About Dentures

What are dentures?

Dentures are custom-designed oral prosthetics that replace your permanent teeth and surrounding tissues. They’re manufactured with durable, high-quality materials like acrylic or nylon and make it easier to perform routine tasks like biting, chewing, and speaking. 

Dentures take a little bit of getting used to, but with routine care and regular checkups, they often last between seven and 10 years. What’s more, dentures look and function like your natural teeth, so no one will know they’re artificial.

What are the types of dentures?

Forrest Dental offers several types of dentures, including:

Partial dentures

If you’ve lost only a few of your permanent teeth, your provider might recommend partial dentures. Partial dentures feature a metal framework and one (or more) artificial teeth. They’re held in place with small metal clasps bonded to your healthy permanent teeth.

Complete dentures

Complete dentures replace an entire row of permanent teeth. They feature a metal base plate that’s shaped like a horseshoe, pink gums made of plastic or acrylic, and artificial teeth. Complete dentures rest on top of your natural gum tissue and are held in place with denture adhesives.

Implant-supported dentures

If you don’t want to remove your dentures at night, consider implant-supported dentures. Implant-supported dentures can be complete or partial. They attach to dental implants –– metal posts inserted into your jaw. Of all the denture types, implant-supported dentures most closely mimic your natural teeth.

What does getting dentures involve?

At Forrest Dental, getting partial or complete dentures takes two appointments and receiving implant-supported dentures takes three appointments.

First dentures visit

If you’re missing one or more permanent teeth and you have healthy gums, your provider takes impressions of your teeth and gums. They send the molds of your mouth to a dental laboratory that uses them to guide the manufacture of your custom dentures.

Second dentures visit

A few weeks later, when the lab completes your custom dentures, you return to Forrest Dental. Your provider has you try your dentures on and makes adjustments as necessary. Before leaving, they polish your dentures and provide care instructions.

Getting implant-supported dentures takes a third appointment because you have to receive dental implants first. Once the implants integrate with your natural bone, you return to Forrest Dental for custom impressions. 

How long do dentures last?

Dentures often last decades with regular maintenance. The Forrest Dental team recommends brushing your dentures at least twice daily, soaking them in a denture cleaning solution overnight, and avoiding bad habits like nail biting or opening packaging with your teeth.

If you grind or clench your teeth or you play contact sports, you might also want to consider wearing a mouthguard to protect your dentures from wear-and-tear.

To explore the benefits of dentures, make an appointment at Forrest Dental by calling the office today or clicking the online scheduling tool.