Full or Partial Dentures

Today, it’s easier than ever to replace missing teeth and achieve natural-looking, durable, and long-lasting results! Depending on a patient’s dental needs, lifestyle, expectations of care, and budget, choices can include conventional fixed bridgework, dental implants, or removable partial and complete dentures. At the office of Contemporary Dentistry, we’ll discuss all your options in care and answer all your questions as you choose the solution that’s right for you.

With advances in dental materials and technology, today’s dentures are more comfortable and realistic-looking than ever before.

Whether you wear partial or complete dentures, it’s essential to see the dentist for routine care. Besides checking the fit and condition of your dentures and making any necessary adjustments, you’ll also receive a comprehensive exam to check on the health of any remaining teeth as well as the soft and hard tissues in and around the oral cavity.

A same-day denture offers an accelerated design and fabrication process that allows a patient to go from impression taking to denture insertion in a single day.

For patients who don’t want to wait after having teeth extracted, an immediate denture can be inserted the same day your teeth are removed. Sometime later you may need the denture relined to address any changes in its fit once the extraction sites have completely healed.

While no one wants to drop or break a partial or complete denture, accidents do happen. The good news is that in some cases, your partial or complete denture is reparable. It all depends on the extent of the damage. Don’t hesitate to contact our office if you’ve broken or damaged your denture. We’re happy to help.

The simple act of taking your partial denture in and out can cause certain types of metal clasps to loosen over time. When you come in for your checkup visit or contact our office for an adjustment, we’ll assess the fit of your partial and tighten the clasps for improved stability and comfort.

While rebuilding a complete smile is a worthwhile investment, our office is sensitive to the costs involved in dental care. We customize care and will discuss which treatment options address your needs, lifestyle, and budget. How much a new denture will cost depends on the type of the prosthesis, its design, and the materials used to fabricate the supportive base, teeth, and clasps or precision attachments. Dentures that include the placement of dental implants for added retention and stability typically involve additional costs.

If you have dental insurance, your coverage may include a new or replacement set of dentures.  Our staff is happy to review your coverage with you to ensure you are maximizing your insurance benefits while minimizing any out of pocket expenses.

At the office of Contemporary Dentistry, we provide an extensive range of dental services, including the latest and most effective methods to help patients with missing teeth rebuild complete and beautiful smiles. As skilled and experienced professionals, we recognize that every patient is different, and every smile is unique. We’re passionate about what we do and take great pride in providing personalized treatment plans while treating our patients as valued partners in care.

Dentures are removable prosthetic devices that replace missing teeth and the surrounding tissues. They consist of artificial teeth set into a custom-shaped base that rests on the gums and distributes chewing forces across the mouth. Properly fitted dentures restore the appearance of a natural smile while supporting facial contours and oral function.

Functionally, dentures recreate tooth surfaces for biting and chewing, help maintain speech patterns, and provide support for lips and cheeks to preserve facial height. Because they are removable, dentures allow direct access to oral tissues for cleaning and monitoring. With careful design and periodic adjustments, a denture can serve reliably as part of a long-term oral health plan.

Needing dentures is typically related to the number and condition of missing teeth and how those losses affect daily life. Signs that dentures may be appropriate include difficulty chewing a variety of foods, noticeable changes in facial support, or progressive shifting of remaining teeth that compromises bite alignment. Your dentist will evaluate your oral health, bone and gum conditions, and functional goals to determine whether a removable prosthesis is a suitable option.

Partial dentures are often recommended when several teeth are missing but healthy teeth remain to provide support, while full dentures restore an entire arch when all teeth in that arch are absent. The decision also considers medical history, oral hygiene, and patient preferences for maintenance and appearance. A comprehensive exam and discussion with the clinical team will clarify the best treatment pathway for your needs.

Removable prosthetics generally fall into two main categories: full (complete) dentures and partial dentures. Full dentures replace an entire arch of teeth and are contoured to restore face height and distribute biting forces, while partial dentures bridge gaps left by multiple missing teeth and use healthy adjacent teeth for support. Within these categories there are variations such as conventional, immediate, and overdentures that address timing, support, and tissue preservation.

Modern options also include implant-supported and implant-retained dentures, which use dental implants to improve stability and chewing efficiency. Materials and framework choices for partials range from traditional cast metal to flexible resins depending on strength and esthetic priorities. Your dentist will recommend the style that best balances comfort, function, and appearance for your situation.

Our denture process begins with a thorough oral examination and diagnostic records to evaluate bone, tissue contours, and remaining dentition. We use precise impressions and bite records to capture your oral anatomy, then perform trial fittings to evaluate tooth position, occlusion and esthetics before final fabrication. This stepwise approach helps ensure that the finished prosthesis meets functional needs and blends naturally with your facial features.

