Have you ever heard of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? This psychological theory categorizes our needs from the most basic to the most advanced, arranging them in a pyramid. According to Maslow, people must satisfy their basic needs (at the bottom of the pyramid) before progressing to more complex ones (at the top), such as developing good self-esteem. When lower needs like food and shelter aren’t met, it’s difficult to live a fulfilling life. At East Longmeadow Family Dental Center, we believe that a functional smile is a basic need. With loose dentures or missing teeth, eating becomes a daily struggle. That’s why securing your smile is the first step before moving up the pyramid! Implant-retained dentures offer a stable solution, but many worry about the cost of dental implants. Fortunately, we provide affordable dentures that secure your bite, helping you meet your basic needs before climbing towards higher ones!
Why Do Dentures Loosen Over Time?
Traditional dentures are originally made to fit perfectly in the contours of your mouth.
However, the shape of your jaw changes over time due to bone resorption, or the loss of bone mass and volume. Because natural teeth have roots that stimulate your jawbone, they are crucial to keeping your bone healthy. When you lose teeth, you lose this vital stimulation.
Gradually, as your jawbone deteriorates, your dentures will no longer fit perfectly in your mouth. Loose dentures can lower your quality of life, as they interfere with everyday function! Ill-fitting dentures cause:
- Difficulty chewing: To chew foods, you need a strong bite. Unfortunately, loose or floating dentures lack the necessary force to break down certain foods, which may limit your diet. In the worst cases, this may even lead to a nutritional deficiency, as you miss out on essential nutrients.
- Gum irritation: As your prosthetic shifts on your gum tissue, it’s common to experience painful denture sores. Red and inflamed gums make wearing your dentures painful, causing many patients to go toothless.
- Continued bone loss: Traditional dentures don’t replace missing tooth roots, allowing your bone to continue resorbing. While we can refit your denture with a reline, it’s only a temporary solution.
Only dental implant-supported restorations prevent bone resorption. By securing your prosthetic with dental implants, we restore your ability to eat and smile without hesitation!
Breaking Down The Cost of Mini Implant Dentures
Dental implants are made of durable titanium, which allows them to bond with your bone over time. When in your jawbone, these implants stabilize to create a strong anchor for restorations!
However, titanium is quite expensive due to its high-quality nature. Many patients are hesitant to look into dental implant solutions, as they fear implants are out of their budget. Fortunately, East Longmeadow Family Dental Center offers mini dental implants as an affordable alternative!
These titanium posts are much smaller and have a unique one-piece design. With fewer components, mini implants are much less expensive than their traditional counterparts. Additionally, their structure allows us to place them in a single appointment, using a minimally invasive procedure.
Unlike traditional implants, which require multiple appointments between periods of healing, mini implants need one appointment. During this visit, we create a small opening in your jaw and secure your implants inside. This simple process even allows for faster healing, enabling you to restore your smile in just a few weeks, rather than a few months.
With fewer components and fewer appointments, mini implant-supported restorations are typically much less expensive than traditional implant-supported ones!
Making the Cost of Implant Dentures Affordable
While mini implants are more affordable, we recognize that some patients on a budget may need more financial assistance. Unfortunately, many insurance companies don’t cover dental implants. However, we offer flexible financing options that help make the cost of dentures more affordable!
By partnering with third-party financing companies, we help you break down the cost of your dentures into manageable monthly payments. If you have any questions about denture costs, insurance, or financing, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Visit Us in East Longmeadow, MA, to Learn More
Maslow says that before you can move on to more advanced problems in your life, it’s essential to get the basics. Eating food is a fundamental need that implant dentures help patients meet! Book a free consultation at East Longmeadow Family Dental Center today to learn if you can take your first step towards climbing up to the top of the pyramid!
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