Frequently Asked Questions

A dentist is a trained medical professional with expertise in teeth and gums. A denturist is a trained professional with expertise in dentures. Dentists do not make, fit and adjust dentures. While your dentist can help you with many things, Denturists specialize in full, partial and implant dentures. Most patients deal with both during the process of getting dentures, as it’s your dentist who will pull your natural teeth.

Impressions

Moulds of your mouth will be taken. This is the foundation for creating your new smile.

Bite

This appointment enables us to establish your jaw relationship, and gives us a guide for where your teeth should be. We will also choose a tooth shade/colour and discuss any suggestions or requests you may have regarding your desired appearance.

Try in or “Preview” and Final Impressions
You will try in your new teeth during this appointment. At this stage, the teeth will still be in wax and we will be able to make any adjustments or changes before finishing the final product, if need be. We will also check your bite. Once you approve the appearance, we will proceed to the “finish” appointment. If any changes need to be made, you will be booked to come back for a retry appointment. We will not finish your dentures until you have approved the appearance.

Finish

You will wear your new dentures home! At this appointment, we will fit you with your new teeth and you will be given a post-care package complete with cleaning, maintenance and post-care instructions.

Post-Insertion Check

We like to see you back one week later to check how you’re managing with your new teeth. Quite often new dentures will need some adjusting and it is not uncommon to have a few sore spots or tenderness. It is very important that you come back for this appointment so that we can ensure your comfort and wellbeing.

Depending on your chosen treatment, you may require fewer or more appointments. Once you’ve decided on your treatment, your denturist will inform you of the number of appointments you will require. Appointments generally take anywhere from 10 minutes to one hour depending on the procedure. Smile Again Denture Clinic will notify you when you are due for your annual re-care and/or reline appointments.

Since most dentists don’t make dentures on-site, they end up sending out their orders to a third-party laboratory. This can be costly for patients. By going to a denturist for dentures, you are cutting out the middleman and dealing directly with the person who will make your dentures on-site. This is much more personal and efficient.

Dentures will never feel like your natural teeth. However, over time our patients get used to wearing them as their gums, facial muscles and mouth adapt to them. Eventually they will feel comfortable. Some patients adjust faster than others, it’s different for everyone.

Your appointments generally go as follows:

Impressions

Moulds of your mouth will be taken. This is the foundation for creating your new smile.

Bite

This appointment enables us to establish your jaw relationship, and gives us a guide for where your teeth should be. We will also choose a tooth shade/colour and discuss any suggestions or requests you may have regarding your desired appearance.

Try in or “Preview” and Final Impressions
You will try in your new teeth during this appointment. At this stage, the teeth will still be in wax and we will be able to make any adjustments or changes before finishing the final product, if need be. We will also check your bite. Once you approve the appearance, we will proceed to the “finish” appointment. If any changes need to be made, you will be booked to come back for a retry appointment. We will not finish your dentures until you have approved the appearance.

Finish

You will wear your new dentures home! At this appointment, we will fit you with your new teeth and you will be given a post-care package complete with cleaning, maintenance and post-care instructions.

Post-Insertion Check

We like to see you back one week later to check how you’re managing with your new teeth. Quite often new dentures will need some adjusting and it is not uncommon to have a few sore spots or tenderness. It is very important that you come back for this appointment so that we can ensure your comfort and wellbeing.

Depending on your chosen treatment, you may require fewer or more appointments. Once you’ve decided on your treatment, your denturist will inform you of the number of appointments you will require. Appointments generally take anywhere from 10 minutes to one hour depending on the procedure. Smile Again Denture Clinic will notify you when you are due for your annual re-care and/or reline appointments.

At first, biting and chewing will feel strange. Afterall, you won’t be feeling the same sensations you used to feel with your natural teeth. Smile Again Denture Clinic always recommends that new denture wearers start with soft foods before adding in some crunchier textures.

Just like eating, talking when you first start wearing dentures will feel strange. This is normal and is something you will get used to over time. Eventually you will just talk like you used to before dentures.

Our teeth and jaw play a huge role in defining our facial features. For patients who have been living with missing teeth for some time, you may have noticed some sagging in your face caused by bone loss. Dentures replace those supports, so you will still look like you. This is why immediate dentures are important.

