Dentures
Restoring Teeth and Your Smile
Restore your smile’s function and appearance with custom-crafted full or partial dentures. We focus on a natural look and a comfortable fit to improve chewing and speech.
Regain your confidence and the ability to enjoy your favorite foods with our custom-crafted dentures. From full sets to partial dentures that fill specific gaps, we focus on achieving a natural look and a comfortable fit that supports your facial structure and speech.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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).
What to expect
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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
Common treatments
Why choose Nüvodent?
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.
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.
Your Smile. Your Story.
We always are welcoming new patients.
Our multidisciplinary team is ready for every aspect of your oral health.