The Denture Process: From Consultation to Fitting.
Introduction: If you’re reading this, you’re likely considering dentures, and I’m here as your guide through the entire denture fitting process, from your initial consultation to your final fitting. I’ve helped countless patients in their journey to a confident and beautiful smile. Let’s dive into this journey together towards to new you!
Understanding the Need for Dentures:
When people think about dentures, they often picture the elderly. But this couldn’t be further from the truth, dentures are for anyone who needs to replace missing teeth due to decay, gum disease, or accidents.
Dental health plays a significant role in your overall well-being and self-esteem.
The Initial Consultation:
The first step in your denture fitting process is the initial consultation. Walk into our warm, welcoming clinic, and you’re greeted by a friendly staff who genuinely cares about your oral health. During this visit, we’ll discuss your needs and goals, which are the foundation of your treatment plan.
Treatment Planning:
This is where the denture fitting process begins to take shape! Your personalized treatment plan will be tailored to your specific situation and your specific needs. Whether you need complete dentures, partial dentures, or implant-supported dentures, we’ll decide together to get you the best treatment possible.
Impressions and Molds:
Now, let’s talk about impressions and molds. I know impressions aren’t for everyone & can cause some discomfort, but it’s essential for crafting well-fitting dentures. We’ll take precise measurements of your mouth, ensuring that your dentures will be comfortable and secure. I’ve picked up a few tricks along the way to keep your mind off the impressions and to help ease the impression process.
This might be the most discomfort you will experience during your denture journey, and it really isn’t that bad
Customization and Aesthetics (Try-in):
One of the most exciting parts of this journey is choosing how your new smile will look. We’ll do a wax try-in to test the fit, bite, and overall look of your teeth. At this stage, it is important that you inform us if you like the aesthetics of the teeth (the colour the position, etc.) or if you would like to change anything.
The most rewarding for me is seeing people’s faces light up when they see how we can recreate their natural smiles, or if they have had ill-fitting/bad-looking dentures in the past the change in attitude when they realize dentures are a great way to replace missing teeth after all. We’ll work closely together to pick the size, shape, and colour that suits you best.
Denture Fabrication:
Once we have all the necessary information in place, it’s time to process your dentures. We use an array of materials to ensure the best quality and durability. You are able to choose your materials based on allergies, budget, and aesthetics. You’ll also have regular check-ups to make sure everything is on track. This leads me to the next point: Adjustments.
Fitting and Adjustments
Now, the moment you’ve been waiting for – fitting your dentures. This is where we ensure that your dentures fit like a glove. It might take a few adjustments, but not to worry; I’ve seen countless patients become more comfortable with their dentures after a few tweaks. Don’t be afraid to book an appointment anytime you feel any discomfort these adjustment appointments are completely free, so please come back whenever you feel you need to.
We also suggest keeping your dentures in because sometimes all it takes is a little perseverance to learn how to use them.
Oral Care and Maintenance:
Caring for your dentures is vital to their longevity and your oral health. I can’t stress this enough! Cleaning and proper storage are key. I once had a patient who used toothpaste to clean their dentures, which is a big no-no because toothpaste is abrasive, and it causes the acrylic to be porous. This is the kind of information a lot of people aren’t aware of. Little tweaks like this to your oral care are what we are proud to teach at Holt Dentures.
Adapting to Dentures:
As with any change, adapting to dentures can be a bit challenging at first. I tell my patients a piece of hair can feel big in their mouth, so new dentures can feel almost like a golf ball. Our bodies are amazing at adapting to new things, trust the process, with time and practice, most people adapt surprisingly quickly. It’s like learning to ride a bike (or learning to chew again); it takes patience and practice.
The New You:
The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the transformation in my patients. Once you’ve adjusted to your dentures, your quality of life will improve significantly. I’ve had patients whose overall health had completely changed due to their dentures because they are now able to chew and therefore digest their foods correctly unlike with ill-fitting dentures or, even no dentures at all.
Conclusion: Congratulations on considering dentures, and holt dentures as a solution for your denture needs. I hope this journey from consultation to final fitting has given you a clearer picture of what to expect. Remember, I’m here to help you every step of the way. Feel free to reach out with questions or to schedule a consultation. Your new smile awaits, and I can’t wait to be a part of your journey!