Dentures in Burlington, MA

Signs You May Need Dentures

Dentures may be considered when several teeth are missing, extensively damaged, or cannot be predictably restored with fillings, crowns, or other treatments.

Consider Scheduling a Denture Consultation If You Experience:

• Multiple missing teeth
• Extensive tooth decay
• Loose teeth caused by advanced gum disease
• Difficulty chewing a balanced variety of foods
• Speech changes related to missing teeth
• Reduced support around the lips or cheeks
• Remaining teeth beginning to shift
• Frequent dental pain involving several teeth
• An existing denture that feels loose or uncomfortable
• A denture that is cracked, worn, or discolored

Your dentist will first determine whether any remaining teeth can be preserved. When extraction is necessary, the timing of tooth removal and denture placement will be included in your personalized treatment plan.

Are Dentures Right for You?

Dentures may be suitable for patients who need to replace several or all missing teeth and want a removable tooth-replacement option.

You May Be a Candidate If You:

• Are missing several or all of your teeth
• Have teeth that cannot be predictably restored
• Have sufficiently healed gum tissue
• Want to restore chewing and speaking function
• Prefer a removable dental appliance
• Are willing to clean your dentures every day
• Can attend follow-up visits for adjustments
• Maintain regular dental examinations

Treatment May Need to Be Delayed or Modified If You Have:

• Active gum disease
• Untreated oral infections
• Extraction sites that require additional healing
• Significant jawbone changes
• Persistent mouth sores
• Poorly controlled health conditions that could affect healing
• Oral hygiene concerns that require attention

During your consultation, the Burlington dental team will examine your jaws, gums, remaining teeth, and supporting bone. The number of missing teeth, condition of your mouth, bite relationship, bone structure, and personal preferences help determine the appropriate treatment.

Types of Dentures

The appropriate denture depends on how many teeth are missing, whether any natural teeth remain, and whether extractions are required.

Full Dentures

Full dentures, also called complete dentures, replace all the teeth in the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both. The appliance rests on the gums and underlying ridge of the jaw.

A full denture includes a gum-colored base and a complete set of artificial teeth. It is designed to restore the appearance and function of an entire dental arch.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures replace several missing teeth when healthy natural teeth remain. The appliance fills the open spaces and may use clasps or other components that attach to the remaining teeth for support.

In addition to restoring missing teeth, a partial denture may help prevent nearby teeth from gradually shifting into the open spaces.

Benefits of Dentures

Dentures can restore important functions affected by the loss of several or all teeth.

Restores Missing Teeth

Full and partial dentures fill spaces created by tooth loss and help create a more complete smile.

Improves Chewing Function

Missing teeth can make it difficult to chew certain foods or maintain a balanced diet. Dentures restore contact between the upper and lower arches, helping patients chew more comfortably.

Supports Clearer Speech

Teeth help form certain sounds and words. Replacing missing teeth can provide the oral structure needed for clearer and more natural speech.

Supports Facial Appearance

Extensive tooth loss may reduce support for the cheeks and lips. Dentures can help restore facial contours and reduce the sunken appearance associated with missing teeth.

Prevents Remaining Teeth From Shifting

A partial denture fills open spaces between natural teeth. This may help reduce unwanted movement or tilting of the remaining teeth.

Provides a Removable Option

Traditional dentures can be removed for cleaning and while sleeping, making them a practical option for patients who prefer a removable appliance.

Restores Confidence

Replacing visible missing teeth may help patients feel more comfortable when smiling, speaking, eating, and participating in social activities.

What to Expect During Your Denture Consultation

Your consultation allows the Gentle Dental Burlington team to assess your oral health and discuss the most appropriate replacement options.

Oral Health Examination

Your dentist examines your gums, jaws, remaining teeth, existing dental work, and areas of tooth loss. The team will also check for decay, gum disease, infection, sores, and other conditions that should be addressed before denture treatment.

Digital Dental Imaging

Dental X-rays may be used to evaluate remaining tooth roots, the jawbone, impacted teeth, and other concerns that are not fully visible during a clinical examination.

Gentle Dental Burlington uses all-digital X-rays in its recently renovated office.

Evaluation of Remaining Teeth

Your dentist will determine whether remaining teeth are healthy enough to preserve or use as support for a partial denture. Teeth with severe decay, infection, or advanced mobility may require treatment or extraction.

Review of Denture Options

The Burlington team may discuss full dentures, partial dentures, immediate dentures, conventional dentures, or alternative treatments such as dental bridges and implants.

Personalized Treatment Plan

Your dentist will explain the recommended appliance, preparatory procedures, expected number of appointments, treatment timeline, estimated cost, maintenance requirements, and follow-up schedule.

What Is the Process for Getting Dentures?

Creating custom dentures generally requires several appointments over multiple weeks. The exact number of visits depends on the type of denture, whether extractions are needed, and how your mouth responds during the fitting process.

Preparing Your Mouth

Before impressions are taken, your dentist may need to address tooth decay, gum disease, infection, damaged teeth, or other oral health concerns.

