Partial & Complete Dentures Lynnwood, WA

We are Conveniently Located In Lynnwood, Also Provides Cosmetic Services To Everett, Marysville, Redmond, Shoreline, Bothell, Edmonds, And All Neighboring Communities.

What are Dentures?

Many patients who consider cosmetic dentistry recognize dentures as a well-known form of replacing teeth. Dentures are replacement teeth made from a prosthetic material that is custom fitted to fit into your mouth. Dentures fit snug into a patient’s mouth by being supported by the hard and soft tissue of the oral cavity. Sometimes, these appliances are called “plates.” Full or partial dentures are popularly used in the dental cosmetic industry for patients who are missing all or some of their teeth.

Dentures are not like dental implants or bridges; they can be worn all day long but are not meant to be worn at night. This type of replacement tooth option is not meant to be a permanently fixed solution for missing teeth but rather a quick fix or a substitute for missing teeth. Dentures are not glued or fixed into the mouth. They are removable and in general, sit snug covering most of the gums (if complete dentures where all teeth are missing) or partially covering gums and teeth (for partial dentures).

For some patients they may have a combination of implants and dentures in an appliance called an overdenture. These tend to be more stable than denture therapy alone.

Call our Office at (425) 742-9609 Today!

How Are Dentures Made?

Before committing to a complete or a partial denture, it’s important to know exactly how these replacement teeth are made. There several steps involved in making your custom set of dentures. Your cosmetic dentist will likely set up about 3-4 visits to ensure every aspect of the denture procedure is complete. The whole process typically takes about 3-6 weeks. The timeline, of course, depends on your chosen dentist.

Step 1

Your dentist will first have a detailed consultation about your teeth and the goal you have for the over-all look of your smile. Your dentist will recommend any tooth removals if needed, these teeth usually need extracting because they may be decayed or decaying and it’s best to have them removed before your dentures are made. This is to ensure your dentures are as up to date with your natural teeth as possible. On your first official visit, your dentist will take an impression of your gums, after the needed teeth are removed.

Step 2

This is the custom selection part of the process. Your dentist will allow you to choose the shade of teeth, size, and shape of your dentures. It is recommended to have your dentist have an opinion in your selections as your dentist has done this many times and can give you tips on what shape, color and size would work best and look the most natural in your mouth. It may be easy to assume to pick the lightest shade of dentures, but you want your teeth to look realistic, ask your dentist for their opinion.

Step 3

Once the size, shape, and color of your dentures are chosen, your dentist will place wax rims in your mouth to figure out the exact orientation of your bite. This is so the dentist can mark exactly where your bite sits, to ensure your dentures fit those bites exactly. This step is essential to ensure your dentures don’t feel out of place in your mouth and little adjustment is needed in the future.

Step 4

Once all the measurements are sent to your dentist’s lab, the lab will send back a mock-up of your dentures once all selections are made. This is an incredibly important visit as this is the perfect opportunity to let your dentist know of any changes you want to be made. It’s recommended to bring a close family member or friend along as well to see the overall look of the dentures in your mouth. It’s great to have a second opinion who may catch some details you may have missed. If you approve of this mock-up this version is sent back to the lab so your permanent dentures are made. If changes need to be made to the mock-up, you will need to return to your dentist to try on the second mock-up.

Step 5

At this appointment, your dentist will fit in your final denture (made from tissue colored acrylic). Your dentist can still make an adjustment if needed to the bite and fit of the dentures. If you go home and wear the dentures and find you’ve developed soreness in some areas, be sure to communicate this with your dentist so they can adjust if needed. This final period of adjustments can take up to four or five visits.

Call our Office at (425) 742-9609 Today!

Getting Used To Your Dentures

As mentioned previously, dentures are to be worn during all hours of the day and to be removed at night when you sleep. To fully feel comfortable in your dentures, it is recommended to wear them as much as possible as soon as they are handed to you. Some patients use a form of denture adhesive to keep them in place if needed and these are usually patients who do not have adequate ridge to support a denture. Some patients report having a harder time keeping their bottom dentures in place as your jaw doesn’t provide a natural suction as your top teeth do. Talk to you denture about a possible overdenture or conversion of your denture into an overdenture that is supported by implants. Nonetheless, be sure to report any issues that seem abnormal to your dentist.

Caring For Your Dentures

Costs of Dentures

Patients must always stay up to date with their dental insurance coverage, to avoid and minimize any out of pocket expenses. Your cosmetic dentist will be able to go over these with you to figure out just how much you would need to pay out of pocket. The cost of dentures always depends on the different variations of dentures, whether they’re complete or partial. In any case, whether you have dental insurance or not, your dentist will be happy to share with you the different options you may have for paying for your dentures.

More Information about the Cost of Dentures >

Meadowdale Dental Clinic, conveniently located in Lynnwood, also provides complete denture services to Everett, Marysville, Redmond, Shoreline, Bothell, Edmonds, and all neighboring communities.