Dentures Q&A

What are dentures?

Dentures are removable oral appliances that replace multiple missing teeth. You may need dentures if you lose teeth because of:

• Oral trauma
• Severe tooth decay
• Age-related changes in your mouth
• Advanced periodontal disease

Dentures can restore normal mouth function while also improving your appearance. 

What are the different denture options?

There are two main options for dentures: partial and complete. 

Partial dentures

If you have some natural teeth but also multiple missing teeth, partial dentures can fill the gaps in your smile. Partial dentures have tiny clips that attach to your natural teeth for support. 

Complete dentures

Complete dentures replace all the natural teeth in your top or bottom arch. The denture base attaches to your upper and lower gums using suction. Upper complete dentures also suction to the roof of your mouth. 

Normally, you remove partial and complete dentures for cleaning nightly. But, you can also opt for implant-retained dentures. 

Implant-retained dentures fix your partial or complete dentures in place using dental implants. For example, All-on-4® dentures provide full-arch rehabilitation with only four dental implants per arch. 

How long does it take to get dentures?

Overall, it usually takes 6-12 weeks to get your new dentures. You'll usually have several appointments at Arizona Dental Heights during this period.

Your first appointment involves cone beam 3D X-rays and digital impressions of your mouth as well as denture design. 

A dental lab uses highly detailed information about your mouth, including the relationship of your tooth arches to each other, your bite, and your specific mouth measurements to create custom-made dentures. 

If you need partial dentures, you may need preparation of your neighboring teeth before your first denture fitting session. 

During the first session, you'll try the new dentures to see how well they function and feel. Your providers can make adjustments to improve the fit before you wear the dentures home.  

Arizona Dental Heights offers customized denture advice to help you adjust to your new dentures, and they're always there to help with adjustments and issues like denture damage or breakage. 

You need healthy gums and jawbone to support dentures, so good oral health care is still vital. Continue with checkups every six months to keep your new dentures performing optimally and looking great. 

If you're ready to learn more about dentures, call the Arizona Dental Heights office or use the online scheduler to arrange your appointment.