If you’re thinking about getting dentures, you might be asking yourself some questions:” Will they look natural? Will I be able to eat with them? “How will they fit?”

Although no one welcomes a partial or full set of replacement teeth, they help you chew, eat and speak normally and without pain. Most important, dentures restore your smile and give you the confidence to show off your pearly whites without feeling self-conscious about missing teeth. With proper denture care, your replacement teeth will last for years.

Denture Basics

Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing; partials are used when one or more natural teeth remain. The cost of dentures will in part be determined by which type you choose:

Complete Dentures: These are either “conventional” or “immediate.” Conventional dentures are made after any remaining teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has healed (usually two to three months).

Immediate dentures are ready for wear the same day any remaining teeth are removed so you don’t have to spend the healing period toothless. The drawback is that you’ll need more adjustments, since your gums and bones shrink during this period.

Partial Dentures: A removable partial consists of replacement teeth attached to a gum-colored plastic base. Removable partials are connected by a metal framework that helps keep them in place.