Dentures & bridges
Replacing teeth, fitted and adjusted by the person who planned them.
Dentures are judged entirely on fit, and fit is a matter of adjustment over several visits. In a single-dentist practice the person making those adjustments is the person who took the impressions, which is the main reason this tends to go better here than it does at a high-volume office.
What is available
Full dentures
A complete upper or lower set, made to fit and adjusted until it does.
Partial dentures
Where some natural teeth remain. Often the sensible choice when several teeth are missing in a row.
Fixed bridges
A replacement tooth carried by crowns on the teeth either side. Nothing to take out at night.
Relines
Refitting a denture to a jaw that has changed shape, which every jaw does after teeth are lost.
Repairs
Cracks, breaks and lost teeth from an existing denture, usually turned round quickly.
Implant-retained options
Where a loose lower denture is the problem, implants can anchor it. More on implants →
Bridge or implant?
For a single missing tooth this is the real decision, and the honest answer depends on the teeth either side of the gap.
| A bridge tends to win when | |
|---|---|
| The neighbouring teeth already need crowns, bone volume is limited, or you need it finished in weeks rather than months. | |
| An implant tends to win when | |
| The neighbouring teeth are healthy and untouched, there is good bone, and you would rather not have them cut down to carry a bridge. | |
You will get both costed in writing rather than being steered toward one.
Common questions
Dentures & bridges
How long do dentures take to get used to?
Usually a few weeks. Expect two or three adjustment visits in the first month — that is part of the process, not a sign anything went wrong.
Can you repair a broken denture?
Often yes, and quickly. Call the office rather than reaching for a home repair kit, which usually makes a proper repair harder and sometimes impossible.
Do dentures need relining?
Yes, over time. The jaw changes shape after teeth are lost, so a denture that fitted well two years ago may need relining rather than replacing.
Will insurance help?
Most PPO plans contribute to dentures and bridges, often at a lower percentage than for fillings. The office checks your plan and gives you the real number first. How billing works here.