Types of Dentures and When They Are Needed
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Complete Dentures (Full Dentures)
These are used when all teeth in an arch are missing. A full denture replaces the entire set of teeth in the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both. Full dentures sit on the gum tissue and are usually made of a gum-colored acrylic base that supports a full set of prosthetic teeth. They rely on suction (for upper denture) and the oral musculature/tongue for stability, especially for the lower denture. Full dentures are needed when someone has lost all their teeth due to decay, gum disease, or injury, or in cases where remaining teeth need to be removed and replaced (for example, if they are in very poor condition).
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Partial Dentures
These are used when some natural teeth remain. A partial denture fills in the spaces of missing teeth and clasps onto some of the remaining teeth for support and retention. Partials usually consist of a metal or acrylic framework that anchors to existing teeth (often with small metal clasps or precision attachments) and holds the false teeth in the right positions. They are a solution when a few teeth are missing in a jaw and those gaps are too large or not ideal for fixed options like bridges, or if the patient prefers a removable solution. Partial dentures prevent the remaining natural teeth from shifting and help distribute chewing forces properly.
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Immediate Dentures:
An immediate denture is one that is made in advance and placed immediately after teeth are extracted. This way, the patient is never without teeth during the healing period. They are often a transitional solution, since gums and bone will shrink after tooth removal; a reline or new denture is usually needed after initial healing.
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Overdentures:
These are dentures that fit over a few remaining natural teeth roots or dental implants. For example, sometimes a couple of canine roots are preserved in the jaw and treated (with root canals and topped with small caps) to help stabilize a denture and preserve bone. More commonly now, implants can be placed (2-4 implants in the jaw) and a denture is made to snap onto those implants – this significantly increases stability and chewing efficiency. These are called implant-retained dentures or overdentures and are a hybrid of removable and fixed solutions (the denture still removes for cleaning, but it stays firmly in place during use).
Your dentist will assess your oral condition and discuss which type of denture is best for your situation. If you have some healthy teeth remaining, a partial might be recommended to preserve them. If you’re transitioning to complete tooth loss, immediate dentures can help avoid a toothless period.
Dentures can significantly improve quality of life for someone missing many teeth, making it possible to chew a wider variety of foods and smile confidently again.
The Process of Getting Dentures
Obtaining dentures typically involves several steps over multiple appointments:
1. Initial Evaluation and Treatment Plan
The dentist will start with a thorough exam of your oral tissues, any remaining teeth, and discuss your goals and concerns. If extractions are needed, they will plan for those. They’ll also consider things like the condition of your bone and gums, since they affect denture fit.
2. Impressions
They take detailed impressions (molds) of your gums and any remaining teeth. For complete dentures, impressions capture the shape of your ridges (the bony arches that used to hold teeth). Dentists will often do a two-step impression: a preliminary one and then a final one with a custom tray for more accuracy. These impressions are used to create models of your mouth.
3. Bite Registration
They need to establish how your jaws relate to each other (your bite) and how much vertical dimension (height between nose and chin) your new dentures should provide. This is done with a wax rim that you bite on. They adjust it to determine the proper bite and also the proper lip support and facial height for aesthetics and function. They’ll also select a shade and shape for the denture teeth at this stage, considering your preferences and what looks natural for your age and face.
Try-in (Wax Try-in)
For most denture cases, the lab will set the chosen artificial teeth in a wax base as a trial. You will try this wax denture in your mouth before it’s finalized. This allows us to check the appearance (is the smile line correct? teeth shape/size pleasing? shade match?), the bite, and some aspects of fit. Because it’s in wax, the dentist can still adjust the positions of teeth if needed. Patients are encouraged to take a look and even bring a spouse or friend if they want a second opinion on the look. Your feedback is important – At Nuvodent, we want you to be happy with your new smile.
Denture Delivery
After any adjustments at try-in, the dentures are processed (the wax is replaced with hard acrylic and the final product is created). At the delivery appointment, the dentist will place the finished dentures in your mouth and make sure they fit properly. The dentist will check comfort, bite, and retention. If any pressure spots are noted, they can adjust those areas. They will give you instructions on how to insert and remove the dentures, and how to care for them and your mouth.
