Dentures

Eating what you want and talking without thinking about it. That is the actual goal, and it depends almost entirely on fit.

A full denture replaces all teeth in the upper or lower jaw. A partial fills the gaps where some natural teeth remain, and clasps onto those teeth for stability. Which one is right depends on what's left and the condition it's in.

The process runs across several appointments. Impressions, bite registration, a try-in where you see the teeth in wax and adjustments are made before anything is finalized, then delivery. Skipping steps produces a denture that doesn't fit, so the sequence matters.

The first few weeks take adjustment. Speech feels different, eating takes practice, and sore spots are normal early on. Those spots are what follow-up appointments are for, and there's usually more than one. Come in and get them adjusted rather than living with a denture that rubs.

Over time your jawbone changes shape, and a denture that fit well originally will loosen. A reline restores the fit. Dentures also wear and eventually need replacing.

If a loose denture is your main frustration, implant-supported options are worth asking about. They use a small number of implants to anchor the denture, which changes how it feels considerably.