Full and Partial Dentures in Palm Coast, FL
Dentures replace missing teeth with a custom appliance you can take out and put back in. That basic idea has not changed in decades, but the materials, the fit, and the way the teeth are set have improved a great deal. A well-made modern denture should let you eat what you want and talk without thinking about it.
Dentique Dental makes both partial and full dentures for patients across Flagler County, and our team handles the fitting and the follow-up adjustments in house. That matters more than most people expect, because the difference between a denture you tolerate and one you forget you are wearing is usually the adjustments.
Who Dentures Are For
Dentures make sense for a lot of different situations:
- Several teeth missing in a row, with healthy teeth still remaining on either side
- All of the upper teeth, all of the lower teeth, or both arches missing
- Teeth too badly decayed or too loose from gum disease to save
- Not enough bone for implants at this stage, or implants that are outside the budget
- An existing denture that has become loose, cracked, or worn down
Partial Dentures
A partial fills in the gaps while your remaining natural teeth stay right where they are. The replacement teeth sit in a gum-colored base, and the appliance is held in place by clasps or precision attachments that grip the neighboring teeth.
Partials do more than fill space. They keep the remaining teeth from tipping and drifting into the gaps, which protects your bite over the long run. We start by taking a mold of your mouth, the partial is fabricated in a dental laboratory, and then we fit it and adjust the contact points until it seats comfortably.
Full Dentures
From the first impressions to the finished set, expect somewhere in the range of two to three months. Part of that is laboratory time and part of it is fitting appointments, where we try in the setup and make changes before anything is finalized. Skipping those steps is how people end up with dentures that never feel right.
Full Dentures
From the first impressions to the finished set, expect somewhere in the range of two to three months. Part of that is laboratory time and part of it is fitting appointments, where we try in the setup and make changes before anything is finalized. Skipping those steps is how people end up with dentures that never feel right.
When a Denture Will Not Stay Put
Sometimes it is a fit issue that a reline solves. Your jawbone continues to change shape after teeth are removed, so a denture that fit well three years ago may no longer match your ridge. Relining rebuilds the tissue surface of the existing denture to the current shape of your mouth.
When relining is not enough, implants can be used to lock the denture down. Two to four implants per arch give the denture something solid to snap onto, so it stays in place while you eat and does not depend on suction or adhesive. Many patients who thought they simply could not wear a lower denture do fine with this option.
The First Few Weeks
New dentures take some getting used to, and it helps to know that going in.
- Start with soft foods cut small, and chew on both sides at once to keep the denture balanced
- Read out loud for a few days if certain words feel awkward, since your tongue adapts quickly
- Expect a few sore spots in the first week or two, and call us to have them adjusted rather than filing them yourself
- Increased saliva at first is normal and settles down
- Take the denture out overnight unless we have told you otherwise, so your gum tissue gets a rest
Caring for Your Dentures
Handle it over a folded towel or a sink of water. Acrylic is strong until it hits a hard basin. And keep coming in for checkups even if you have no natural teeth left, because we still need to check your gum tissue, your ridge, and the fit of the appliance.
Cost and Insurance
Common Questions About Dentures
How long do dentures last?
Five to ten years is typical before a replacement is needed, with a reline or two along the way as your ridge changes shape.