Complete dentures
A complete denture replaces all the teeth in the upper or lower jaw, or both. It is for people whose teeth are gone or can't be saved, and it is made in our lab to fit your gums.
What happens
Usually four to six visits over a few weeks. Dr. Sosa gives you the range for your mouth after the exam.
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Step 1: Exam and options
Dr. Sosa looks at your mouth and goes through what could work, and what she would not suggest.
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Step 2: Impressions and bite
Molds of your gums, and a record of how your jaws close, go to Marco at the bench.
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Step 3: Try-in
You try the teeth in wax and say what you'd change before the denture is finished.
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Step 4: Fitting and follow-up
The finished denture goes in, and you come back to have any sore spots adjusted.
If teeth need to come out first, you may be fitted with an immediate denture, which is adjusted or relined as your gums heal.
Comfort, choices and care
Comfort
Impressions and try-ins mean pressure, not pain. If teeth are removed, we numb the area with a local anesthetic and stop whenever you raise a hand. A new denture can rub in places; we adjust those spots.
If you wait
Other teeth can shift or wear down, and chewing can get harder. You can also choose to stay as you are; Dr. Sosa tells you what she would watch for.
Risks and after-care
Sore spots, a lisp for a few days and extra saliva are common at first. Gums shrink over time, so a denture needs relines or a new one. Take it out at night, clean it daily with a soft brush, and call us if a sore spot lasts more than a few days.
How it's billed
You get a written estimate before any work starts, with each step listed.
How fees work
Questions about complete dentures
Will I be without teeth while it's made?
Sometimes. If teeth are being removed, Dr. Sosa may fit an immediate denture so you aren't without teeth while your gums heal. It needs relines afterward.
Can I eat normally?
Start with soft foods and small bites. Most people need a few weeks to get used to chewing, and Dr. Sosa goes over it with you.
What if it doesn't fit?
Tell us. Adjusting the fit is part of the follow-up visits, and Marco can reshape it in the lab.
Provided by a general dentist
Dr. Evangelina Sosa, DDS, general dentist, licensed in Texas.