Once the numbness wore off I could not open my mouth fully for days. It took a full week before I was out of severe pain. It honestly felt like she had broken my jaw. I decided to tough it out as I have a phobia of dentists. Once the severe pain was over my jaw was sore for the next two months. I'm fairly certain that isn't the norm for routine extractions.
A common situation is that insurance benefits include payment for half of the cost of a partial payment after the policy’s deductible is paid (if it has one). The best way to find out what your insurance will cover is to contact your insurance provider directly. Most discount dental plans give huge discounts for partial dentures, so it’s worth taking a closer look.
Support is the principle that describes how well the underlying mucosa (oral tissues, including gums) keeps the denture from moving vertically towards the arch in question during chewing, and thus being excessively depressed and moving deeper into the arch. For the mandibular arch, this function is provided primarily by the buccal shelf, a region extending laterally from the back or posterior ridges, and by the pear-shaped pad (the most posterior area of keratinized gingival formed by the scaling down of the retro-molar papilla after the extraction of the last molar tooth). Secondary support for the complete mandibular denture is provided by the alveolar ridge crest. The maxillary arch receives primary support from the horizontal hard palate and the posterior alveolar ridge crest. The larger the denture flanges (that part of the denture that extends into the vestibule), the better the stability (another parameter to assess fit of a complete denture). Long flanges beyond the functional depth of the sulcus are a common error in denture construction, often (but not always) leading to movement in function, and ulcerations (denture sore spots).
When dentures no longer fit well, the correct action is to seek follow-up care. Denture adhesive is recommended for dentures, even well fitting ones. Adhesives improve retention, seal the borders to prevent food from slipping under, and cusion the soft tissues from the rigid acrylic. Using denture adhesive may improve the fit, but it tends to work best when only a small amount is used. Covering the entire denture fitting surface in adhesive makes it stay in less well. Adhesives may compensate for gradual loosening of a denture, but it is only a temporary solution; it does not solve the problem. Fortunately, dentures can often be relined with relining materials to improve the fit, and this process costs less than creation of new dentures. Overall, a well-made denture could last about 5 years (or more), but this is different for every patient.
Dentures are removable appliances that can replace missing teeth and help restore your smile. If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth, whether from gum disease, tooth decay or injury, replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. That’s because dentures make it easier to eat and speak better than you could without teeth—things that people often take for granted.
Price: Dentures tend to be the least costly solution for replacing missing teeth. Alternative treatment options such as dental bridges or implants are generally more expensive and require more extensive treatment. However, dental bridges and implants do offer a better fit, increased comfort, better chewing ability, and a more natural appearance. For these reasons, dentures-wearers may want to ask their dentists about these alternative treatment options. Your dentist can let you know if you are a good candidate for dentures, dental bridges, or implants, and let you know the cost of these options.
Medically, the consequences of not replacing missing teeth include unwanted and unhealthy nutritional changes. There are also potential risks of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, depression, and an increase in the likelihood of developing cancer. These are all prominent health risks that are avoidable by providing a dental structure with partial dentures or another quality tooth replacement option.
If needed, patients can get a full set of upper or lower dentures, but many patients get partial removable dentures and keep as many of their natural teeth as possible. Partial dentures can replace one or more teeth in the upper or lower set, allowing spaces for natural teeth. In other words, the teeth in partial dentures do not need to be next to each other.
