Complete Denture

What is a complete denture?

Complete dentures are commonly referred to as full dentures or complete false teeth and are a removable dental appliance that replaces all the teeth in the upper jaw (maxillary denture), the lower jaw (mandibular denture) or both jaws. The complete dentures will help to restore your smile, improve chewing or speaking ability and support the muscles of the face which will help to prevent the sunken effect that can happen after a tooth loss.

Complete dentures fit the gums and are usually made from a variety of acrylic resin or may be made from reinforced acrylic resin for extra strength and durability.

Who Needs a Complete Denture?

A complete denture is recommended for people who:

• Completely lost all of their natural teeth in the upper or lower jaw.
• Might need replacement after more than few extractions.
• Are not medical or financially suitable to receive dental implants.
• Want an affordable solution to restore oral function and appearance.
• Suffering from severe gums diseases or large areas of tooth decay that have led to total tooth loss.

Dentures come in different forms

Conventional Complete Denture

• Produced when all the teeth have been pulled and gums are completely healed.
• Impressions will be taken after a period of 6-8 weeks.
• Provides a more secure and precise fit.

Immediate Complete Denture

• Made prior to a tooth extraction and installed right away after the tooth or teeth have been taken out.
• Provides all the patients to leave the dental clinic with teeth on the same day.
• Needs adjustments or relining due to shrinking gums as the healing process progresses.

Implant-Supported Complete Denture

• Fused to dental implants in the jawbone.
• More stable, better chewing and decreased mobility.
• Especially useful for lower dentures which are more likely to slip.

Advantages of a full denture 

• Creates a natural looking smile.
• Improves the ability to chew and speak.
• Provides support to facial muscles and maintains facial contours.
• Increases self-esteem and confidence.
• Designed to fit individual comfort and usability.
• Generally more cost effective than some fixed tooth replacement treatments.
• Easy to clean and maintain.

Complete denture procedure

Complete dentures are made in a series of well-planned steps to develop a custom-made removable prosthesis that replaces all the teeth in one or both jaws. The process secures the proper fit of the denture, its efficiency and natural appearance.

Complete denture steps:

Step 1: Initial Consultation and Oral Examination

• A thorough oral evaluation is first performed to evaluate oral health and to see if a complete denture is the best course of treatment.

The dentist will:

• Look at your gums and jaw bone.
• Look for any remaining teeth that may need to be extracted.
• Evaluate bone structure and soft tissues.
• Talk about the options for treatment and what you hope for.
• Take X-rays if necessary.
• Any gum disease, infections or damaged teeth are treated prior to denture making.

Step 2: Removal of teeth (as necessary)

• Any teeth that cannot be saved are removed.

After extraction:

• When conventional dentures are being fabricated, gums are given a chance to heal first.
• It usually takes 6-8 weeks to heal, but may vary depending on an individual's healing rate.
• In some instances, a temporary denture is made prior to the extraction of the teeth and placed in on the day of the extraction.

Step 3: Primary Impressions

• After the mouth has been prepared, preliminary impressions are made with impression material for the upper and lower gums.

These impressions are taken to:

• Create diagnostic models.
• Create custom impression tray.
• Start to prepare the dentures.

Step 4: Final Impressions

• Highly accurate impressions of the gums and surrounding tissues are obtained with the use of custom trays.

This step helps:

• Ensure accuracy of fit.
• Improve comfort.
• Improve the stability and retention of dentures.
• For long-term success, it is imperative that they make accurate final impressions.

Step 5: Bite Registration

• The dentist makes notes on the position of the upper and lower jaws.

During this appointment:

• Wax rims are inserted in the oral cavity.
• The alignment of the jaw is noted.
• Ideal bite height is determined.
• Midline and smile line marked.
• This information is used to ensure correct chewing ability and facial appearance.

Step 6: Tooth Selection

The dentist collaborates with you to choose artificial teeth depending on:

• Size
• Shape
• Shade
• Facial features
• Age
• Smile aesthetics
• The aim is to produce the most natural-looking dentures possible.

Step 7: Wax Try-In

• A trial fitting of artificial teeth in wax.

At this point the dentist assesses:

• Appearance
• Bite
• Speech
• Smile
• Tooth position
• Comfort
• Changes can be requested prior to final dentures.

Step 8: Denture Fabrication – Final Denture

• The dental lab makes the denture with a tough acrylic resin after the wax try-in is accepted.

• The final denture material is used for the wax and is polished and finished.

Step 9: Denture Delivery

The dentist: At the time of delivery appointment:

• Places the dentures.
• Checks the fit.
• Evaluates bite balance.
• Changes any pressure points.
• Describes how to insert and remove.
• Patients are also educated on how to clean and take care of their dentures.

Step 10: Follow-Up Adjustments

• There are usually multiple follow-up visits as gums and jaw bone will continue to adapt.

