Watch What You Eat

The holiday season is here, and that means delicious meals, snacks, and goodies! It can be tempting to eat everything that comes your way, but you must be mindful of foods that can damage your dentures. Foods that can cause problems include hard, tough, or sticky foods such as brittle, caramel apples, and nuts. These foods can dislodge dentures and cause uneven chewing resulting in damage to them and potentially your gums. This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy holiday foods. Choose your foods wisely and be mindful of how you bite into these delicious treats.

Store Your Dentures In A Safe Place

With the holiday season comes visits from family, friends, children, and pets. With little feet and paws running around, it is important to keep your dentures in a safe place when cleaning or not in use. Do not leave them on a nightstand or easy to reach areas. Keep them in a denture-friendly container, out of reach and sight of your young human and pet guests. Also, remember to use the same precautions that you would use with medicine to safeguard your cleaning tablets from the grasp of curious hands or paws.

Finally, a few reminders about denture care that apply during the holidays. Make sure to brush your dentures every night with Liquid Dial Soap using a soft-bristle toothbrush. Regular toothpaste and whitening products are too abrasive for your dentures and could cause damage to them. Taking care of your dentures does not have to be hard, even when you are out of your normal daily routine.

The risks that come along with dirty dentures can be significant. Dentures, just like natural teeth, need to be cleaned daily for both health and cosmetic reasons.

Neglecting Dentures

One of the most glaring risks with neglecting your dentures is fungal infections. Fungal infections can cause inflammation in your gums which results in tenderness, redness, and discomfort, plus may lead to the need to use anti-fungal medication. Another risk associated with not regularly cleaning your dentures is mouth sores. The build-up of plaque between your dentures and gums can cause painful irritation and ulcers. Also, daily cleaning of your dentures can lead to less staining.

Tips For Taking Care Of Your Dentures

Here are some easy tips for keeping your dentures in top shape:

• After eating, rinse your dentures with warm water to remove food particles.
• Brush your dentures daily with a soft-bristle toothbrush and Liquid Dial Soap. Avoid toothpaste and any whitening products as they are too abrasive for dentures and can damage them.
• At the end of the day, soak your dentures overnight in water (not mouthwash). Make sure to drop a cleaning tablet in your container of water. This soaking will prevent your dentures from drying out and help them maintain shape.
• Handle your dentures with care by not exposing them to hot water or high heat. If you are afraid that you might drop them while cleaning, lay a towel on your work surface as a cushion.
• Make sure to visit your dentist regularly. Some people mistakenly believe that once you have dentures, you no longer need to go to the dentist. Regular visits can help prevent problems from developing.

Taking care of your dentures is easy once you have a routine in place. Keeping your dentures clean and in good shape will benefit you in the long run.

Traveling with dentures is not difficult if you do some simple things to prepare yourself ahead of time.

1.Bring along a sturdy denture case in which to store and soak your dentures. Keeping up your regular denture cleaning routine is important and takes diligence on the road. Many denture travel containers offer a strainer basket that makes for easy, quick draining after soaking.

2. If flying and planning to carry on your denture supplies such as denture adhesive, make sure that the size does not exceed TSA’s requirements for carry-ons. Check out the specific guidelines on TSA’s site. And while on the subject of flying, do not stress about clearing airport security with dentures. They generally will not set off the metal detectors. TSA understands that a number of people wear dentures and denture appliances, have dental implants, and/or fillings.  

3. If traveling outside of the country, use bottled water for denture soaking.

4. Stick to denture-friendly eating habits while on the road. Don’t risk harming your dentures with sticky candy, popcorn, or other foods that place stress on dentures. Pack ahead some snacks to bring with you.  

5. If you are currently experiencing problems with your dentures such as irritation or loose fit, see your dentist to get issues fixed before you travel.

6. Even with the best planning unexpected events do occur when away from home. Research contacts for a couple of denture specialists in the area(s) that you will be traveling to just in case the unforeseen happens. Your local dentist can offer suggestions about what type of qualifications to look for with those dentists.  

With just a bit of planning, you will be able to easily travel hassle-free by land, air, or sea.

Check out more articles on The Denture Center’s blog for expert tips from Dr. Jeetendra Patel.   

Dentures And Private Insurance

Whether private dental insurance covers dentures and associated exams and x-rays depends on the particular plan. Some plans cover largely just preventative dental care including services such as oral exams, dental x-rays, cleanings, and associated treatments. Other plans cover preventative services plus restorative dental care including tooth extraction and dentures.

For plans that cover more extensive dental care, dentures are often covered at about 50% of cost minus any copays or deductibles that are applicable. Your dental insurance provider can explain to you the coverage amounts of your plan and whether specific dental care providers accept the plan.

