checking you for gum disease and oral cancer, our dentists will be able to thoroughly check your dentures to ensure there are no chips or cracks, and that they are still fitting well inside your mouth.

Schedule Your Dentures Consultation Today!

If you are ready to regain a confident, healthy smile with dentures, it is time to schedule your consultation with your dentist in San Antonio. Our team at Laith Family Dentistry offers a state-of-the-art dental office to ensure efficiency and comfort. We will develop the exact treatment plan you need to successful replace missing teeth. We look forward to helping you regain a healthy, complete smile with dentures.