Dentures are custom-made dental appliances designed to , restoring your smile and improving oral function. Available as a full set or a partial, dentures are crafted to not only look good, but they’re there to improve speech, facial structure, and chewing ability as well. Depending on your specific needs, our Grand Rapids dentist will ensure your dentures fit securely for a functional and confident smile.
Learn more about full dentures as well as their partial counterparts below.
Who Needs Which Type?
Choosing between full and partial dentures depends on how many teeth you’re missing and the overall condition of your remaining teeth. Complete dentures, for example, are ideal for patients who are missing most or all of their teeth on the upper or lower arch. They’re also recommended when a patient needs to undergo more intensive tooth extraction due to widespread decay, damage, or gum disease. In other words, full dentures restore function and appearance when no natural teeth remain in an arch.
Partial dentures are designed for patients who still have a majority of healthy teeth remaining. If you’re only missing one or two teeth in a row and the surrounding teeth are strong enough to support a dental appliance, a partial denture may be the right solution. Partials fill in the gaps while preventing adjacent teeth from shifting out of place. Our denture dentist will evaluate your oral health and help determine the best type based on your individual needs.
What to Expect With New Dentures
Getting used to new dentures takes time. If you’ve just received full dentures, you may experience some initial side effects like increased saliva production, mild soreness in the mouth, and a temporary lisp while speaking. These are all normal and part of the adjustment process.
While the full adaptation period can take up to 30 days, most noticeable discomfort and awkwardness tend to ease by around the two-week mark. By that point, your mouth begins to adjust, though eating certain foods and speaking clearly might still feel unfamiliar. It’s important to follow our care instructions closely and attend any follow-up appointments as these will allow for fit adjustments to be made.
