Dentures in Royal Palm Beach, Florida
Missing all or most of your teeth can affect much more than your smile. Teeth play an important role in chewing, speaking, facial support, and overall comfort. A denture is a removable dental appliance used to replace missing teeth and the surrounding tissues. Dentures typically consist of artificial teeth supported by an acrylic base designed to resemble natural gum tissue.
Proper planning, accurate impressions, careful bite registration, and attention to tooth position and appearance all contribute to a denture that looks natural and functions as comfortably as possible.
Types of Dentures
Several types of dentures are available. The appropriate choice depends on your oral condition, treatment goals, budget, and whether dental implants are being used.
Conventional Complete Dentures
A conventional complete denture replaces all of the teeth in an upper or lower dental arch. It is generally fabricated after the remaining teeth have been removed and the tissues have had sufficient time to heal. Allowing healing to occur before the final denture is made can provide a more stable foundation for accurate impressions and fabrication. A conventional denture rests primarily on the gums and underlying tissues.
The upper denture usually covers the palate. Its broad coverage helps provide support and retention. A lower complete denture is horseshoe-shaped to provide room for the tongue. Lower dentures are generally more challenging to stabilize because they have less supporting surface area and are affected by movements of the tongue, lips, and cheeks.
Immediate Complete Dentures
An immediate denture will look exactly like a conventional denture. The only difference is that it is made before the remaining teeth are removed and is inserted on the same day as the extractions. The primary advantage is that you do not have to go without teeth while the extraction sites heal. However, the gums and underlying bone change considerably following tooth removal. As healing progresses, an immediate denture can become loose and may require adjustments and relining.
Because the final shape of the gums cannot be known before the teeth are removed, the dental laboratory must remove the teeth from the stone model and estimate the shape of the gums after extraction. This makes the initial fit less predictable than with a conventional denture made after healing. In addition, unlike a conventional denture, an immediate denture generally cannot be tried in before completion because the natural teeth are still present. This limits the dentist’s ability to verify the tooth position, midline, appearance, and bite in advance. For these reasons, patients should not expect the fit or tooth alignment of an immediate denture to be as precise as that of a definitive denture.
As the extraction sites heal and the gums and bone change shape, adjustments and relining are often necessary. Depending on the situation, the immediate denture may ultimately be replaced with a new definitive denture after healing is complete, typically in 4–6 months.
Removable Implant-Supported Overdentures
Dental implants can dramatically improve the retention and stability of certain dentures. They are particularly beneficial for patients who have difficulty keeping a conventional denture stable, especially a lower type. Instead of relying entirely on the gums for support and retention, an implant-supported removable denture connects and is secured to dental implants via attachments. This allows the denture to receive support from both the implants and the gum tissue. It can also be designed to receive all of its support from the implants, thereby eliminating pressure points and sore spots on the gum tissue. The number and position of the implants determine the types of denture options available. Implants may help:
You can learn more in-depth information here:
Fixed Implant-Supported Dentures
Some patients seeking dentures may prefer a restoration that does not come out. Fixed implant-supported restorations use multiple dental implants to support a prosthesis that remains attached to the implants and is not removed by the patient each night.
These restorations are often referred to as All-on-X restorations. Although they are often discussed alongside dentures, fixed implant-supported restorations are fundamentally different from conventional removable dentures. Patients interested in the greatest possible stability should discuss both removable and fixed implant-supported options before deciding on treatment.
You can read more here: All-On-X
Upper vs. Lower Dentures
Upper and lower dentures behave differently.
Upper Dentures
A complete upper denture typically covers the palate. This larger surface area can provide better retention and stability than is usually possible with a conventional lower denture. It also allows for a seal that creates and maintains a suction effect. However, retention is not the same for all patients. The anatomy of the mouth plays an important role, as do the accuracy of the final impression and the quality of the laboratory fabrication.
