Restore the Appearance and Function of Your Smile

If you’re missing one or more teeth, it can be difficult to complete daily tasks, like chewing your food, speaking clearly, and smiling with confidence. The good news is that there are a variety of tooth replacement options out there. At Michelsen Dental, we offer customized dentures in Orange to restore the appearance and function of your smile. To find out if dentures are the right tooth replacement option for you, give us a call to schedule a consultation.
Who is a Good Candidate for Dentures?

Dentures are an excellent option for patients who are missing several, most of, or all of their teeth. Depending on the number of teeth that you are missing and where they are in the mouth, a personalized plan can be made just for you. If you currently have any dental issues, like tooth decay or gum disease, they will need to be addressed and eliminated before you can get dentures. Your oral health is our top priority!
Types of Dentures

There are a few different types of dentures that cater to a variety of different needs. During your initial consultation, we will determine which of the following will best restore your smile.
Partial Dentures
This option is ideal for patients who still have some healthy teeth remaining. A partial denture fits between the surrounding teeth like a puzzle piece. This way, missing teeth in different locations of the mouth can be replaced with a single restoration for each affected arch.
Full Dentures
This option replaces an entire row of missing teeth either on the upper or lower arch. Instead of being held in by clasps, traditional dentures are held into place by the shape and natural suction of the mouth. Full dentures are made with a gum-colored base and hold natural-looking replacement teeth in place.
Implant Dentures
If you’re looking for a sturdier, longer-lasting tooth-replacement option, dental implant dentures are an excellent solution. These dentures are held into place with titanium, screw-like implants that are surgically placed in the jawbone to act as tooth roots. They allow for additional bite force and prevent bone loss from occurring over time.
Benefits of Dentures

If you’re looking for an effective solution for missing teeth, dentures are a tried-and-true method that has stood the test of time. But these prosthetics help you regain more than just teeth. At Michelsen Dental, we know that a complete smile is essential. That’s why our custom dentures are designed to provide a natural look and feel, increasing your comfort. If you’re curious how dentures can help you improve your quality of life, read more below!
Psychological Benefits

Dentures can have a huge impact on your self-esteem and mental health. Missing teeth can cause feelings of embarrassment, insecurity, anxiety, or guilt making you hesitant to smile, laugh, or engage in social situations.
By restoring a complete, natural-looking smile, dentures help you feel more confident and comfortable in practically any situation! Our team has seen countless patients experience a positive change in their outlook and attitude after getting dentures, making everyday moments more enjoyable.
Clearer Enunciation

Missing teeth can make it difficult to pronounce certain words or sounds, affecting your speech clarity. Dentures fill the gaps in your mouth, allowing you to speak more clearly and confidently. With properly fitted dentures, you’ll notice improved speech quality and find it easier to engage in conversations without worrying about slurring, mumbling, or lisping.
Improves Nutrition

One of the unfortunate side effects of tooth loss is food avoidance. When certain foods become harder to chew, some patients simply choose not to eat them, decreasing the variation of their nutrition.
Dentures enable you to enjoy a wider variety of foods, helping you maintain a balanced diet. With these prosthetics, you can chew and break down food more effectively, making it easier to digest nutritious options like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.
Preserves Oral Health

After tooth loss, your remaining teeth will naturally begin to shift over time to compensate. This can create several issues for your smile, such as uneven enamel wear, jaw pain, and an increased risk of cavities and gum disease. Dentures help preserve your oral health by preventing remaining teeth from shifting into empty spaces. They also support your facial structure, reducing the presence of sagging or wrinkles that can occur when multiple teeth are lost.
Expands Opportunity

Dentures can significantly affect both your personal and professional life by enhancing your best asset—your smile! A complete, healthy-looking grin can make a great impression in social settings, job interviews, or business meetings, opening doors to new relationships and career options. A restored smile can help you embrace life with renewed confidence, enabling you to seize opportunities with a positive and self-assured attitude!
Understanding the Cost of Dentures

