Dentures

What Are Dentures and How Are They Made?

Dentures are a replacement for missing teeth that allow patients to eat and speak normally, as well as look better. There are many types of dentures, each designed to meet the needs of different people. The most common are full dentures, which replace all the natural teeth in the upper or lower jaw, and partials, which fill in gaps when only a few natural teeth remain. Dentures are usually made of acrylic resin, though they may be strengthened with a lightweight metal like cobalt chrome. They may also be made of a combination of acrylic and natural tooth-colored plastic or gum-colored resin.

When you lose all your natural teeth, a good dentist can help you determine whether dentures are the right choice for you. They can also show you what your new smile might look like with denture models. This helps you decide if you’d like to have the same shape of your teeth or if you would like to make changes, such as closing a gap.

The first step in making a denture is to take impressions of the upper and lower gums. This information is sent to a lab where your dentures are made. The dentist uses a sticky paste in trays or a wax model to create a mold of your gums, so the dentures will fit comfortably and securely.

A basic low-cost denture starts at about $300-$500 per upper or lower denture, or $600-$1,000 for a complete set. This type of denture is called cold-cured and is considered temporary because the lower quality materials and streamlined processing methods used in its manufacture can lead to problems with comfort, stability, and esthetics. They can also be difficult to keep in place and often dislodge during eating or talking.

Higher-quality heat-cured dentures start at about $500-$1,500 per denture, or $1,000-$3,000 for a complete set. They are much more comfortable, stable, and natural-looking than cold-cured dentures and they can be tried out before they’re finished so you can be sure they will occlude properly (meet) and be esthetically pleasing. They are more durable than cold-cured dentures and they usually come with a 90-day to two-year warranty.

Please contact Downey Dental Solutions to make an appointment, we are located in Downey and serving patients 6 days a week.