Lower Dentures
A lower denture has considerably less surface area available for support. The tongue, cheeks, lips, and floor of the mouth are also constantly moving around it and can push or dislodge the denture. Patients need to learn how to chew and position or move their tongue in ways that help minimize denture movement. For these reasons, lower complete dentures are typically less stable than upper dentures. Dental implants can make a significant difference for patients who have difficulty tolerating or functioning with a conventional lower denture.
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Denture Materials
Modern dentures are typically made using a combination of acrylic resin and manufactured denture teeth.
Denture Base
The pink portion of the denture replaces the missing gum tissue and supports the artificial teeth. Acrylic resin is commonly used because it can be shaped, polished, adjusted, repaired, and, in many situations, relined. The acrylic is available in different shades to more closely match the patient’s natural gum tissue.
Denture Teeth
Artificial denture teeth are available in different shapes, sizes, shades, materials, and levels of quality. Selecting appropriate teeth involves more than simply choosing a color. Tooth dimensions, arrangement, facial proportions, bite, available space, and the patient’s preferences all contribute to the final appearance.
Not all denture teeth are created equal. Denture teeth are available in different quality levels, ranging from economy to premium. The quality can affect their appearance, anatomy, and wear resistance. The overall fee for a denture often reflects, in part, the quality of the denture teeth and materials selected for its fabrication.
Metal Framework
A metal mesh framework can optionally be incorporated into the denture base to provide additional strength and make the denture far less prone to a complete fracture through the center. The metal framework reinforces the acrylic in much the same way that rebar reinforces a concrete slab. This additional reinforcement is not always covered by dental insurance but may be well worth considering, especially if you have all of your natural teeth in the opposing arch. Natural teeth can generate greater biting forces against the denture, placing additional stress on the denture base.
Digital Dentures vs. Traditionally Processed Dentures
Dentures can be fabricated using either traditional laboratory techniques or digital technology. Both methods can produce high-quality dentures, but there are important differences in how they are fabricated, how the teeth are incorporated into the denture base, and how easily modifications can be made. Digital does not automatically mean better.
Traditionally Processed Dentures
Traditional dentures have an excellent track record. The denture base is available in a wide selection of acrylic shades and can also be characterized with different gingival tones for a more natural appearance. More importantly, the teeth can be arranged in wax for a try-in. This allows the dentist and patient to evaluate the tooth position, midline, appearance, and bite before the final denture is completed. Changes can be made relatively easily chairside at this stage by softening the wax and repositioning the teeth.
This is not possible in the same manner with digital dentures because they do not use a traditional wax setup, and the teeth cannot simply be repositioned chairside. Any changes would have to be communicated to the lab and hopefully the next try-in set will be ideal.
Once the setup is approved, the wax is replaced with acrylic during laboratory processing. The denture teeth are incorporated into the acrylic during this process, providing mechanical and chemical retention between the teeth and the denture base. Because the acrylic is processed around the teeth, the base can adapt to the actual shape of the teeth, including denture teeth that have been shortened or modified to fit. Traditionally processed acrylic dentures are also generally straightforward for dental laboratories to adjust, reline, and repair when necessary.
Digitally Milled Dentures
Digital dentures use computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) for part or all of the fabrication process. Depending on the system, the denture base may be milled from a pre-polymerized acrylic disc.
Digital does not automatically mean better. The quality of either type of denture depends heavily on accurate impressions or scans, bite records, tooth selection and positioning, available space, material selection, laboratory technique, and careful attention to detail. Generally milled dentures have good, consistent color, and multiple gingival shades are available. However, depending on the material/system, the base can look somewhat more uniform than a highly characterized traditional denture.
One significant advantage of a milled denture base is that the acrylic has already been polymerized under controlled manufacturing conditions. This minimizes the dimensional changes that can occur when conventional acrylic is processed and can provide excellent accuracy and material consistency.
Another important advantage of digital dentures is that the digital design can often be stored. If a denture is lost or severely damaged, the stored information may make fabrication of a replacement easier without having to completely recreate the original design. That said, the fit will never be the same because adjustemnts were made to your previous denture and all of that will need to be redone.
