Implants & Dentures
Dentures
A full removable set, adjusted over several fittings until eating and speaking feel right.
A complete denture replaces all the teeth in an upper or lower jaw. It is the most established solution there is, and for many people it remains the right one: no surgery, no healing period, and by far the lowest cost of the full-arch options.
Getting a denture right is mostly about the fittings. The first version is a starting point, not the finished article. We expect to adjust it, and sore spots in the first weeks are normal and fixable — please come back rather than enduring them.
We will be honest about what a denture can and cannot do. An upper denture holds well by suction and most people adapt quickly. A lower one has no seal to work with and is harder to keep still, which is exactly why implant-supported dentures exist.
Is this right for me?
- All or nearly all the teeth in one jaw are missing or cannot be saved.
- You want to avoid surgery, or a medical condition makes implants unwise right now.
- Cost is the deciding factor and you want the most established option.
What to expect
Impressions
We record the shape of the ridge and the soft tissue around it. Accuracy here decides how well the finished denture holds.
Bite and shade
We work out where your bite should sit and choose tooth shape, size and color together. Old photographs of you are genuinely useful here.
A wax try-in
You see the teeth set in wax and can change the look before anything is finished. Bring someone whose opinion you trust.
Fitting
The finished denture is fitted and adjusted. Speech feels odd for a few days and saliva increases at first — both settle.
Adjustments
We expect to see you again in the first weeks to ease sore spots. This is part of the treatment, not a sign something went wrong.
Your comfort
The adjustment period is real and it is worth knowing that in advance. Most people are eating comfortably within a few weeks and speaking normally sooner than that. Practice reading aloud at home — it speeds the speech part up considerably.
Insurance and payment, sorted before you sit down
We take all PPO plans, Medi-Cal Dental and most Medicare Advantage dental plans, and we check your benefits before treatment so the estimate is in writing. If you need to spread the cost, we work with CareCredit, Cherry and Sunbit.
Apply for financing — Cherry Avenue Office
- CareCredit®Apply online in a few minutes. Decision is usually immediate.
- CherryApply on your phone. The pre-qualification check does not affect your credit score.
- SunbitApplied for at the front desk when you come in — takes a few minutes.
Questions patients ask
How long until I can eat normally?
Start with soft food cut small and chew on both sides at once. Most people are managing a fairly normal diet within a few weeks. Very hard or very sticky foods stay difficult.
Do I need adhesive?
A well-fitting upper denture usually does not. Lower dentures often benefit from a little. If you find yourself needing more and more of it, the denture needs relining rather than more glue.
How often do dentures need replacing?
The ridge underneath keeps changing shape over the years, so most dentures need relining every few years and replacing eventually. A denture that fitted well five years ago may simply be sitting on a different shape now.
Should I sleep in them?
No. Taking them out overnight lets the gums recover and reduces the risk of fungal infection. Keep them in water or a cleaning solution, never in hot water.
Can I get implants later?
Often yes. Some people start with a conventional denture and add implants when it suits them. Worth knowing that bone shrinks faster once teeth are gone, so waiting many years can narrow the options.
Related services
Thinking about Dentures?
Send a request and we'll call you back to find a time. You'll get a written estimate before anything is booked in the schedule.