During delivery we verify fit, adjust pressure points, and fine-tune bite relationships so speech and chewing feel comfortable. Follow-up visits allow us to relieve sore spots and make adjustments as tissues settle, and we recommend routine checkups to monitor oral health and prosthesis performance. When appropriate, we also coordinate implant options to enhance retention and long-term stability.

Adjusting to new dentures varies from person to person but typically takes several weeks of gradual adaptation. Early effects such as minor soreness, increased saliva, and slight changes in speech are common and usually resolve as the mouth adjusts and muscle control improves. Regular short periods of wear combined with targeted adjustments by the clinician help accelerate comfort and function.

Speech can be retrained by practicing reading aloud and speaking in everyday situations, and eating is best approached by starting with softer foods and biting with both sides of the mouth. Over time most patients regain broad eating ability and normal speech patterns, though ongoing adjustments or relines may be needed to maintain optimal fit. Maintaining follow-up care ensures any persistent issues are identified and addressed promptly.

Daily cleaning is essential to keep dentures hygienic and to preserve their fit and appearance. Rinse dentures after meals to remove loose debris, brush them gently each day with a brush designed for prostheses and use a soaking solution as recommended to remove stains and reduce bacterial buildup. Avoid hot water and household cleaners that can warp or damage the denture base.

It is equally important to care for the gums and any remaining natural teeth by brushing and flossing, and by massaging or rinsing the oral tissues to promote circulation and tissue health. Remove dentures at night to allow the mouth to rest, and bring the prosthesis to dental visits so the clinician can inspect the device and oral tissues. Regular professional reviews help detect wear, changes in fit, and opportunities for maintenance such as relines.

Yes, implant-supported and implant-retained dentures use strategically placed dental implants to increase retention and reduce movement. Implants provide a secure anchor that improves chewing efficiency and comfort, particularly for lower-arch prostheses that are more prone to instability. Depending on the case, implants can support a removable overdenture or a fixed prosthesis, offering a spectrum of stability and maintenance options.

The candidacy for implant assistance depends on bone volume, medical history, and patient goals, and the clinical team will evaluate these factors during planning. When implants are part of the plan, the workflow includes imaging, surgical placement, healing time for osseointegration, and connection of attachments before the final prosthesis is delivered. This combined approach blends the benefits of removable dentures with the added reliability of implant support.

The fitting process begins with a comprehensive exam, medical and dental history review, and diagnostic imaging when needed to assess bone and tissue conditions. Impressions and bite records are taken to reproduce your oral anatomy in the laboratory, and trial fittings allow you and the clinician to evaluate tooth position, esthetics and occlusion before the final denture is completed. This iterative process minimizes surprises and helps ensure the end result meets both functional and cosmetic goals.

At delivery the dentist will check for pressure points, adjust occlusion, and confirm that speech and chewing are comfortable, and they will provide instructions for initial wear and care. Follow-up visits are scheduled to make any necessary relief adjustments and to monitor healing when extractions or surgical procedures were involved. Ongoing recall appointments help maintain fit and oral health over time.

Regular assessment of fit and function is important because oral tissues and bone naturally change over time, which can affect prosthesis stability. Many patients benefit from a checkup every six to twelve months so the clinician can evaluate tissue health, denture condition and bite relationships, and recommend adjustments if needed. Relines, repairs and minor adjustments are common maintenance measures that restore snug fit and comfort as the supporting tissues remodel.

When relines are performed, laboratory or chairside techniques renew the internal surface of the denture so it conforms more closely to the current tissue contours. More extensive wear, fractures, or changes in jaw relationships may eventually call for remaking the prosthesis to preserve function and esthetics. If you notice looseness, persistent soreness, or difficulty chewing, schedule an evaluation rather than waiting for the next routine visit.

Dentures can initially alter speech and eating patterns because the mouth must adapt to new tooth positions and the presence of a prosthetic base. Temporary changes in diction and bite coordination are common but typically improve with practice, such as reading aloud and starting with softer, easy-to-chew foods. As you regain muscle control and confidence, many everyday speech sounds return to normal and your diet can expand gradually.

To improve function, the clinician may adjust tooth position, occlusion and denture borders during follow-up visits, and additional retention measures such as adhesives or implant attachments can increase stability. Learning to bite using both sides of the mouth and cutting food into manageable pieces reduces stress on the denture during the adaptation period. With attentive care and timely adjustments, most patients achieve comfortable speech and broad eating ability.