FAQs

It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry that children begin going to the dentist by age 1 or within six months of the first tooth erupting. Babies can begin teething at any age and in rare cases, some babies are born with teeth already erupted. However, most start to teeth around 3-6 months of age. Having a child come to the dentist for regular cleanings and check-ups not only helps them become more comfortable with dental care but also helps to instill knowledge of proper oral health. Our goal is to not only educate the children but to answer any questions the parents may have on proper home care for their child.

The cost of an implant can vary based on several factors, which will be determined at your complimentary consult. Our team will give you a full estimate of cost at your visit, based on your needs. No treatment will be started prior to you being notified of any cost.

When you’re first fitted for new dentures, it’s normal to experience minor irritations, which should fade as your mouth becomes accustomed to the denture or partial. The period of discomfort can vary from patient to patient based on your treatment. If you’ve previously worn dentures and now have a new set, you know what to expect, but they still may take some getting used to as well as possibly needing adjusted to fit comfortably. Similarly, if you had some natural teeth present that were removed at the time of the new dentures, the areas where the extractions were performed may be painful or uncomfortable for up to several weeks after the removal of the teeth. Regular visits to your dentist to adjust the dentures as you go through the normal healing process are recommended.

A partial denture is used to replace multiple teeth when the patient still has some of their natural teeth. The partial is retained by holding on to one of the remaining teeth, helping to restore some of the patients chewing function and aesthetics.

Like most new things, dentures take some time to get accustomed to. For a couple of weeks, they may feel a bit lose until they are appropriately held in position by your cheek and tongue muscles. You may even feel some minor irritation or soreness in the beginning, but you don’t need to endure any lingering pain or discomfort. At Smiles on Hickman in Des Moines, we help relieve pain and discomfort through regular fitting adjustments

Call our office and we will get you scheduled with the doctor or denture tech. It is important that you don’t try to repair or adjust the denture yourself, doing this can actually cause further damage and make it so the denture is no longer able to be properly repaired. Super glue and other house hold products are toxic and should not be used to repair any cracks or broken areas. Please put your safety first and let us fix your dentures!

Most patients need to learn how to use dentures properly and as a result, it takes a little time to get used to them. The majority of patients never regain full chewing function with traditional dentures, there often is difficulty with harder foods, chewy foods, and sticky foods. Using a small amount of denture adhesive (no more than three or four pea-sized dabs on each denture) may help stabilize the dentures and help hold them in place while you learn how to get comfortable with them and may make the learning process easier. The best option for function and comfort would be to stabilize the denture with implants on the upper and lower arch.

Initially, you may find it challenging to eat all types of food. At Smiles on Hickman, we provide solutions to make chewing easier for patients in the first few days. We recommend eating soft foods and making sure that food is sliced into small pieces. Once you become more comfortable chewing with your new dentures, you can resume your regular diet.