In many digital denture systems, prefabricated denture teeth are manufactured separately and bonded into designed sockets in the denture base. The digital software uses the known shape of the selected teeth to design corresponding recesses, with a controlled amount of space for the bonding material. This process can provide excellent accuracy when the teeth closely correspond to their digitally designed shape.
However, denture teeth quite often need to be shortened or modified, particularly on the underside of the tooth when there is limited space between the upper and lower jaws. If a prefabricated tooth is significantly modified manually after the socket has been designed, however, achieving the same intimate fit between the tooth and denture base becomes less reliable. A larger or irregular space may then need to be filled with bonding resin which is the weak-link. A conventional denture does not have this limitation.
With a traditionally processed denture, a cast or mesh metal reinforcement can be positioned within the acrylic and the denture base processed around it. This is a well-established laboratory technique. With a milled digital denture, incorporating an internal metal framework is more complicated because the denture base is milled from an already-polymerized solid PMMA disc. You cannot simply embed a metal framework as you can with conventional processing. The CAD design and manufacturing process must specifically accommodate the reinforcement, or the denture may require a hybrid workflow involving both digital fabrication and conventional laboratory processing, in which case you are better off not going the digital route.
Digitally 3D-Printed Dentures
3D-printed dentures can be more convenient and efficient to fabricate and can be especially useful when a denture is needed quickly. The digital design can also be saved, making it easier to reproduce a lost or damaged denture in the future. However, the quality and properties of 3D-printed dentures can vary considerably depending on the resin, printer, printing orientation, curing process, and laboratory technique. Some printed denture bases may appear more monochromatic, opaque, or artificial-looking compared with premium traditionally processed acrylic. The surface finish may also require careful polishing and finishing to achieve a smooth, natural appearance. Newer materials continue to improve these characteristics.
Another consideration is how the denture teeth are attached to the base. In many 3D-printed systems, the teeth or tooth arch are fabricated separately and bonded to the printed denture base. This creates an additional bonded interface that does not exist in the same manner with conventionally processed dentures, where acrylic is processed around the denture teeth.
Repairing, relining, or modifying a 3D-printed denture can also be more material- and system-dependent. Traditional PMMA denture repair and reline techniques have been used successfully for decades, whereas compatibility and predictability with printed resins can vary. Significant modifications may sometimes be better accomplished by digitally redesigning and reprinting the denture.
The strength and fracture resistance of printed dentures also depend heavily on the specific resin and manufacturing process. For this reason, it would not be accurate to assume that every 3D-printed denture has the same strength or longevity as another. 3D-printed dentures can be an excellent option for long-term temporary or transitional dentures. For a definitive removable denture, we generally prefer traditionally processed acrylic because of its long clinical track record, esthetic flexibility, ease of modification, established repair and reline procedures, and the ability to perform a traditional wax try-in, which we believe is a crucial step in achieving the desired fit, bite, tooth position, and appearance before the final denture is processed.
The Denture Treatment Appointments
Making a high-quality denture generally requires multiple appointments. Each stage provides information needed for the next step. Depending on the type of denture and individual circumstances, additional appointments may be required.
Appointment 1: Consultation and Examination (30 minutes)
Your treatment begins with a comprehensive evaluation. We assess your remaining teeth, gums, bone, bite, existing dentures, medical and dental history, and treatment goals. If teeth remain, we determine whether they can predictably be maintained or whether removal should be considered. We also discuss whether a conventional denture, implant-supported denture, partial denture, or fixed implant restoration is the most appropriate option.
Appointment 2: Preliminary Impressions (15-30 minutes)
Initial preliminary impressions are taken using alginate material. These models provide important information about your anatomy and can be used to fabricate custom impression trays when necessary. This appointment can be completed during the first appointment if the patient has already made up his or her mind about proceeding with treatment.