You can’t put a price on the benefits of having a complete, functional smile. Your financial situation should never stand in the way of receiving the high-quality dentures you need. Many factors affect the cost of dentures, but we have many financial solutions to keep them affordable.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dentures

It’s not possible to have a one-size-fits-all denture because every mouth is as unique as fingerprints. Therefore, it’s impossible to have a flat fee for a new set of teeth. Several things will influence your estimate. Although every situation differs, you can expect the cost to include:
- Preparatory Treatments: Your dentist will examine your mouth to ensure you’re a candidate for dentures. If they find anything concerning during your examination, like gum disease, they must be addressed before moving forward.
- Type of Denture: You have many styles of dentures to choose from, including traditional prosthetics and implant-supported solutions.
- Materials: You’ll get what you pay for when choosing materials for your dentures. High-quality materials last longer and provide added comfort and aesthetics.
Are Implant Dentures More Expensive?

Implant dentures cost more initially, but they are the most affordable overall because they don’t have to be replaced every few years. You’ll save money down the road because you won’t have to budget for replacements. Not to mention, the process of replacing teeth with dental implants occurs in several steps over many months. You can pay for each step as it comes so you don’t have to worry about paying all at once. With the support of dental implants, your dentures will closely look and feel natural. They offer priceless benefits not possible using traditional dentures.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?

You can use your dental insurance to lower the cost of various steps in your treatment, like your consultation, preparatory procedures, and your prosthetic. After meeting your annual deductible, your insurance will pay some of the expenses until you reach your yearly limit. We will work on your behalf with your dental insurance to maximize your benefits to lower your out-of-pocket expenses.
Other Options for Making Dentures Affordable

Besides using your dental insurance, we offer other solutions to keep dentures affordable, including:
- Traditional Payments: We accept most credit cards, personal checks, and cash for your convenience.
- Financing: You can make monthly installments on your new smile through a third-party financing company, like CareCredit. Based on your credit approval, you can benefit from little or no interest in financing.
- Online Promotions: We offer various promotions online, including new patient specials and consultations.
Dentures Aftercare

Dentures are a lifechanging tooth replacement option for those who have suffered from significant tooth loss. They can restore the appearance and function of your smile. To keep them in good shape for as long as possible, it’s important that you take all of the proper steps to care for them. Here are some of the ways that you can keep your replacement teeth in tip-top shape.
Removable Dentures

Remove After Eating
After each of your meals, take out your dentures and rinse them off. This will help to prevent the buildup of food debris, plaque, and harmful bacteria. When you rinse your dentures, make sure that the water isn’t too hot. High temperatures can warm the denture material, causing it to no longer fit properly.
Clean Your Restoration
When it comes time to clean your dentures, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a small amount of unscented hand soap, mild dish soap, or denture cleanser, to gently brush them. If you aren’t going to wear your denture again right away, put them in a container of water or denture-cleansing solution so they don’t dry out and lose their shape. Remember to always rinse your dentures thoroughly before returning them to your mouth.
Keep Your Dentures Safe
When you clean your dentures, it is ideal to place a towel beneath them in case they slip out of your hands. This will reduce the probability of them becoming damaged. When you aren’t wearing your dentures, be sure to keep them in a place that is inaccessible to pets and young children.
Remove Dentures When You Sleep
You should take your dentures out at night before you go to sleep. Wearing dentures restrict the circulation of your gum tissue, resulting in soft-tissue irritation. Sleeping with dentures has also been associated with a higher risk of pneumonia and higher levels of gum and tongue plaque. Overnight, keep your dentures in a denture-soaking solution. Don’t let them dry out because they can lose their shape.
Notice Changes
You should always be on the lookout for changes so you can address them with your dentist. This includes mouth sores, gum irritation, and signs of infection. If your dentures become damaged, you shouldn’t attempt to repair them on your own. You could accidentally cause additional damage. Instead, give us a call so we can help.
All-on-4 Dentures

If you have all-on-4 dental implants, caring for them looks a little bit different. You should brush your prosthetic with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. Remember to floss your replacement teeth every day. You may also want to consider purchasing a water flosser. For extra freshness, use an anti-bacterial mouthwash.