Understanding dentures and dental insurance

If missing teeth are causing you problems, dentures can give you the confidence to smile again. Dentures can also help you chew and speak properly.

It will take time, patience and several visits to your dental professional to make sure your dentures fit correctly. Once you have the proper fit, follow these general steps to care for them:¹

• Wear your dentures every day to keep them fitting well.
• Take your dentures out at night and run a soft toothbrush over your gums.
• Brush your dentures with a special denture brush.
• Use specially formulated denture toothpaste.

Depending on the plan, you may receive a range of discounts on the cost of dentures and denture repairs.

Dentures include artificial teeth and the pink acrylic base that acts as the gums. They are removable, which makes them easier to clean. Dentures can replace missing teeth, making it easier to smile, chew your food and speak clearly.

Your dentist will fit the dentures to your mouth depending on the type of dentures you require and when you need them. You can work with your dentist to get the look you want and the fit you need.

There are typically 3 different types of dentures:

Immediate: These dentures are fitted the same day you have your teeth removed. Immediate dentures are usually a temporary solution to help with healing after a procedure.

Conventional: These are fully removable and made more precisely to fit your mouth than immediate dentures. Conventional dentures are usually fitted after the mouth has fully healed, and they typically fill a whole section of your mouth that does not have any teeth remaining.

Overdenture: If your teeth do not have to be fully removed, an overdenture may be a good option. These dentures fit over partial teeth or a small number of teeth to help give the appearance of a full set of healthy teeth.