3) TeethAppointment 3: Final Impressions (30-60 minutes)3) Teeth
Using the fabricated custom trays, accurate final impressions of the gum tissues are obtained. This is one of the most important stages of denture fabrication because the shape and extension of the denture base influence comfort, support, retention, and stability.
Appointment 4: Bite Registration and Tooth Selection (30-45 minutes)
Once accurate models have been created, we determine how the upper and lower jaws should relate to each other. We record the appropriate bite position and evaluate tooth size, shape, and shade. These records help establish the position of the future denture teeth.
Appointment 5: Wax Try-In (15-30 minutes)
Before the denture is finalized, the teeth may be arranged in wax so that we can evaluate tooth position, smile appearance, tooth shade, tooth shape, bite, speech, and lip and facial support. Because the denture has not yet been permanently processed, changes are much easier to make at this stage. This is an important opportunity for you to evaluate the appearance of your future smile.
If the changes cannot be made chairside, your case will be returned to the lab for modification. This will require an additional appointment for a second wax try-in the following week.
Appointment 6: Denture Delivery (15-30 minutes)
Once the denture has been completed, we evaluate its fit, bite, and comfort. Areas of excessive pressure can be adjusted, and instructions are provided for wearing and caring for the new denture. A new denture often requires additional adjustments as your mouth adapts to it.
Appointment 7: Adjustments (15 minutes)
You will need to be seen the following day to evaluate for potential sore spots. Even if you do not have any discomfort, it does not mean you should skip the appointment. Not all pressure spots become noticeable until a few days have passed. It is crucial and in your best interest to be seen for a follow-up appointment.
Getting Used to New Dentures
New dentures usually require an adjustment period. Even an accurately made denture is a new object occupying space in your mouth. Your lips, cheeks, tongue, and chewing muscles must learn how to function with it. It could take up to 8 weeks for the lip muscles to adapt to the new denture. During the first several days or weeks, you may experience some changes or discomfort. These issues often improve as you become accustomed to the denture and necessary adjustments are made.
Start with softer foods and smaller bites. Chewing slowly and using both sides of the mouth can help stabilize the denture. Chewing on only one side can cause instability and denture movement, so try to chew on both sides instead. Avoid chewy foods, even if they are soft, such as lettuce. Denture teeth are not as efficient at chewing as natural teeth. During the first several days or weeks, you may experience:
Denture Repairs
Dentures can occasionally fracture or become damaged. Common problems include:
Damage caused by dropping the denture — Can be repaired in most cases.
Cracked or fractured pink acrylic — Can be repaired in most cases.
Broken denture teeth — May require a new tooth.
Teeth separating from the denture base — Can be reattached in most cases.
Complete fracture of the denture — Can be repaired in most cases.
Many acrylic dentures can be repaired, although the feasibility of a repair depends on the type and extent of the damage. Do not attempt to repair a denture with household glue. It is already challenging to properly align the broken pieces. When you glue them yourself, the alignment is almost never accurate, and it can make it impossible for the dentist to correctly reposition the pieces afterward. As a result, it may alter the fit of the denture.
Back To TopDenture Adjustments
New dentures commonly require adjustments. Small pressure areas can become uncomfortable because chewing forces are concentrated on the soft tissues beneath the denture. It is like wearing a pair of shoes that are too tight in certain areas. They may feel comfortable initially, but after a few hours of walking, you may develop soreness, and if ignored, blisters may form. Dentures behave similarly.
Even the slightest uneven or excessive pressure can cause gum irritation. This may start as red spots that are initially not bothersome. As time goes by, sore spots can develop and progressively worsen. Do not attempt to adjust the denture yourself using power tools. You could ruin the fit of your denture! Instead, contact our office. If this happens over the weekend, leave the denture out of your mouth and only wear it when you need to eat.
Back To TopDenture Relines
The fit of a denture can change over time. After teeth are removed, the gums and underlying bone gradually change shape. As this occurs, a previously well-fitting denture may become loose. A denture reline modifies the tissue-fitting surface of the denture so that it adapts more closely to the current shape of your mouth.
