Getting a new set of dentures is a highly personalized process that replaces missing teeth and surrounding tissue with removable prosthetic appliances. This restoration is not a single-visit procedure; it is a meticulous, multi-stage journey that requires close collaboration between the patient, the dentist, and the dental laboratory. The entire fabrication and fitting process is built upon a series of distinct appointments, each dedicated to capturing precise anatomical details and verifying fit and aesthetics. This comprehensive approach ensures the finished denture functions correctly, provides the necessary support for facial structures, and satisfies the patient’s aesthetic expectations.
Initial Planning and Preparation
The process begins with an initial consultation, which serves as the diagnostic and treatment planning phase. During this first visit, the dentist conducts a thorough oral examination to assess the health of the remaining tissues and bone structure, determining whether a full or partial denture is the appropriate solution. The dentist also discusses the patient’s goals, including considerations for conventional dentures, which require a healing period after extractions, or immediate dentures, which are placed the same day the teeth are removed.
This early stage includes taking preliminary impressions, which are generalized molds of the patient’s upper and lower arches. These initial impressions are typically taken using a stock tray and an impression material like alginate. The resulting plaster models are not yet precise enough for the final denture, but they allow the dental laboratory to fabricate custom impression trays. These custom trays are uniquely contoured to the patient’s mouth, ensuring the subsequent, more detailed molds accurately capture the fine structures of the soft tissue.
The customized trays are designed to extend to the exact borders of the mouth where the denture will rest, including anatomical landmarks. Using a tray specifically made for the patient minimizes distortion and provides a stable platform for the next impression material. This first phase of planning lays the groundwork for the accuracy required in all later steps, which is paramount for the stability and retention of the finished appliance.
Creating the Denture Molds and Records
The second phase involves a set of appointments dedicated to capturing the definitive measurements needed for denture construction, often requiring two to three separate visits. The first of these appointments focuses on taking the final impressions using the custom trays created earlier. A highly accurate impression material is used to record the minute details of the soft tissues and the denture-bearing area, which the laboratory will use to create the final stone cast.
Following the final impression, a subsequent visit establishes the correct relationship between the upper and lower jaws, known as the bite registration. This appointment uses wax rims to determine two crucial measurements: the centric relation and the vertical dimension of occlusion. Centric relation is the most stable position of the jaw joints, while the vertical dimension is the proper height of the lower face when the teeth are closed.
A third appointment in this phase is the wax try-in, where the denture teeth are set in wax on the baseplate for the patient and dentist to review. This is the most important aesthetic appointment, as it allows for verification of the fit, the midline, the tooth shade, and the overall look before the denture is processed into hard acrylic. Since the teeth are only set in wax, adjustments to the position or shade can be made easily, preventing potential aesthetic issues that would be permanent once the denture is finalized. The patient’s approval at this stage signifies that the aesthetics and bite are satisfactory.
Final Fitting and Necessary Adjustments
The final stage begins with the insertion appointment, where the completed, hard acrylic denture is delivered to the patient. Even with all the precision used in the preceding stages, modification is almost always required to ensure optimal comfort and function. The dentist uses disclosing pastes to identify localized pressure spots on the tissue surface of the denture base, which are then carefully relieved with a bur.
The patient is instructed to wear the new denture and return for a mandatory follow-up appointment, typically within 24 to 72 hours. This initial check is crucial because sore spots often develop as the denture settles onto the soft tissues under the forces of chewing. These areas of pressure must be promptly identified and adjusted. A pressure-indicating paste is used to pinpoint the exact location on the denture corresponding to the sore spot.
Multiple adjustment visits are an expected and standard part of the denture process, often requiring one to three additional appointments in the weeks following delivery. These adjustments are necessary to fine-tune the fit, address changes in speech patterns, and improve chewing efficiency as the patient adapts to the new appliance. Long-term success relies on the patient’s willingness to return for these adjustments, ensuring the final denture is as comfortable and stable as possible.