What to Expect When Getting a Denture?

New Dentures What to Expect

If you have old dentures, are missing all your teeth or have teeth that are terminal then you are a good candidate for new dentures.  With a perfect set of crafted permanent dentures you will be able to eat, talk and smile with complete confidence that you have a perfect set of teeth.

Dr. Dennis Norkiewicz has been creating beautiful new permanent dentures for over 20 years. He has perfected all denture appointments to make it as pain free, efficient, and beautiful in just five easy visits. If you’re thinking that you would like to have permanent dentures or implant supported dentures you could not have picked a better practice than Rockville Dental Arts.

The Denture Process

Wondering how do they make dentures?   Here we detail the 5 step process.

First, the initial visit would be to get evaluated to see if you would be a good candidate for permanent dentures and possibly dental implants. Over 90% of our denture patients get implant-supported dentures because they are good candidates for dental implants. 

We would first start off by taking a panorex radiograph or possibly a CBCT (a 3D scan of your jaws) to see any current teeth, bone health, and review your medical history. After the initial examination we would talk to you about the options available.

There are three main options to choose from

Regular Dentures

First, the most basic option is the conventional permanent dentures. They are beautiful, and will allow you to eat and smile with confidence, but there is a lack of stability as they rest directly on the gums.  Most patients will need to use fixodent to hold them down while eating but this depends on your jaw bone structure.

Implant Supported Dentures

The second option is what is referred to as Implant Supported Dentures. These are dentures that are removable but are secured while they are in your mouth.  If your bone is suitable for dental implants, we will suggest getting two dental implants on the bottom and two to four dental implants on the top.

The removable implant dentures are an amazing option because they are beautiful, they are stable due to them “snapping” on top of the dental implants.  You can smile, eat and talk with confidence that your removable denture plates will not move or fall out.  And there is never any need for denture glue!  Removable implant dentures easily snap in and out with your fingers.  

If you decide later on you would like a Hybridge Denture the same type of implants are used.  So you can easily upgrade.

All on 4 Dental Implants

The Implant Dentures are still removable but if you are looking for something that will be fixed permanently in your mouth, as if a replication of teeth, then the All on 4 dental implant denture is the top of the line. There are a few more steps to making the All on 4 due to a more in depth treatment plan and process.  The total treatment takes up to 6 months but the results are well worth the wait!  Your new teeth will be permanently fixed in your mouth just like your real teeth.  They will feel incredible and never break or fall out.

The Classic Denture

The Classic Permanent Denture has a total of five visits in four weeks. You would need to come to the office once a week for five weeks for about 30 minutes each time.  We only fabricate premium dentures in our office.  Keep reading to learn the premium dentures cost.

The interim denture or immediate denture steps can be much quicker.  Usually we only need to do the first and third visit.  Then you can go home with your immediate dentures.

The First Visit

The first visit would be an impression visit which we can do the same day as your initial appointment if you are ready to move forward. This is where the doctor would come in, take a detailed impression, and we can create an accurate model replica of your mouth.

Dr. Dennis works closely with our lab to ensure the precision is up to his standards. It takes about a week for the lab to create a “custom” tray that fits to your mouth perfectly.

The Second Visit

The second visit then is the custom tray. The custom tray allows the doctor to take an even more detailed impression of all the ridges and oral structures in your mouth. The reason this is such an important step is because this is how your denture is going to fit your mouth perfectly so there is no movement of the denture when you talk or eat and so the denture is absolutely comfortable for you at all times.

Then we send this custom tray impression back to the lab so they can create the part of the denture that will lay on your gums, let’s call this the “backbone” of the denture.

The Third Visit

The third visit is called a jaw relations visit. Once we get back the “backbone” of the denture, it is time to make sure they will align properly with each other, align properly with your jaw muscles, and to make sure it is centered to your face. We cut back wax that was put on the “backbone” of the denture to check the height of the teeth, the height of the teeth when smiling, the alignment to your facial structures, the width of the dentures so they do not puff out the face and feel uncomfortable, and that the jaws come together properly when functioning because without proper function of those muscles the dentures will break.

Once the doctor has perfected exactly where everything comes together in harmony for the denture, he sends it out to the lab again for them to create a mock denture made in plastic.  We also select the denture colors for the teeth and the gums.

The Fourth Visit

The fourth visit entails trying in this plastic denture with the actual teeth that will be used in your denture. This allows you to view that final result of the denture before the end product. When you try in the denture we want to make sure it feels good and looks good. To check if it feels good we will make sure the bite is correct, the muscles are relaxed, and everything is in harmony and you are happy with the esthetics.

The “looks” good part is up to the patient. This is when we help you choose gum color of the final prosthesis, and make any changes for how you would like your teeth to look as long as it coincides with the functionality. Once everything is in agreement on the expectation of the final product, we send it out to the lab for the last time.  They will create an acrylic denture that is strong and beautiful and ready to eat steak.

The Final Visit

The final visit is the denture delivery. We try the permanent dentures in, make any small adjustments to it so it is 100% comfortable on your gums, and you are on your way with a beautiful new smile. We give you a denture box to keep it in at night, care instructions and tools so you can make sure your denture lasts as long as possible.

If you had dentures made and they are loose then something may be wrong with them.

Premium Dentures Cost

If you are wondering what the premium dentures cost you are not alone.  The cost of premium dentures for a full set will be between $5,000 and $7,000.

Why do dentures cost so much?  At Rockville Dental Arts our denture doctor is actually a specialist known as a prosthodontist.  They are trained beyond dental school to create and make one of a kind high quality dentures for patients like yourself.  Unfortunately if you want the best it doesn’t come cheaply.  We also utilize one of the best top-notch laboratories to fabricate your dentures.  Therefore you end up with dentures that are almost as nice as real teeth!

With premium dentures you get expertly crafted dentures made out of only the highest quality materials.  Premium dentures cost more than affordable dentures because they are made with the most expensive denture teeth available that look like natural teeth and do wear as cheaper teeth do.  This ensures your new smile will not only look radiant but also feel like you are not wearing fake teeth and will last you for years and years.

Trust Us To Help You With Your Teeth Replacement

Now you know what to expect when getting fitted for permanent dentures.  In just five weeks we can create you a beautiful, functional, smile that you will never worry about because it was made perfectly for you.  Whether you want the full dentures, snap in dentures or the all on 4 permanent teeth we are your one stop source for all your full mouth teeth replacement needs.  Rockville Dental Arts is the only place you need to visit.