Dentures and Partials
Full Dentures: Full dentures replace all missing teeth - upper or lower arches - or both.
Temporary Dentures: Temporary dentures are usually made before your natural teeth are extracted and are placed in your mouth immediately following the extractions. Adjustments are made as your gums heal and change size.
Temporary Liners: Temporary liners make dentures comfortable. After about six months, the dentures should be reconstructed with a permanent reline made to fit the shape of your newly healed gums. Relines custom fit your denture to your mouth as your gums change over time.
Other frequently asked questions about dentures can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
What happens when I get dentures?
Depending on the condition of your mouth, whether or not teeth need to be extracted, getting properly fitted dentures can take up to five visits.
Here's what to expect:
Visit One - First Impressions
A dental impression, a "negative" if you will, is taken of the upper and lower jaw using an elastic type of material. This material feels like thick pudding when inserted into the mouth on a tray. The impression material then becomes jelly-like. Dental stone is then poured into the impressions. The stone hardens forming an accurate copy of the mouth.
Visit Two – Final Impressions
These impressions are done using custom trays, made to fit the patient’s mouth. These impressions capture the jaws and muscles in more detail, enough to make accurate models of the jaws.
Visit Three – Occlusal Registration
From the second set of impressions, trays with wax blocks are made to record the jaw relationships, the support of the lip and smile line, to name a few.
The teeth are now selected by size, shape and color to match the age of the patient and facial shape. Denture teeth are made either of porcelain or acrylic (plastic).
Visit Four - Try-In
This is where the teeth are set in wax and they are actually inserted into the mouth. At this juncture, small changes can be made in tooth arrangement, if desired. The occlusion or "bite" is checked. When you and your dentist are satisfied, the dentures are ready to go to the laboratory for placement in their permanent base.
Visit Five - Adjustment and Pick Up
The new dentures are fitted during this visit and adjustments are made. Care and cleaning of your dentures are also discussed.
Partials
Partial dentures take the place of missing teeth and are made out of different types of materials. Once such material, acrylic, is usually used when the two front teeth are missing. These are known as "flippers."
Precision cast partials have clasps and sometimes attachments to improve function and fit and to add strength and durability.
You can expect the same steps with partials as you have with dentures which is as follows:
Visit One - First Impressions
A dental impression, a "negative" if you will, is taken of the upper and lower jawsusing an elastic type of material. This material feels like thick pudding when inserted into the mouth on a tray. The impression material then becomes jelly-like. At this point, dental stone is poured into the impressions and hardens forming an accurate replica of the mouth.
Visit Two – Final Impressions
These impressions are done using custom trays, made to fit the patient’s mouth. These impressions register the jaws and muscles in greater detail, enough to make accurate models of the jaws.
Visit Three – Occlusal Registration
From the second set of impressions, trays with wax blocks are made to record the jaw relationships, the support of the lip and smile line, to name a few.
The teeth are now selected by size, shape and color to match the age of the patient and facial shape. Denture teeth are made either of porcelain or acrylic (plastic).
Visit Four - Try-In
This is where the teeth are set in wax and they are actually inserted into the mouth. At this juncture, small changes can be made in tooth arrangement, if desired. The occlusion or "bite" is checked. When you and your dentist are satisfied, the dentures are ready to go to the laboratory for placement in their permanent base.
Visit Five - Adjustment and Pick Up
The new dentures are fitted during this visit and adjustments are made. Care and cleaning of your dentures are also discussed.
For any other questions related to this procedure or any other general, cosmetic or implant dentistry questions you can contact us at 888.790.0309 or feel free to Ask the Dentist.
