Dentures – Lexington, MA

Boosting Confidence by Improving Patients’ Smiles

Dentures are removable mouth appliances used for tooth replacement. Patients may have experienced tooth loss due to gum disease, decay, or injury. These appliances help restore smiles and improve chewing and speaking abilities. We encourage patients to replace missing teeth as soon as possible to avoid more dental issues. Existing teeth have a higher risk of decay and gum disease. Also, individuals may notice unnatural teeth shifting and more tooth loss. Our team of prosthodontists will customize your dentures in Lexington to ensure they fit properly and look natural. Learn more about them below and contact us today to schedule an appointment.

Why Choose Lexington Smile Studio for Dentures?

Board-Certified Prosthodontist On Staff
Loyal, Empathetic Dental Team
State-of-the-Art Dental Technology Used

Who's a Good Candidate for Dentures?

Virtually everyone who has lost teeth has the potential to be an excellent candidate for dentures, and the best way to determine how to restore your smile is to schedule a consultation at our Lexington office. During this appointment, our skilled dentist will carefully evaluate your oral health and medical history and discuss your needs and preferences for your prosthodontic device. If a candidate is not ready for dentures yet, we can usually prepare them for the treatment with an appropriate restorative procedure. Here’s a quick look at what makes someone an excellent denture candidate, but please feel free to contact our office if you’d like to know more.

Types of Dentures

Dentures are either complete or partial, depending on the patient’s need. Those who are missing all of their teeth, whether top or bottom, need complete (full) dentures. Patients who are missing several teeth will benefit from partials. There is also the option of implant dentures for a more permanent solution.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures replace multiple missing teeth and use an acrylic base to support artificial teeth. Holding these prosthetics in place is an acrylic or metal framework that attaches to healthy abutments. Once your partial is ready, our team will position it along the upper or lower arch and secure it in place.

Full Dentures

Full or complete dentures replace full arches of missing teeth with the help of natural suction and denture adhesive. Crafted from the same materials as partial dentures, the only difference is that there is no underlying framework required. These dentures rest on your gums and restore your ability to eat, speak, and smile.

Implant Dentures

Implant dentures, or overdentures, attach to dental implants. As long as you have a dense jawbone, we can place 4-6 titanium implants before securing a customized denture on top. Over time, the implants and bone will fuse, establishing a solid foundation for your healthier, longer-lasting smile.

How Dentures are Made

On top of how they work, you’ll likely want to learn how dentures are made. Having a sense of this process helps a patient see if treatment truly suits them. Thankfully, our practice can (and will) gladly provide you with details about the work of denture creation. You’ll then see what really goes into your prosthetics – their materials, assembly, and so on! Just keep reading for the relevant information, or call us to hear more over the phone.

Step 1: Impressions

A scanner used for digital dental impressions.

Our dentists will start by taking precise dental impressions of your mouth. More specifically, they’ll create a 3D model of your teeth and gums using either digital technology or special putty. (Which method they use will depend on your situation and needs.) We’ll later send this model to a local dental lab for further analysis and refinement.

Step 2: Wax Mold Creation

A dental technician creating a wax mold.

For the second step, lab workers will use the model to make a wax model of your mouth. That will involve carving around tooth-like portions, texturing false gums, and shaping the mold to appear as close to the final dentures as possible. Once the workers finish those tasks, they’ll send the wax model back to us for feedback. You and our dentists will then try the model to see if it looks and fits well, eventually sending it back to the lab for further adjustments.

Step 3: Fit Check

A dentist showing dentures to an older man.

The third step uses the retrieved model to create a plaster mold of your mouth. To do so, lab workers will pour hot water into said model to melt the wax inside. They’ll next send the plaster-wax mold back to us for patient feedback, and we’ll return it after a final assessment.

For the record, the fit check is crucial to denture creation. Patients should use it to discern their restoration’s appearance, comfort, etc.

Step 4: Back to the Lab for Refinements

A dental technician further refining a denture.

After getting the plaster-wax mold back, technicians will create a full-plaster equivalent. This starts with the removal of the wax base through boiling, followed by indenting holes into the acrylic teeth. (These measures ensure the final acrylic material can attach.) The technician will later inject a separator into the mold (to keep the acrylic from sticking to it) and the acrylic itself. At that time, the lab will have finished your denture’s acrylic base; work concludes by attaching artificial teeth to it.

As a precaution, the lab will polish, cleanup, and remove plaster residue from the denture. They’ll then return the prosthetics (again) to us.

Step 5: Take Them Home!

A satisfied, smiling senior woman looking at the camera.

We’ll have you try the final denture for the fifth and final step. Once our team confirms it fits, they’ll explain how to insert and remove your prosthetic; they’ll also share how to care for it. Should everything go well, this session will end with you ready to take the denture home!

To be clear, it takes roughly 30 days to adjust to new dentures. Your facial muscles will strengthen during that time to support your prosthetics, thus ensuring easy chewing and speaking. It’s normal to experience some mild soreness and device slippage as these changes occur.

The Benefits of Dentures

The loss of even a few teeth can make many daily activities like chewing, speaking, and smiling much more difficult, and dentures can be a fantastic way to improve your confidence as well as your oral and overall health. Here’s a quick look at a few of the ways in which dentures can enhance your life from the friendly team at Lexington Smile Studio, but please feel free to contact our office if you’d like to know more.