If you’re planning to speak with your family dental care provider about getting dentures, wondering what to expect at your appointment is normal. Understanding the different types of dentures will help you be prepared and feel more confident about speaking with your family dental care provider. Below, you’ll find more information on denture types and the steps of getting them.

Determining the Denture Type

There are three primary types of dentures: conventional, immediate, and overdentures. With conventional dentures, your remaining teeth are removed through oral surgery, and the site is allowed to heal before you’re fitted for and receive dentures. This type will be recommended if you have few teeth left or they’re in poor condition.

If your remaining teeth are healthy or you have dental implants, you’ll receive overdentures. With these, there are no extra steps before being fitted for your dentures. Your natural teeth or implants will anchor the dentures and protect the integrity of your jaw, so these will be recommended when possible.

The final type, immediate, requires that your teeth be removed, but the dentures can be worn the same day. You’ll be fitted for them before your teeth are removed, and you’ll have a full, healthy smile while you’re healing from the tooth extractions. This option is best for those highly concerned about aesthetics and who only have one or two teeth to remove, as you’ll experience less discomfort.

Getting the Dentures

For immediate dentures, measurements will be taken of your mouth and they will be sent to a dental laboratory that will make the prosthetics. This process can take several weeks. 

With conventional dentures, your teeth will be removed and allowed to heal before a mold is taken of your mouth for the lab. When healed from the oral surgery, you’ll receive your dentures, going back after a few weeks to have them adjusted if the fit isn’t right.

If you get overdentures, the process is simpler, needing only measurements and a mold for your dentures to be created. It takes several weeks to get used to wearing dentures, so be patient. Eat mostly soft foods for a few weeks to avoid further irritation of your mouth, and keep your dentures clean, brushing them at least once a day and rinsing them after every meal to promote healthy healing and minimize discomfort.

You’ll find quality family dental care at Magnolia Dental in Waynesboro, VA. From precise denture fittings to routine teeth cleaning visits, their qualified and friendly team of professionals will give you a pleasant experience and advanced dental care. Backed by 45 years of experience, their individualized services include oral surgery, fillings, oral cancer screening, and teeth cleaning. With cutting-edge technology and advanced treatments, your dental health will be in the best of hands. Learn about dentures and other family dental care procedures on their website, and call (540) 943-2723 to schedule your consultation.