Your journey to living well with dentures or partials.

Going from your natural teeth to dentures or partials will be an adjustment. It may take some time, but stay positive and stay focused on the end results. Imagine living well with dentures or partials — eating the foods you love, speaking with confidence, smiling, and enjoying time with family and friends again. While each denture journey is unique, here are some milestones you could expect when getting dentures or partials:

1. Tooth Extraction Your dentist will take out the teeth that need to come out so that you can be properly fitted for dentures.
2. Healing Depending on how many teeth you have taken out, the time required for your gums to heal will vary. Your dental professional may give you a temporary set of dentures until your permanent dentures are ready.
3. Getting an Impression of Your Mouth After your gums heal, your dentist will take a preliminary imprint of your oral tissues, a final detailed imprint, and then a master cast model of your mouth.
4. Choosing Your New Teeth You and your dentist will choose from a range of tooth shapes, sizes, and colors that accurately fit your face and mouth. If you can, have a family member or friend help you choose your new teeth. Once you and your dentist are pleased with the shape, size and color of your teeth, your final dentures can then be completed.
5. Initial Fitting This is when your dentures will be placed in your mouth until your next visit. Your dentist will make any adjustments to ensure a proper fit.
6. Future Adjustment, Rebasing and Relining With proper care, a set of dentures can last from 5 to 10 years. In that time, it's normal for the shape of your mouth to change, or you may find that the shape of your mouth changes as it heals from tooth extraction. When your mouth changes, your dentures may need rebasing or relining to ensure a proper fit.

   • Rebasing is the replacement of your denture base — the pink part of your dentures.
   • Relining is a resurfacing of the sides of your dentures.

   Remember, adjusting your dentures is more complicated than it looks. Do not try to adjust your dentures yourself — let the dentist handle all adjustments. And if you are not sure that they fit properly, call to schedule an appointment with your dentist.
7. Regular Dental Exams Remember, good oral health involves more than teeth, so visit your dentist regularly for oral health screenings. Visit your dentist at least once a year to ensure that your dentures will continue to fit comfortably in your mouth. Plus, even if you don't have any natural teeth remaining, your dentist will check on the overall health of your mouth.