Adjustments and Follow-ups
It’s very common to need one or more follow-up visits after getting new dentures. As you start wearing them and using them for chewing and speaking, you might develop a sore spot or find an area that needs fine-tuning. The dentist usually sees you within a week to adjust any sore spots. Over the next few weeks, as you get used to dentures, visits to the dentist can be made to make adjustments for comfort. For immediate dentures (placed at the same time as extractions), more frequent adjustments and a reline are expected as gums heal and shrink.
It’s important to have realistic expectations: dentures won’t feel exactly like natural teeth, and an adaptation period is normal. Initially, they might feel bulky or cause extra saliva, and pronouncing certain words can be tricky until you relearn them with dentures. But with practice and small adjustments, most people adapt well.
When you come in for a general dental check-up at Nuvodent, we carry out a thorough evaluation to get a complete picture of your oral health.
Benefits of Dentures
Improved Chewing and Nutrition
Replacing missing teeth with dentures allows you to chew a broader range of foods. While very hard or sticky foods might still be challenging, you’ll be able to enjoy fruits, vegetables, and properly chew your food, aiding digestion and overall nutrition.
Clearer Speech
Teeth play a role in pronunciation, especially for sounds like “S” and “F”. Missing teeth can cause slurring or difficulty speaking. Dentures (after an initial adjustment period) help improve speech clarity by providing the proper structure for the tongue and lips to form words.
Non-Invasive Procedure
Getting dentures usually doesn’t require surgery (unless extractions are needed, which is minor surgery). For people who cannot undergo more invasive procedures for health or personal reasons, dentures are a safe option.
Enhanced Aesthetics and Confidence
Dentures fill out your cheeks and lips, which can often look “sunken” when teeth are missing. This gives support to facial structures and can make one appear more youthful. Additionally, dentures are made to resemble natural teeth closely – you can smile freely without feeling self-conscious about gaps.
Affordable Tooth Replacement
Compared to fixed solutions like implants and bridges, dentures are generally more budget-friendly, especially when many teeth need to be replaced. They offer an accessible way to restore function and appearance.
Versatility
Dentures can be made to replace all teeth in an arch or just a few; they are custom to each person’s needs. They can also be updated or relined over time as your mouth changes, making them adaptable.
Dentures have been used for centuries in various forms, and today’s materials make them more lifelike and comfortable than older generations might remember. They can truly be life-changing for someone who’s struggled with many missing teeth.
Adapting to Dentures (Comfort and Tips)
It’s important to acknowledge that adjusting to new dentures takes a little patience and practice. Here are some common experiences and tips for new denture wearers:
Initial Feel
When you first get dentures, they will likely feel strange. Your mouth may sense them as “foreign,” and you might salivate more or feel like there’s not enough room for your tongue. This is normal and usually improves over a few days to weeks.
Eating
Start with soft foods cut into small pieces. Think eggs, mashed veggies, pasta, yogurt, fish, cooked cereals, etc. Chew slowly and evenly on both sides to keep the dentures stable. Avoid very hot foods at first since dentures can insulate your mouth and you might not sense heat as quickly, risking burns. As you get comfortable, you can introduce chewier foods. Be cautious with extremely sticky or hard foods (gum, whole nuts, toffee) as they can dislodge dentures. You may need to learn to bite with the side teeth rather than front teeth (biting with the front of a denture can tip it in many cases). Over time, you’ll learn what works best and regain a lot of chewing ability.
Bottom Denture Challenges
If you have full dentures, know that the lower denture often is the most challenging to adapt to because it doesn’t have the same suction as the upper and the tongue can unseat it. Learning to relax the tongue and keeping the lower denture in place takes practice. In some cases, the dentist might recommend a denture adhesive to help, or long-term, consider implants to stabilize a lower denture if it’s particularly troublesome.
Sore Spots
As you start wearing the dentures all day, certain areas might rub and create sore spots on your gums. This is why follow-up adjustments are crucial. Don’t hesitate to come back to us to trim or adjust the fit; dentures are meant to be refined after delivery for a perfect fit.
Speaking
Reading aloud or talking to yourself at home can help you get used to speaking with dentures. If certain words are tricky, practicing them helps. Sometimes denture wearers have a slight lisp initially; this typically resolves as the tongue adapts. Using a bit of denture adhesive in the early days can help stabilize the dentures while speaking (and eating) until you’re more secure with them.
