Getting Dentures Soon? Here’s What to Expect

Denture stories abound, from embarrassing slippages when eating with friends to scary stories of unbearable pain or struggling for months before finally getting comfortable dentures. But that’s not what you should expect.

Your experience depends on the skill of your dentist, and that’s why you should turn to Maria Victoria Sebastian, DDS, and our skilled team at Dentistry With a Smile in Livingston, New Jersey. 

We’ve worked with many patients, discussing denture options, explaining the procedure, ensuring customized dentures with a comfortable fit, and preventing problems with ongoing support.

What to expect when getting dentures depends on the type you choose. However, everyone goes through the same first step. Let’s start there and explain the possible variations.

Step 1: Getting a dental exam and making decisions

We begin with a dental exam to evaluate your teeth, gums, and jawbones. Before you can wear dentures, we must treat dental problems, including gum disease and possibly removing severely damaged teeth.

After your exam, we discuss your denture options. The first decision is whether you need partial or complete dentures. Then, you have a second choice: Do you want traditional or implant-supported dentures?

Traditional dentures

Traditional dentures are always removable. Partial dentures have metal clips that snap over your adjacent teeth. Complete dentures have a plastic piece that fits over your gums.

Implant-supported dentures

Implant-supported dentures are removable or permanent. We place dental implants (small metal posts) into your jawbone, where new bone growth bonds with your implant, creating a strong, supportive structure.

Your dentures attach to the part of your implant that rises above your gumline. Removable dentures snap on and off your implants. If you want permanent dentures, we securely attach them to your implants.

Step 2: Preparing your mouth

During your first appointment, we prepare your mouth to receive your chosen denture type. No matter which kind of denture you choose, we can give you temporary dentures to wear while you wait for your customized appliances.

Traditional denture preparation

Traditional dentures don’t require much preparation unless we need to remove teeth or treat dental problems. Otherwise, we take 3D digital images of your mouth and send them to the lab that produces your dentures. 

Implant-supported dentures

Though we can usually insert implants during your first appointment, we may need to postpone the implants and perform a bone graft if we discover your jawbone is weak.

The bone graft goes in areas where you’ve lost jawbone density. Over the next three to six months, the graft matures and bonds with your existing bone. Then, we insert your implants. 

Step 3: Getting your new dentures

The lab finishes traditional dentures within a few weeks. When they're ready, we schedule a second appointment, insert your dentures, make sure they fit well, and teach you how to use them and what to expect while adjusting to your new appliances.

Implants require a longer process. Just as a bone graft takes months to restore a healthy jawbone, it takes several months after we insert the implant for your jawbone to grow and mesh with it.

We schedule a second appointment after your implant has enough time to heal. Then, we take a digital 3D impression and send it to the lab, where skilled technicians make dentures that fit your mouth and implants.

Step 4: Final implant appointment

You have your final appointment when your implant-supported dentures are ready. Like traditional dentures, we insert them, ensure they fit and feel comfortable, and teach you how to care for them.

Adjusting to your dentures

Many people aren’t prepared for an adjustment period. However, you should expect to have temporary gum soreness. Your dentures may initially feel awkward or bulky, and it may take time to chew or speak comfortably with your new dentures.

We help by giving you self-care tips to ease the transition. For most people, it only takes a few weeks to adjust.

Learn about your denture choices

Our Dentistry With a Smile team can help you find denture solutions that improve your dental health, restore your beautiful smile, and work with your budget.

Call our office or book an appointment online today to learn more about what to expect if you need to replace missing teeth.