Getting Dentures Soon? Here’s What to Expect

Dentures can be life-changing for people who are missing some or all of their teeth. Over 40 million Americans wear dentures to not only restore the functions of natural teeth like chewing and speaking, but to regain the confidence of a bright, full smile.

At A Caring Dental Group in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Benedict Kim and our team help you look and feel like yourself again with custom-made dentures. Let’s take a look at what you can expect when getting dentures for the first time.

Types of dentures

As you know, dentures are custom-made oral appliances that fill in the gaps left by missing teeth. Whether you need to replace a full arch of teeth or just a few here and there, we have an option to suit you.

Depending on your needs and preferences, we fit you with one of the following three types of removable dentures:

• Complete dentures, which replace a full arch of missing teeth
• Partial dentures, which replace multiple individual missing teeth
• Implant-retained dentures, which attached to dental implants in your mouth

This third type of prosthetic snaps on and off to clean, but provides a more secure fit than traditional dentures.

The process of getting dentures

We begin with a consultation to evaluate your dental health and restoration needs. We work with you to determine which type of prosthetic best achieves your goals and fits your lifestyle.

After the initial consultation,  we proceed with the following steps:

1. Starting with the preparation

If you have existing dental concerns, such as tooth decay, we need to resolve these before we take the impressions used to create your prosthetic. This may mean one or more tooth extractions, after which you wear temporary dentures while you heal.

For implant-supported dentures, the next step is installing the dental implants. These are rods that we place surgically in your jawbone and that act as a base upon which your new dentures attach. 

2. Making jaw impressions

Next our team creates a mold for the prosthetic by taking an impression of your upper and lower jaws, ensuring the most comfortable fit possible.

3. Getting the bite right 

A bite registration confirms that your teeth align correctly in the dentures. During a bite registration, we use wax blocks to measure and record the placement of your teeth when you bite down. 

This step ensures your jaw will continue to function properly with your new dentures. Typically, we pick out the size, shape, and color of the denture teeth at this stage.

4. Trying out the fit with wax trial dentures 

Once we have all the measurements we need, we create a wax preview of your dentures. Wax trial dentures allow you to make notes on the fit, function, and appearance before the final prosthetic is made.

This trial stage gives you a chance to ensure your dentures fit perfectly and look natural. If you’re not satisfied, don’t worry — we can alter the size, shape, color, or fit as needed. 

5. Making the final fitting

The last step in getting dentures is typically the quickest. You’ve done all the hard work by this point. During this appointment, we install the finished prosthetics in your mouth. 

Our team takes this opportunity to go over basic denture care with you, and we answer any questions you have about your dentures. We also let you know when to schedule your first follow-up visit to make sure everything continues to go well with your new smile.

Thinking about dentures? We can help

If you’re ready to start your journey to a perfect smile with dentures, A Caring Dental Group is here to guide you through the process. Call or click to book an appointment at our Cleveland, Ohio, office today.