Dentures in Clarksburg

If you have a full dental insurance policy, it will typically cover at least some restorative costs. Generally, this means that up to 50% of the cost of dentures is covered by insurance.

The lifespan of dentures depends on many different factors. A big impact on the lifespan is the type of denture you have chosen. Full dentures last on average for 7 to 10 years, partials have a maximum lifespan of 15 years, and immediate dentures, which you temporarily wear before your official ones, only last for a few months.

Certain denture materials may undergo more wear and tear compared to other materials. Another big factor is your lifestyle and oral hygiene. You need to care for your dentures, properly clean them, store them properly, and prevent damage.

Finally, sometimes you need to replace dentures because changes in your facial structure or natural wear and tear have made them too loose or ill-fitting. Dentures don’t prevent bone loss so the natural bone resorption that occurs from having missing teeth can change the structure of your face over time. 

It’s important to attend regular dental appointments so you know when to have a denture replaced. If you notice that your dentures are falling out, feel loose, it’s difficult to speak, they’re damaged, or causing you discomfort, you should contact us right away.

You need to clean your dentures twice a day, just like brushing your teeth. You should use a soft bristle toothbrush and denture cleaner to scrub the surfaces of your dentures. It’s a good idea to rinse your dentures when taking them out and before putting them back in. 

You will need to remove and soak them at night in a denture solution to retain their moisture. It’s also important to keep your mouth clean. If you have any remaining natural teeth in your mouth, you still need to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss. 

Even if you don’t have any teeth, you should be brushing your soft tissues where the dentures sit to remove any bacteria buildup to prevent gum disease. You should also never soak or run your dentures under hot water because this can morph their shape. 

Modern dentures are built with durable materials that enable you to eat a variety of foods. Once your gums have fully healed and you have gotten used to your dentures, you will be able to eat most foods. 

However, during the adjustment period which can take up to a month after receiving your dentures, you will need to limit your diet and slowly incorporate more solid and chewy foods over time. Since your mouth is not used to the pressure of a foreign object in your mouth, you may feel soreness or discomfort in the first few weeks and it can be difficult to eat chewy foods. 

We recommend you start with liquid and soft foods in the beginning and avoid foods at extreme temperatures. After a few weeks, you may be able to start eating more solid foods as long as you chew slowly and carefully. 

Spicy foods may cause irritation during this adjustment period so you may want to avoid them. Even after you have gotten used to your dentures, foods that are hard, sticky, and tough are not recommended for dentures. They can also become discolored from consuming a lot of staining foods and drinks.

Dentures are very comfortable once you get used to them, but during the month-long adjustment phase, you may feel discomfort, swelling, tenderness, sensitivity, and gum sores since your gums aren’t used to the extra force. 

This will subside with time as you continue to use your dentures but you can alleviate this discomfort by rinsing your mouth with saline solutions, taking anti-inflammatory pain medication, avoiding foods that cause you discomfort, and even taking them out for a few hours a day in the beginning. However, if this discomfort continues after the first month, this could be a sign of an ill-fitting denture and you should contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Zaidi.