Getting dentures is a multi-step process that typically takes several months from start to finish, especially if teeth need to be extracted first. The timeline depends on whether you need extractions, how quickly your gums heal, and which type of denture you’re getting. Here’s what the process actually looks like, from your first appointment to walking out with a new set of teeth.
Types of Dentures
Before the process begins, your dentist will help you decide which type fits your situation. The main options break down like this:
- Full dentures replace an entire arch of teeth. They rest on your gums and rely on the roof of your mouth or lower jawbone ridge for support. This is what most people picture when they think of dentures.
- Partial dentures fill in gaps when you still have some natural teeth remaining. They work like full dentures but include metal clasps that hook around your existing teeth for extra stability.
- Immediate dentures are placed right after your teeth are extracted, so you’re never without teeth. They sometimes serve as temporary appliances that get replaced once healing is complete, though in some cases the immediate denture becomes your final one.
- Implant-supported dentures attach to small titanium posts surgically placed in your jawbone, typically four to six per arch. These offer significantly better stability and chewing ability than conventional dentures, particularly for the lower jaw.
The Step-by-Step Fitting Process
Getting conventional dentures follows a predictable sequence, though the number of appointments can vary. Most people need five or six visits total.
Extractions and Healing
If you still have teeth that need to come out, that happens first. Depending on how many extractions you need, this alone can take multiple appointments. Sometimes the dentist also needs to smooth the underlying bone ridges so the denture will sit comfortably. After extractions, your gums need 6 to 12 weeks to fully heal before final denture impressions can be taken. During this time, the bone and tissue reshape considerably, which is why rushing this stage leads to poorly fitting dentures.
Impressions and Wax Try-In
Once your gums have healed, the dentist takes initial impressions to create study models of your mouth. These models become the blueprint for a denture custom-shaped to your face and jaw.
At the next visit, you’ll see a plastic base with wax blocks on it. The dentist takes a more precise final impression using this base and shapes the wax in your mouth so the lab knows exactly where to position each tooth. This step captures your bite alignment and the contours of your gums.
Then comes the aesthetic try-in: the lab sets actual denture teeth into wax on the base, and you get to see how they look and feel. This is the time to speak up about anything you want changed, because the teeth are still in soft wax and adjustments are easy. Color, size, positioning, and how your bite comes together can all be tweaked. Some people need more than one try-in appointment to get everything right. Once you’re satisfied, the wax version goes back to the lab to be processed into hard acrylic.
Delivery and Adjustments
At your final appointment, the completed denture is placed in your mouth and checked for fit, function, and appearance. Minor adjustments are common at this stage, usually small spots where the acrylic presses too hard against your gums. Then you take them home.
How Long the Whole Process Takes
If you need extractions, expect the full timeline to stretch across three to five months. The 6 to 12 weeks of healing after extractions accounts for most of that wait. The actual denture fabrication, from first impression to delivery, typically adds another three to five weeks depending on how many try-in visits you need.
If you opt for immediate dentures, you skip the healing wait and leave the extraction appointment with teeth in place. The tradeoff is that your gums will continue to change shape as they heal, which means the fit will loosen over time and you’ll likely need a reline or replacement set down the road.
Digital Dentures: A Faster Option
Some dental offices now use digital scanning and computer-aided manufacturing instead of the traditional impression-and-wax workflow. These digitally made dentures are milled from a solid block of acrylic rather than being cast in a mold, which eliminates the shrinkage that happens during traditional processing. The result is often a more precise fit and better retention.
The biggest practical advantage is fewer appointments. Digital workflows can theoretically reduce the process to as few as two visits, though in practice most people still need around five due to aesthetic adjustments during the try-in stage. Another benefit: your digital records are stored permanently, so if you ever lose or break your denture, a replacement can be manufactured without starting from scratch.
What Dentures Cost
Prices vary widely based on materials, customization, and where you live. Based on national averages from a 2024 cost study, here’s what to expect for a full set (upper and lower):
- Low-cost removable dentures: around $450 on average, ranging from about $350 to $900
- Mid-range conventional dentures: around $1,970 on average, ranging from $1,500 to $3,650
- Premium dentures with higher-end materials and more customization: around $6,500 on average, ranging from $5,000 to over $12,000
Implant-supported dentures cost significantly more because of the surgical component, often $15,000 to $30,000 or more per arch depending on the number of implants and type of restoration.
Insurance and Medicare Coverage
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover dentures. It explicitly excludes dental services like extractions, fillings, dentures, and implants. You pay the full cost out of pocket under traditional Medicare.
Some Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) include dental benefits that may partially cover dentures, but coverage varies dramatically between plans. Private dental insurance often covers a portion of denture costs, typically 50%, but usually imposes waiting periods of 6 to 12 months for major services and annual benefit caps that may not cover the full expense. Financing options through dental credit programs can spread payments over time if insurance falls short.
What Happens to Your Jawbone
One thing most people don’t consider before getting dentures is bone loss. When teeth are removed, the jawbone in those areas gradually shrinks because it no longer receives the stimulation that tooth roots provide. Research using 3D imaging has shown that both the height and width of the jawbone are significantly reduced in areas where teeth are missing, and wearing removable partial dentures actually accelerates this bone loss compared to having no denture at all.
This ongoing resorption is why dentures that fit perfectly at first gradually become loose over the years. It’s also why implant-supported dentures are often recommended for long-term use: the implants act like artificial roots, transmitting force into the bone and helping slow the shrinkage process.
Caring for Your Dentures
Daily cleaning prevents the buildup of bacterial and fungal films that can cause mouth infections and bad odor. The most effective approach, based on clinical testing, is soaking dentures in a diluted sodium hypochlorite solution (a small amount of household bleach in water) for about 10 minutes. This alone significantly reduces microbial load, even without brushing, though brushing with a denture brush adds mechanical removal of debris.
A few practical care habits that protect both your dentures and your mouth:
- Remove dentures at night to give your gums a chance to rest and reduce the risk of fungal overgrowth.
- Handle over a folded towel or basin of water so they don’t break if dropped.
- Keep them moist when not wearing them by storing in water or a denture-soaking solution. Acrylic can warp if it dries out completely.
- Get regular dental checkups even without natural teeth. Your dentist monitors gum health, bone changes, and denture fit. Relining, where the base is reshaped to match your changing gums, is a normal part of long-term denture ownership.