Dentures in South Tacoma: Restore Your Smile and Function
Denture Benefits:
- Restore function: Eat and speak normally again
- Natural appearance: Custom-designed to match your facial features
- Boost confidence: Smile without embarrassment about missing teeth
- Prevent facial collapse: Support facial muscles and structure
- Affordable option: Economical tooth replacement solution
- Serving: South Tacoma, Graham, Roy, Spanaway, Frederickson, Eatonville, and JBLM families
Types of Dentures
Full Dentures (Complete Dentures)
Full dentures replace all teeth in the upper or lower arch (or both). According to the American Dental Association, modern dentures look remarkably natural with individually characterized teeth and gum-colored acrylic bases matching your natural tissue.
Conventional Full Dentures: Placed 8-12 weeks after tooth extraction, allowing gums to heal completely before denture fabrication. This ensures the best possible fit.
Immediate Full Dentures: Placed immediately after tooth extraction so you're never without teeth. While convenient, immediate dentures require more adjustments as your gums heal and change shape. We typically recommend a permanent set once healing is complete.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures replace some missing teeth when you still have healthy natural teeth remaining. A metal or acrylic framework attaches the partial denture to your natural teeth with clasps or precision attachments.
Partial dentures prevent remaining teeth from shifting into gaps, maintain proper bite relationship, restore chewing function, and provide natural-looking tooth replacement at moderate cost.
Implant-Supported Dentures
Implant-supported dentures snap onto dental implants, dramatically improving stability compared to traditional dentures. Typically, 2-4 implants per arch secure the denture, eliminating slipping and allowing better chewing function.
Implant-supported dentures represent a significant upgrade for patients frustrated with loose, unstable traditional dentures. While costing more initially, they provide vastly superior function and prevent the bone loss that occurs with traditional dentures.
The Denture Process
Initial Consultation
Your denture journey begins with comprehensive examination evaluating your oral health, remaining teeth (if any), gum tissue, and jawbone condition. We discuss your goals, lifestyle needs, and budget. Digital imaging may be used for precise treatment planning.
If you have teeth requiring extraction, we create a treatment plan addressing timing—whether you'll receive immediate dentures or wait for healing before denture placement.
Impressions and Measurements
Multiple impressions of your mouth are taken, capturing the exact contours of your gums and any remaining teeth. These impressions ensure your dentures fit precisely. We also measure the relationship between your upper and lower jaws (your bite) and the natural position of your lips and tongue.
Try-In Appointment
A wax model of your denture is created for try-in. You see how the denture looks and feels, allowing adjustments to tooth position, size, shape, and color before final fabrication. This collaborative process ensures you're happy with the appearance.
Final Denture Delivery
Once your custom denture is completed, we place it, making any needed adjustments for comfort and proper bite. We teach you how to insert, remove, and care for your dentures. Initial adjustment takes a few weeks as you adapt to wearing dentures.
Follow-Up Adjustments
Follow-up appointments allow us to make refinements ensuring optimal comfort and function. Most patients need 2-3 adjustment appointments during the first few months as they adapt to their dentures.
Adjusting to New Dentures
Initial Adaptation Period
New dentures feel foreign initially—this is completely normal. Your mouth needs time adjusting to the appliance. Speaking may feel awkward for a few days. Eating requires practice starting with soft foods and gradually progressing to firmer items.
Research in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry shows most patients adapt within 30 days, with function and comfort improving steadily during this period.
Speaking Practice
Practice speaking aloud, reading to yourself, or conversing with family members. Certain sounds may be challenging initially but improve rapidly with practice. Within a week or two, speech typically returns to normal.
Eating with Dentures
Start with soft, easy-to-chew foods cut into small pieces. Chew slowly using both sides of your mouth simultaneously, distributing forces evenly. Avoid very hard, sticky, or extremely hot foods initially. As you gain confidence, gradually introduce more challenging foods.
Traditional dentures restore 20-25% of natural chewing power. Implant-supported dentures restore up to 70%, allowing you to eat most foods comfortably.
Increased Saliva Production
Your mouth may produce more saliva initially as it adjusts to the denture. This typically normalizes within a few weeks.
Caring for Your Dentures
Daily Cleaning
Remove and rinse dentures after eating. Brush dentures daily with soft-bristled brush and denture cleaner (not regular toothpaste, which is too abrasive). Clean all surfaces including areas contacting your gums. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, proper denture hygiene prevents oral infections and extends denture lifespan.