Relines may be performed in the dental office or by a dental laboratory. Typically, laboratory relines are more durable but are also more expensive. In addition, you may have to surrender your denture for 1–2 days while the reline is being completed.
Keep in mind that a reline improves the fit of an existing denture but does not correct every problem. If the denture is excessively worn, damaged, poorly positioned, or has an incorrect bite, replacement may be a better option.
Caring for Your Dentures
Proper care helps maintain the denture and protects the tissues underneath it. Remove and clean your dentures every day. Ideally, rinse them after meals to remove food particles. Use a denture brush or soft toothbrush with a cleaner appropriate for dentures. Never use harsh chemicals. Also, conventional toothpaste can be abrasive and may scratch acrylic surfaces, thus increasing plaque retention.
When the denture is removed, gently clean your gums, tongue, and palate. Unless specifically instructed otherwise, dentures should generally be removed while sleeping. This gives the tissues beneath the denture an opportunity to rest and may help reduce irritation and denture-associated fungal infections. Handle dentures carefully. Acrylic can fracture if dropped onto a hard floor or countertop. Keep your dentures away from pets, as they may chew on and destroy them
Removing Your Dentures at Bedtime
Wearing them occasionally at night should not cause a problem. However, in most circumstances, we recommend removing dentures while sleeping. Just as you do not sleep with your shoes on, you should not wear your dentures while sleeping. The tissues supporting a denture are subjected to pressure throughout the day. Removing the denture at night allows those tissues to rest.
Continuous denture wear can contribute to inflammation and may increase the risk of fungal infection beneath the denture. There may be temporary situations when we instruct a patient to wear a denture overnight, such as immediately following certain procedures. Follow the specific instructions provided for your treatment.
Denture Adhesive
Adhesives come in different forms, including powder, gel, or pads. Everyone has a different preference. Some swear the powder form is the best, while others dislike it altogether. You should try the different forms and see what works best in your case. Do not give up on an adhesive if it does not meet your expectations. Also, it is important how much you apply. Adding an excessive amount can make the retention worse. Start with a pea-sized amount in multiple spots.
Adhesive should not be used to compensate indefinitely for a severely loose or poorly fitting denture. If you require increasing amounts of adhesive to keep your denture in place, the denture should be evaluated. It may require adjustment, relining, replacement, or consideration of implant support.
The Lifespan of Dentures
Dentures are not permanent. Even if the denture itself remains intact, your mouth continues to change. Bone and gum tissue gradually remodel after teeth are lost, while denture teeth and acrylic surfaces experience wear. The more ill-fitting a denture becomes, the more it may contribute to jawbone loss over the years. This becomes particularly important when many years have passed.
Some patients are pleased that their dentures have lasted 20 years and are still functional. However, they may not realize that continuing to wear an old, poorly fitting denture, even if it feels comfortable, can come at the expense of losing valuable supporting jawbone. Many dentures may require significant evaluation, relining, or replacement after approximately 5–10 years, although there is no universal replacement schedule. The appropriate timing depends on the fit of the denture, tooth wear, changes in the bite, changes in the bone and gum tissue, the condition and appearance of the denture, comfort, and overall function. Regular dental examinations remain important even when you no longer have natural teeth.
Back To TopCauses of Loose Dentures
A denture that once fit well can become loose because the tissues underneath it change over time. After natural teeth are removed, the jawbone that previously supported those teeth gradually remodels. As the ridge becomes smaller, the denture may no longer fit the tissues as closely as it once did. Weight loss can also change the shape of the gums and affect the fit of a denture. A loose denture may sometimes be improved with a reline. In other situations, fabrication of a new denture or adding dental implant support may provide a better solution.
Dentures vs. Partial Dentures
The main difference is whether natural teeth remain. A complete denture replaces all of the teeth in an arch. A partial denture replaces only some missing teeth and uses the remaining teeth, tissues, and sometimes implants for support and retention.
Will dentures look natural?
