Dentures – Bergenfield, NJ

Psychological Benefits

Never underestimate the power of a smile when it comes to your mental health. When someone loses teeth, it can damage their perception of themselves. At Washington Dental Associates, dentures are customized to suit each patient’s unique oral needs. That means the results look natural and lifelike. As a result, you can develop a stronger sense of self-confidence and self-esteem, which can help you feel happier and healthier.

Clearer Enunciation

To create certain sounds, you need teeth, plain and simple. Without teeth, communicating and pronouncing become significantly more difficult. Prosthetic dentures allow you to form sounds clearly; however, you may have to adjust how you talk when you first get new dentures. Over time, you’ll get the gist of talking and be able to speak as you used to.

Improves Nutrition

Whether you want to have hard foods like chips or nuts or you crave chewy foods, teeth are essential for eating most foods. Softer alternatives like mashed potatoes and applesauce are somewhat limited, which means you could struggle to get the nutrients your body needs to function at its best. With dentures’ prosthetic teeth, eating tough foods is less tricky. That change, in turn, helps you eat a more well-rounded diet!

Preserves Oral Health

Lost teeth leave the jawbone without stimulation, and the body diverts nutrients to other areas of the body. Over time, the jawbone loses strength and density. Many dentures help to prevent complete facial collapse. Implant dentures, especially, stop the bone loss that contributes to it. That’s why we encourage our denture patients to consider attaching their dentures to root-like implants.

Expands Opportunities

Your smile is one of the first things others pay attention to when they look at you. If you have some missing teeth or no teeth at all, people could make certain judgments about you or be less likely to give you opportunities. On the other hand, if you restore your smile with dentures, social and professional growth is more possible.

In addition to opening doors, dentures can also be a smart long-term choice. If you care for it well, a denture can last 5 to 7 years. Implant dentures typically go for multiple decades! You can thus count on these prosthetics to be an excellent dental investment.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures

A few factors that affect the cost of dentures include:

• Preparatory Treatments – Some patients require tooth extractions, gum disease therapy, or other treatments before they’re eligible for dentures.
• Denture Material – Acrylic is used for a denture’s base, while its teeth are made from acrylic or porcelain. These materials can be of varying qualities. That said, more lifelike, higher-quality dentures have a higher price. (However, these kinds are still worth the investment.)
• Denture Type – Dentures come in three types – full, partial, and implant – with different price points. Some patients even choose to pay for two prosthetics. (The first is an immediate set of teeth to wear after an extraction, while the second is a permanent appliance lasting several years.)

Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Yes, implant dentures in Bergenfield tend to cost much more than their traditional counterparts. The difference in price is due to the fact that the implant dentures process requires more time, a higher level of skill, more materials, and more complex treatments than traditional prosthetics. The increase in price is well worth it for most patients due to the superior stability and functionality of implant dentures. Plus, keep in mind that traditional dentures tend to last just 5 – 7 years, whereas implant-supported ones have a much longer life expectancy. They are therefore an excellent monetary value.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

In most cases, yes – dental insurance is willing to pay for a portion of the cost of dentures. Usually, dentures are classified as a “major service,” meaning that 40 – 50% of their price may be covered by insurance, up to the amount of a policy’s annual maximum. Our team are experts at verifying benefits, filing claims, and finding answers to our patients’ insurance questions. We accept payment from almost all plans.

Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

As your denture dentist in Bergenfield, we want you to be able to afford your new set of teeth. To that end, we offer a few convenient provisions:

• Flexible Financing – Our office works with CareCredit, a third-party financier that offers low-interest payment plans for dental services. The application process is quick and, if approved, allows you to choose from several different financing options.
• Smile Savings Club – If you become a member of our in-house savings plan, you’ll receive (among other things) 20% off restorative services like dentures.
• Special Offers – Currently, our practice is running a special on dental implants. You can receive implant treatment for as low as $199/month.

Should I Have All My Teeth Pulled to Get Dentures?

Priority number one is always to save your natural teeth. However, there are some cases where that simply isn’t possible, like when the tooth in question has sustained extensive decay. When it isn’t feasible to save it, then a tooth extraction is necessary. Don’t worry – our Bergenfield dentist will review all of your treatment options at your initial consultation so you can decide together what’s best for your oral health

Can I Sleep with My Dentures?

While you can sleep with your dentures, many dental professionals advise against it. To start, taking them out as you doze gives your gums a chance to rest, preventing soft tissue irritation. Secondly, wearing your dentures for too long can have a negative impact on your oral health, like higher levels of gum and tongue plaque. Lastly, removing them at night is the perfect opportunity to give your dentures a thorough cleaning. All you have to do is place them in a glass of a dentist-approved cleaner. By morning, they’ll be fresh and clean!

Is It Hard to Talk with Dentures?

Fortunately, dentures in Bergenfield aren’t difficult to talk with, especially after you get through the initial adjustment period. While you might experience a slight lisp in the beginning, you may be surprised just how quickly you adapt. After all, each denture is custom-made, ensuring it doesn’t feel bulky or awkward in any way. (NOTE: If you find that your dentures are slipping out of place as you speak, try biting down and swallowing first. This will ensure the restoration is in the right position and that no excess saliva muddles your speech).

What Can’t You Eat with Dentures?

Fortunately, dentures can improve your bite exponentially, especially if you’ve been struggling with moderate to severe tooth loss. With that being said, there are a few foods that you shouldn’t eat with dentures. Sticky foods, like peanut butter and gummy candies, can tug on them, causing them to fall out of position. Hard items that require extensive chewing, such as nuts and certain breads, should also be avoided. Lastly, tough meats, like steak, should be enjoyed in moderation. When you do indulge, make sure to cut it into small pieces to put less stress on you and your dentures.

Can You Kiss with Dentures?

Yes! It’s absolutely possible to kiss with dentures. Just be sure to be gentle at first and stick to closed-lip kisses. That way, you avoid accidentally knocking your restoration against their teeth. For added stability, try adding a little bit of a dentist-recommended adhesive to your dentures beforehand. This will prevent them from shifting.