LB DENTURE SERVICES
MOBILE DENTURE CLINIC
Full Dentures
Full Dentures: A Replacement for No Teeth
Also known as Complete Dentures, (and sometimes even referred to as ‘false teeth’), ‘Full Dentures’ would be worn in a situation where no teeth remain in either the top of the mouth, (called an upper denture), or the bottom, (called a lower denture).
Why Do I Need Full Dentures?
Without teeth (whether on the top or bottom) there can be issues with;
- Chewing food properly, (leading to digestion and nutrition issues)
- Speaking (leading to issues with communication and self confidence)
- Showing your smile (also connected with self confidence and overall well being)
- Lip Support, (without a denture, the face can have a sagging look)
Are Dentures Comfortable?
If you are a first time wearer of dentures, it will definitely take more time to get used to them, much like wearing a new pair of shoes. The muscles of the face and mouth need time to adapt to the denture. The same applies to someone who already wears a denture but is getting a new one, although the time to adjust would be less.
However, with time and perseverance it will get easier to speak and eat with dentures. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months to get used to a new full denture.
Problems With Wearing New Dentures
When wearing a new denture, it can be normal to experience;
- Denture sore spots: these can always be adjusted with a visit to your denturist.
- Increase of saliva: at the beginning you mouth will see a denture as a forign object, but this will subside with time
- Your speech will sound different: practice reading books out loud to allow your facial muscles to get used to speaking.
Something important to keep in mind is that dentures are not quite replacing your natural teeth, but rather, they are replacing the situation of not having teeth.
Think about comparing dentures vs. real teeth;
Natural Teeth
- are anchored into our mouths, (won't dislodge out of the mouth)
- have nerves that can feel temperatures and touch
- have a much stronger bite force vs dentures
Dentures
- can dislodge when chewing, thus, a simpler chewing motion is needed
- act as an insulator and won't feel temperatures as much
- have a much weaker bite, (about ¼-⅕ weaker), than natural teeth
To illustrate how this practically can have an effect, consider that the material which dentures are made of, (acrylic), acts like an insulator, so if you are drinking a hot cup of coffee or soup, the roof of your mouth may not feel the heat as much. Taste can also be impaired, as opposed to when someone is eating with natural teeth where the mouth is not being blocked by a denture.
How Much Do Full Dentures Cost?
As a rough guide, full dentures usually fall in a range between $1100-$1600 per arch, (meaning for just the upper or lower). Now, this price can be much more or less based on a variety of factors such as the quality materials or teeth being used and what the unique needs are for the person who needs the denture. If the denture is being held in by implants, (called an implant retained or supported denture), these would cost much more. Please see our Pricing Section for much more details on the cost of dentures.
How Many Appointments are there for Full Dentures?
There are generally 4 appointments needed for what is called a ‘Standard Denture’;
Initial Impression: a tray filled with alginate material to take an impression of your mouth.
Measurements: wax blocks are placed in the mouth to mark where teeth should go, also how you bite is recorded and the colour/shade of teeth is chosen.
- Trying in the Denture: teeth set in wax is tried in to see how the denture looks, any changes can still be made at this point, for example, if the midline of the teeth should be changed.
- Final Denture Inserted: any minor adjustments are also made at this point.
Additional appointments would be extra try-ins of the dentures (if any changes were made), and if any further adjustments are needed (after having worn the denture for a day or week). These would be included in the price of the denture. Typically any adjustments needed within 3 months of wearing the dentures are also included.
Standard Dentures vs. Precision Dentures
‘Precision Dentures’ include what is done with standard dentures, (impression, measurements, try-in denture and final denture insertion), but with a few extra steps taken to make a slightly more accurate denture.
- Additional Impression Appointment: done with a custom size tray and is in addition to the initial impression appointment #1 as mentioned above. This is to record a more accurate impression of your mouth. The borders of your mouth are also molded to the impression allowing for a more comfortable fit in the final denture.
- Jaw Movements: during appointment #2 (see above), measurements of the way your jaw moves are recorded. In contrast, a standard denture uses estimated average values for this step.
Higher Quality Materials: higher quality teeth typically can be used which both look better and don’t wear down as fast as other teeth.
How Long Does it Take to Make Full Dentures?
A full set of dentures is typically done within a month, although a week or two extra made be needed for any additional try-ins or adjustments.
The denturist has a lot of work to do at the lab in order to make the dentures which is why this time is needed. This includes;
- pouring stone models of your mouth
- setting denture teeth
- carving wax to mimic gums
- processing the denture into acrylic material
- trimming and polishing the dentures
If any tooth extractions are needed, (for examples, remaining teeth are being pulled by a dentist before a full denture is inserted), then the time until you get your new dentures will increase because time is needed to allow your gums to heal. This can be anywhere from 5-8 weeks.
Just to note, after having teeth extracted, you don’t have to go without any denture until everything has healed. An ‘Immediate Denture’ can be made which acts as an interim solution until the final denture is made.
How Long Do Dentures Last?
Typically a new pair of dentures should last 5-7 years, if they are properly cared for. It is recommended to have the dentures ‘relined’ within that time frame at least once, because our mouths and jaws go through so many changes and we want to maintain a proper fit of the dentures.
Also consider that over time, denture teeth can wear down and because the pink material, (acrylic), is porous, it can stain and start to smell.