While private dental insurance with denture coverage will not take care of the total cost of dentures, it can certainly help defray a fair amount of those costs. Working with a dentist who offers a range of denture packages is helpful, as well. You can select the highest quality dentures that your budget allows.

How To Find The Best Dentist For Dentures With Your Insurance Coverage

• Check with your insurance company to learn which denture dentists in your area are in network.
• Go to dentists’ websites to learn more about their backgrounds. Which of these dentists concentrate on denture services? How often do the dentists work with patients who need dentures? Daily? Weekly? Or Monthly?
• Take a look at online reviews for dentists. Are other patients satisfied with their dentures and the dentist?
• Contact dentists’ offices of interest to confirm that can work with your insurance for dentures.

If you live in Northern and Central Louisiana, Southern Arkansas, or Western Mississippi and are looking for a skilled denture specialist, consider Dr. Jeet Patel at The Denture Center in Monroe, La. His office accepts Aetna, Ameritas, Delta Dental, GEHA, Humana, MetLife, and Vantage.

With the start of a new year comes new opportunity for denture coverage in Louisiana via Medicaid. In 2021, Medicaid Adult Dental Benefits that include specific denture-related dental services are available from two providers. These companies are DentaQuest USA Insurance Company and MCNA Dental Plans. 

Medicaid And Dentures

Adults enrolled, who meet eligibility criteria with these companies, may receive X-rays and dental exams when getting dentures and partials, plus one complete set of dentures or a single denture every eight years. Also, included in coverage are adjustments of dentures for 6 months after receiving them. Furthermore, repairs and relines are covered after 1 year of fabrication. 

Plans The Denture Center Accepts

The Denture Center in Monroe is pleased to accept dental coverage from both Denta Quest and MCNA Dental for Louisiana enrollees. With that coverage, Dr. Patel and his team will fabricate dentures for optimal fit, comfort, and function for each patient that qualifies. And because we work with patients with Medicaid Dental Coverage regularly, we can help clients understand and use their denture-related benefits to the fullest.

Give us a call at 318-460-8663 or Request An Appointment Today.

Just as a vehicle needs maintenance from time to time after you have purchased it, so do dentures in the form of denture adjustments and relines.

When You Receive Your Dentures

When first receiving dentures, some minor adjustments may need to be made as you settle into them, especially if this is your first set. 

You may leave the dental office with dentures feeling comfortable, but notice a few issues as you continue to wear them. Please contact your dentist with any questions or concerns. 

Denture Adjustments

A number of quick and easy fixes are available, especially with dental offices such as The Denture Center, that features an in-house lab. Adjustments can be made while you wait without the delays that shipping to an outside lab would require. 

For example, the length of the denture can be shortened if you are experiencing any jaw numbness or gagging sensations. Also, notches in dentures that are cut out to accommodate muscle attachments can be widened. Simple tweaks can make all the difference in the feel and day-to-day comfort of wearing your dentures. 

Dentures Relines

Along with initial denture adjustments, your dentures are likely to require a reline every one to two years. As the mouth shape changes over time, your dentures may become loose. A reline will accommodate the change in mouth structure and provide a good fit again. Wearing ill fitting dentures can lead to sores and ulcers, so putting off a reline is not recommended.

Simple denture maintenance will help you avoid unnecessary oral health issues.

For more information about denture topics, check out:

Steps In Getting Dentures

If you are like many people, the thought of a visit to the dentist fills you with anxiety. You may be tempted to avoid addressing dental problems due to this fear. Fortunately, IV sedation offers a great option to eliminate discomfort and anxiousness while allowing for needed dental extractions.

What Is IV Sedation?

IV Sedation is a method of giving anesthesia for relaxation into the blood stream through an IV. The anesthesia takes effect quickly and the patient sleeps during dental extractions. At Dr. Patel’s, The Denture Center, IV Sedation will be administered and monitored by a Board-Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).

IV Sedation is a form of conscious sedation. The patient breathes on his or her own throughout sedation and will not need an extended period to come out of the anesthesia once the procedure is completed. He or she will not remember the dental extractions. The patient will need to have friends or family drive him or her home and should refrain from activities until fully alert and awake.

What Are The Advantages Of Having A Certified Nurse Anesthetist Handle Dental Sedation?

CRNA’s are highly trained in performing dental sedation. They are able to administer anesthesia and carefully monitor the patient before, during, and after dental extractions. Working in tandem with the dentist, these professionals focus on patient comfort, safety and allow the dentist to provide his or her full undivided attention in performing extractions.

Is IV Sedation Right For Me?

Although dental sedation is right for many people, a thorough health and dental examination will need to be conducted first. At The Denture Center, your health and safety are our number one priority.