They can. Tooth shade, shape, size, arrangement, gum color, lip support, and tooth position all influence the final result. The wax try-in stage allows many of these factors to be evaluated before the denture is completed.
Will I be able to eat normally with dentures?
Dentures can significantly restore chewing ability, but conventional removable dentures do not function exactly like natural teeth. Most patients improve considerably with practice. Implant support can provide additional stability and chewing confidence.
Will dentures affect my speech?
You may initially notice changes in pronunciation because your tongue must adapt to the new shape of the denture. Speech typically improves with practice and adaptation. Speak slowly until your tongue adapts.
Why does my lower denture move?
Lower dentures have less surface area for support and are surrounded by moving muscles, the tongue, cheeks, and lips. Some movement is common with conventional lower dentures. Dental implants can greatly improve retention in appropriate patients.
Can I sleep with my dentures?
Generally, we recommend removing dentures during sleep unless you have been given specific instructions to do otherwise.
Can I use denture adhesive?
Yes, a small amount can be helpful. However, excessive reliance on adhesive may indicate that the denture requires professional evaluation.
Can a broken denture be repaired?
Many acrylic denture fractures can be repaired. The denture must be evaluated to determine whether repair or replacement is the better option.
Can loose dentures be tightened?
Sometimes. Adjustments or relining may improve the fit. Severely worn or poorly fitting dentures may need replacement.
Do I still need dental checkups if I have no teeth?
Yes. Dental examinations are still important for evaluating the gums, oral tissues, tongue, denture fit, bite, and overall oral health..
Are implant dentures better than regular dentures?
Implants can substantially improve retention and stability, particularly for lower dentures. However, implant treatment is not appropriate for every patient. Medical health, anatomy, bone availability, maintenance requirements, treatment complexity, and cost must all be considered.
Why did my denture become loose after losing weight?
Significant weight loss can affect the tissues throughout the body, including the soft tissues that help support your denture. As the volume and shape of these tissues change, a denture that previously fit well may begin to feel loose or move during eating and speaking.
Back To TopLearn More
For additional information about removable partial dentures, visit the American Dental Association’s patient education website:
American Dental Association – Dentures
Why Choose Dr. Ghodsi?
Successful denture treatment requires careful attention to much more than simply replacing missing teeth. Dr. Ghodsi takes an individualized approach to denture treatment, carefully evaluating your oral anatomy, bite, existing teeth, facial support, appearance, and functional needs before recommending treatment. At Lakeview Dental, our goal is to recommend the treatment you actually need while helping you understand the advantages and limitations of each option. When appropriate, we can discuss conventional dentures, partial dentures, implant-supported removable dentures, and fixed implant-supported alternatives so you can make an informed decision.
Dr. Ghodsi does not believe in rushing denture treatment or skipping any steps. The established steps of denture fabrication are carefully followed, much like the textbook process taught for creating a properly fitting denture. From preliminary and final impressions to bite records, tooth selection, wax try-in, delivery, and follow-up adjustments, each step serves an important purpose and is not skipped simply to shorten the treatment process. Careful attention at every stage helps us create a denture specifically designed for your mouth, bite, and appearance rather than treating dentures as a one-size-fits-all appliance.
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Dr. Shayan Ghodsi DMD
Royal Palm Beach Dentist
“Felt very comfortable, everyone was very pleasant and professional. The dentist was very approachable and honest. Did not push unnecessary procedures. I’m very grateful for his kindness and professionalism. I highly recommend him and his staff. Thank you so much.”
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Dentures in Royal Palm Beach, Florida
If you are missing most or all of your teeth, Lakeview Dental offers comprehensive denture treatment in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. Whether you need your first denture, replacement of an older denture, evaluation of a loose or uncomfortable denture, or would like to explore dental implants for additional stability, Dr. Ghodsi can evaluate your individual situation and discuss the available options. Contact Lakeview Dental to schedule a denture consultation and learn which treatment approach may be appropriate for you.
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