Soak dentures overnight in denture cleaning solution, keeping them moist (they can warp if allowed to dry out).
Oral Tissue Care
Even without natural teeth, maintain oral hygiene. Brush your gums, tongue, and palate with soft-bristled brush each morning before inserting dentures. This stimulates circulation, removes plaque, and helps prevent infection.
Handle with Care
Dentures can break if dropped. Clean them over a folded towel or sink filled with water providing cushion if dropped. Store dentures safely when not wearing them.
Regular Dental Visits
Visit our office annually for denture evaluation and professional cleaning. We check denture fit, look for signs of wear, examine oral tissues for irritation or abnormalities, and make adjustments as needed. Regular dental checkups remain important even with dentures.
When Dentures Need Replacement
Dentures typically last 5-8 years before requiring replacement. Over time, normal wear occurs and bone/gum tissue changes affect fit. Ill-fitting dentures cause sore spots, difficulty eating, and accelerated bone loss. When dentures become loose or uncomfortable despite adjustments, replacement is necessary.
Dentures vs. Other Tooth Replacement Options
Dentures vs. Dental Implants
Dental implants provide permanent tooth replacement with superior stability and function. However, implants cost significantly more than dentures and require adequate bone for placement.
Dentures offer economical tooth replacement, don't require surgery, and can be fabricated relatively quickly. For patients with significant bone loss or health conditions precluding surgery, dentures may be the only viable option.
Dentures vs. Dental Bridges
Dental bridges work well for replacing a few adjacent teeth but aren't practical for extensive tooth loss. Dentures economically replace many or all teeth.
Implant-Supported Dentures: Best of Both Worlds
Implant-supported dentures combine denture affordability with implant stability. Requiring fewer implants than individual tooth replacement, they provide dramatically better function than traditional dentures at moderate cost increase.
Many patients start with traditional dentures, then convert to implant-supported dentures later when budget allows.
Overcoming Denture Challenges
Slipping Dentures
As gums and bone change over time, dentures may become loose. Regular relining (adding material to the denture base) improves fit. Denture adhesives provide temporary improvement but don't replace proper fitting. If adhesives become necessary daily, schedule a reline appointment.
Implant-supported dentures eliminate slipping completely.
Sore Spots
Pressure points can develop from ill-fitting dentures. Never try adjusting dentures yourself—this usually makes problems worse. Schedule an adjustment appointment for professional modification.
Limited Food Choices
Traditional dentures limit ability to eat very hard or chewy foods. Adapting your diet and cutting food into smaller pieces helps. Implant-supported dentures dramatically improve chewing ability, allowing you to eat most foods comfortably.
Bone Loss
Traditional dentures accelerate bone loss because they press on gums rather than stimulating bone. This causes dentures to fit progressively worse over time and creates a sunken facial appearance.
Implant-supported dentures prevent bone loss because the implants stimulate bone like natural tooth roots.
Related Services
Family Dentistry - Comprehensive dental care including preventive services helping you keep natural teeth longer.
Tooth Extractions - Professional tooth removal when teeth cannot be saved, preparing for dentures.
Implant-Supported Dentures - Upgrade to snap-on dentures secured by implants for superior stability.
Dental Implants - Permanent tooth replacement alternative to dentures.
Dental Bridges - Fixed tooth replacement for fewer missing teeth.
Restore Your Smile with Quality Dentures
Replace missing teeth with custom dentures at Davis Dental Group in South Tacoma. Our experienced team creates natural-looking, comfortable dentures restoring your ability to eat, speak, and smile confidently. Schedule your consultation to explore denture options perfect for your needs.
Serving South Tacoma, Graham, Roy, Spanaway, Frederickson, Eatonville, and JBLM military families with quality denture services.
Schedule Your Denture Consultation
Call to Discuss Your Options
Most major PPO insurances accepted. Custom dentures with natural appearance and comfortable fit.
Why Choose Davis Dental Group
- Advanced 3D Scanning Technology: Precise imaging for accurate implant planning and placement. Better planning means better results.
- Walk-Ins Welcome: Stop by our Tacoma office anytime for consultations—no appointment needed.
- Same-Day Consultations: We offer same-day appointments when available, so you don't have to wait.
- Free Consultations: Get expert guidance with no obligation. We'll evaluate your situation and discuss your options.
- Comprehensive Care in One Location: From consultation to implant placement to final restoration, everything happens right here. No referrals to multiple specialists.
- Experienced Team: Our dental professionals have extensive experience in implant dentistry and prioritize your comfort throughout treatment.