Night Wear
Dentists will usually recommend that you do not sleep with dentures in, especially full dentures. Your gums need time to rest and breath. Continuous wear can lead to fungal infections like denture stomatitis. Remove them at night, clean them (and soak in water or denture cleaning solution), and clean your gums and tongue gently with a soft brush or cloth. However, if you have immediate dentures (just after extractions), you might be advised to keep them in for the first 24 hours to help limit swelling. At Nuvodent, we’ll advise based on your situation.
Caring for Your Dentures
Proper care will keep your dentures looking clean, feeling comfortable, and lasting longer:
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Daily Cleaning: Just like natural teeth, dentures must be cleaned daily. Plaque and food debris can accumulate on them. Remove your dentures and brush them with a denture brush or a very soft toothbrush. Use a mild denture cleanser or plain soap and water – not regular toothpaste, as it can be abrasive and scratch the denture surface. Gently brush all surfaces, including the side that sits against your gums. Rinse them well.
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Handle with Care:
Dentures can break if dropped. When cleaning, stand over a folded towel or a basin of water, so if they slip, they have a soft landing. Avoid bending the plastic or the clasps on partials.
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Soak Overnight:
Keep dentures moist when you’re not wearing them so they don’t dry out and lose their shape. Place them in a cup of clean water or a denture-soaking solution overnight. If your denture has metal parts (like a partial with metal clasps), using plain water (or water with a bit of dish soap) is better as some solutions could tarnish the metal. Always rinse dentures thoroughly before putting them back in your mouth, especially if using a cleaning solution (which can contain chemicals not intended to be ingested).
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Clean Your Mouth Too:
Even if you have no teeth, oral hygiene isn’t over. Every morning and night, gently brush your gums, tongue, and palate with a soft brush or washcloth. This removes plaque, stimulates circulation in your tissues, and helps prevent infections like thrush. If you have partial dentures, continue to brush and floss your remaining teeth thoroughly.
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Use of Adhesives:
If you choose to use a denture adhesive, use it sparingly and follow the product instructions. Adhesives can improve stability and confidence, especially for lower dentures or when eating tougher foods. However, if you find yourself needing gobs of adhesive to make a denture tolerable, that could indicate it’s not fitting right – see us for an adjustment or re-evaluation.
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Regular Check-ups:
Visit us at least annually (or as advised) to check your dentures and oral health. Your mouth can change over time (gums and bone can shrink, especially in the first year after extractions and then gradually over time). Dentures that used to fit well might become loose or start causing sores; if so, they may need a reline (adding material to the fitting surface to tighten the fit) or a remake after several years.
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Avoid Hot Water:
Do not use hot or boiling water to clean or soak dentures – it can warp the plastic. Lukewarm or cool water is best.
With diligent care, a set of dentures typically lasts 5-8 years before significant wear or changes might warrant replacement. Some last longer, but it’s good to have them evaluated regularly. Well-maintained dentures, along with healthy oral tissues, means you can continue to enjoy the benefits they provide.
We are here to help.
At Nuvodent, your oral health is our top priority, and we want to work with you to keep your smile healthy and radiant for a lifetime.
Cost of Dentures
Dentures are often a cost-effective way to replace multiple teeth. The cost will depend on the type of denture (full vs partial), the materials/teeth used, and the complexity of your case (such as if extractions or special fittings are involved). Generally, a full denture for one arch will have a set fee, and partials are priced depending on design (simple acrylic partial vs metal framework partial). Immediate dentures may cost slightly more due to additional adjustments and relines needed.
Overdenture solutions involving implants have additional costs for implant placement and attachments.
The practitioner will provide a treatment plan with the fees before the starting. Many dental insurance plans cover dentures partially, considering them a major restorative item.
In any case, dentures are an investment in your daily functioning and self-esteem. For an accurate quote, please schedule an evaluation. We’ll examine your needs, discuss options (including any preparatory work like extracting hopeless teeth), and give you a clear idea of the costs involved. Rest assured, our priority is to give you back a smile and biting ability that enhances your life, at a price that is fair and with a result that’s worth every penny for the confidence and comfort it brings.