The dentist may:

• Relieve sore spots.
• Improve the fit.
• Adjust the bite.
• Recommend lining if necessary.
• These changes are made to ensure optimal comfort and performance.

How much does a complete set of dentures cost?

The cost of a dentures complete set (upper and lower) can vary depending on the type of denture, materials used, the skill of the dentist and the location of the dental clinic. However, premium services like implant supported dentures will cost much more since they will involve dental implant surgery.

There are various factors that can influence the cost of a full denture:

Type of Denture

• Traditional removable acrylic dentures tend to be the cheapest option, and implant-supported dentures are more expensive as it is a surgical procedure and contains implant components.

Material Used

• The price of premium acrylic teeth, high-impact acrylic bases or other high-tech materials in dentures will generally be more expensive than regular acrylic dentures.

The number of teeth to be replaced

• If you need to replace both the upper and lower arches, it will cost more than replacing just one arch.

Dentist's Experience

• Because of their experience in making a well-fitted and natural-looking denture, the prosthodontist and highly experienced dentist may charge more.

Dental Laboratory Quality

• While the high quality dental laboratory can result in a more aesthetically pleasing, fitted and durable custom denture, the cost of this may be higher.

Preliminary Dental Treatment

There may be extra steps before making the dentures, which increase the cost such as:

• Tooth extractions
• Gum treatment
• Bone smoothing (alveoloplasty)
• Capsules for treating oral infections

Geographic Location

• This will cause dental treatment in metropolitan cities to cost more than in smaller towns as the cost of operating is higher.

Complete denture before and after

The restoration of the complete denture before and after transformation can make a big difference in terms of oral functions and facial appearance. Complete Dentures replace all the teeth in the top, bottom or full mouth and restores the smile, chewing and speech and can help support the sagging facial muscles caused by tooth loss.

The adjustment period is always different for every patient but after fitting well-balanced dentures, most patients find that they feel better in their new dentures and gain confidence.

Before Getting Complete Dentures

Patients that have lost their teeth all may experience:

• Problems chewing a lot of foods.
• Slurring of speech, or difficulty understanding speech.
• Sunk in-looking face because of the low support of the lips and cheeks.
• Decreased self-assurance for smiling or speaking.
• Old ill-fitting dentures (if they have these) may cause gum soreness.
• A progressive loss of jawbone that occurs after teeth are lost.

After Getting Complete Dentures

After the fully dentures are installed and adjusted, many patients experience the following changes:

• A more full and youthful face.
• A natural looking smile using properly aligned teeth.
• Improved speech after a short adaptation period.
• Improved chewing ability than absence of teeth.
• Greater confidence in social and working situations.
• Improved lip and cheek support.

Conclusion

If you have lost all your teeth, complete dentures are a tried and trusted and cost-effective solution to replace all the missing teeth and restore your smile, oral function and confidence. Custom-made complete dentures can increase the chewing function, speech, facial support and even overall well-being while reducing the embarrassment of tooth loss that is caused by aging, gum disease or trauma. There is a learning curve but regular dental visits and good denture care helps them fit as well as they do and perform well. If you're considering complete dentures, consult your dentist to determine the best treatment plan tailored to your oral health needs and lifestyle.

Complete dentures in India GetWellGo

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

• Complete transparency
• Fair costs.
• 24-hour availability.
• Medical E-visas
• Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
• Help in choosing the Best clinics in India for Complete Dentures.
• Expert dentists with proven results in success. 
• Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
• Language Support
• Travel and Accommodation Services
• Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
• Local SIM Cards
• Currency Exchange
• Arranging Patient’s local food

FAQ

Are complete dentures comfortable?

• Complete dentures are made to fit the mouth today, for both comfort and function. Most patients adapt well and it may take a couple of weeks to adjust but after it is properly fitted and adjusted afterwards.

Will I be able to eat with full dentures?

• Yes. Initially, it is recommended to eat soft foods and chew slowly. Eating a greater variety of foods will be possible as the dentures are worn over time.

What is the life span of complete dentures?

• Well-maintained and properly maintained, complete dentures can last 5-10 years. As the gums and jawbone are constantly changing, they may need relining or replacement.

How should I clean my complete dentures?

• Use a soft brush and denture cleaner to clean dentures every day. Do not use abrasive toothpaste, clean them after eating and put them in a denture-cleaning solution or water overnight.

Would it be best for me to keep my full dentures in my mouth when I sleep?

• Most dentists say it is better to take dentures out at night so that your gums can rest and it is better to minimize the chances of irritation and oral infections.

Is it possible to repair complete dentures if they break?

• Yes. If your dentures crack, chip or break, your dentist or dental lab will be able to fix them. Do not try to repair them without expert help; otherwise they may be damaged more.

Will I need to adjust to my dentures?

• There may be slight changes in speech which you may notice during the first few days. Most individuals will recover normal and natural speech within a few weeks with regular practice and continued use.