The short answer is every 5 to 7 years. Dentures physically wear down and stop functioning as they once did. Your mouth and jaw can also change as you age, which will affect the overall fit. Repairs can be done, but eventually you should start fresh with a new set.

Medical grade pharmaceuticals come with a list of possible side effects. If your medications cause dry mouth, this could interfere with the fit of your dentures, as your saliva helps adhere and lubricate them. If this is an issue for you, use a saliva substitute or sip water frequently. Heart medications can also cause issues, as they can increase bleeding, so you may experience irritation with the fit of your dentures. Please let us know if you’re on any medications when coming in for your consultation.

Just like your natural teeth, you need to care for your dentures. Rinse and brush them after every meal. You must use a specially designed denture brush and denture cleaning paste and warm water. Do not use regular toothpaste. Carefully hold the dentures from the middle. Remove your dentures daily and soak them in a special cleaning solution. Use a soft bristled brush on your gums and tongue, and rinse with mouthwash. Rinse off your dentures after removing them from the soaking solution before putting them back in your mouth. Dentures need to be in a covered container filled with water when they’re not being worn to prevent drying. Dentures can get plaque, tartar, and food stains, so rinsing and cleansing daily is so important.

All plans are different. To learn more, contact your insurance provider to find out more about your coverage.

Standard, Premium and Immediate. Standard are the most common. You cannot customize the appearance of the teeth and they tend to wear down faster than premium dentures. They price is affordable. Premium dentures, also called precision dentures, are made of a stronger material, so they last longer. You can also choose different tooth shapes and colours to ensure a more natural look. Immediate dentures are made based on your bite before tooth extraction. This means that after your teeth are removed, you will have dentures right away so you’re not going without teeth during the healing process. Immediate dentures are temporary until your standard or premium dentures are ready.

There are many factors that contribute to the cost of dentures. Obviously premium will cost more than standard, but there are other added features that can change the price. Each set of dentures we create are customized for the patient. Visit Smile Again Denture Clinic to get a more accurate estimate.

Just as the names suggest, complete dentures replace all of your natural teeth – both top and bottom. Partial dentures are made to replace some, but not all teeth.

The lining of your dentures is the underside that fits around your gums. Having them relined every 2 to 3 years can extend the life of your dentures, while providing you with maximum comfort as your mouth changes.

You likely were wearing your old dentures for many years, and your body adjusted to them over time. New dentures, even though they were made to fit you, will feel strange until your mouth adjusts to the new set. This is normal.

The upper and lower parts of your mouth and jaw are very different from each other. Because of these physical differences, dentures will fit differently. The upper palate causes suction, providing a tighter, more secure fit. Your lower denture relies on facial muscles to hold it in place. It can take longer for your mouth to adapt, so the fit won’t feel as tight at first.

Approximately four weeks.

Smile Again Denture Clinic will need to schedule several appointments with you to get the process started. In order to get you the best fitting dentures possible, first, moulds are taken, then a bite analysis is done, as well as colour and shape selection for those opting for premium dentures. Then you get to do a try-on while the dentures are still in wax to ensure the look and feel is right, then lastly, the denturist will schedule an insertion appointment where you will receive your final product and your care instructions. Other try-on and follow-up appointments may be necessary. Typically, it takes four appointments to create a set of dentures for a patient.

While dentures are built to last, accidents and wear and tear does happen. In the event that you’ve broken your dentures, do not reach for the glue! Call Smile Again Denture Clinic and inquire about our repair services. Quite often these can be done same day. If you have your old dentures, wear them while you wait for your current set to be repaired. This is better than using glue, which can introduce harsh chemicals into your mouth.

A dental implant is a titanium post that is fixed to your jaw in the gums to replace a natural tooth root. The post allows replacement teeth or full dentures to be fixed in your mouth. In terms of replicating the look and feel of natural teeth, this is the closest you’ll get.

In order to qualify for dental implant surgery, you need to be in good overall health. Particularly, your jaw needs to be in good condition, with little to no deterioration. You need to see a dentist and they can determine if you’re fit for this type of procedure. If you qualify, Smile Again Denture Clinic will work with your dentist to prepare replacement teeth or implant dentures.

In general, this procedure is not covered by dental insurance plans. But, if you want to be sure, reach out to your coverage provider.