If teeth need to be removed, your treatment plan will specify whether an immediate denture will be placed or whether the gums should heal before the final appliance is made.

Taking Impressions and Measurements

Highly accurate impressions are taken of your upper and lower jaws, gums, and any remaining teeth. Your dentist also records measurements that help establish the shape and relationship of your bite.

The impressions are used to create models of your mouth and guide the design of your custom denture.

Selecting the Tooth Shape and Shade

Your dental team helps select artificial teeth that coordinate with your facial features, remaining teeth, preferences, and natural smile.

The size, shade, alignment, and position of the artificial teeth can be adjusted before the completed denture is created.

Completing Try-In Appointments

Several try-in visits may be required to review the appliance's shape, tooth position, bite, appearance, and overall fit.

These appointments allow the dentist and dental laboratory to make changes before completing the final denture. Gentle Dental notes that several try-ins may be needed to achieve an appropriate shape, color, and fit.

Placing the Completed Denture

At the final placement appointment, your dentist positions the completed denture and evaluates its stability, bite, appearance, and comfort.

Areas that place excessive pressure on the gums can be adjusted. Several follow-up appointments may be needed as the tissues in your mouth adapt to the new appliance.

What to Expect After Receiving New Dentures

New dentures may feel unfamiliar at first. Your gums, tongue, cheeks, and facial muscles need time to adapt to the shape and movement of the appliance.

During the Initial Adjustment Period, You May Notice:

• Increased saliva production
• Mild gum soreness
• A feeling of fullness in the mouth
• Difficulty pronouncing certain words
• Changes in chewing
• Minor movement of the denture
• Pressure in selected areas
• Temporary changes in taste

These effects commonly improve as your mouth adjusts. The process may take several weeks, and some patients require follow-up adjustments during the first few weeks.

Contact the Burlington office if the denture causes significant pain, creates persistent sores, or prevents you from eating or speaking comfortably.

How to Care for Your Dentures

Daily cleaning helps remove food, plaque, bacteria, and stains while protecting your gums and remaining natural teeth.

Remove and Rinse Your Dentures After Eating

Rinse your dentures with water after meals to remove loose food particles. Handle them carefully to avoid bending clasps or damaging the base.

Brush Your Dentures Daily

Use a denture brush and a product specifically designed for denture cleaning. Regular toothpaste may be too abrasive for some denture materials.

Clean Your Mouth Every Day

Brush your gums, tongue, cheeks, roof of the mouth, and any remaining natural teeth with a soft toothbrush. This helps remove plaque and support healthy oral tissues.

Remove Your Dentures at Night

Unless your dentist provides different instructions, remove your dentures before sleeping to give your gums and oral tissues time to rest.

Dentures are generally left out for at least eight hours each day unless your dentist recommends otherwise.

Soak Your Dentures Properly

Place removable dentures in water or an appropriate denture-cleaning solution overnight. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and your dentist's recommendations.

Do not allow most dentures to dry out because this may affect their shape.

Attend Routine Dental Visits

Continue visiting the dentist even if you no longer have natural teeth. Dental visits allow the team to evaluate your gums, oral tissues, bite, jaw, and denture fit.

Regular examinations can also help identify oral infections, irritation, sores, and changes that may require adjustment.

How Long Do Dentures Last?

Dentures are designed to be durable, but they do not last indefinitely. Dentures may last approximately seven to 10 years, although individual results vary based on the appliance, daily care, oral changes, and normal wear.

A denture may need to be adjusted, relined, repaired, or replaced because of:

• Normal material wear
• Changes in the gums or jawbone
• A loose or unstable fit
• Cracks or broken artificial teeth
• Worn chewing surfaces
• Persistent gum irritation
• Changes in facial appearance
• Difficulty chewing or speaking
• Discoloration or odor that does not improve with cleaning

Gentle Dental notes that dentures may require adjustment, repair, or replacement over time because of normal wear and changes in the mouth.

Dentures vs. Dental Bridges

Dentures and bridges can both replace missing teeth, but they differ in design and use.

Dentures

Dentures are removable appliances that may replace several teeth or an entire arch. They rest on the gums and may receive additional support from remaining teeth or other structures.

Dental Bridges

A traditional dental bridge is fixed in place and commonly replaces one or more consecutive missing teeth. It may be supported by crowns placed over neighboring teeth.

The appropriate option depends on the number and location of missing teeth, health of the supporting teeth, preferences, and budget.

Why Choose Gentle Dental for Dentures in Burlington?

Gentle Dental Burlington offers custom partial and full dentures designed for comfort and a complete smile. The practice has served the Burlington community for nearly 40 years and provides restorative care in a recently renovated office with all-digital X-rays.

Patients Choose Gentle Dental Burlington For:

• Custom full and partial dentures
• Personalized tooth-replacement planning
• Digital dental imaging
• Denture evaluations and adjustments
• Preventive, restorative, cosmetic, and specialty services
• Convenient weekday evening hours
• Alternating Saturday appointments
• Ample on-site parking
• Insurance and flexible financing options
• Care focused on comfort, function, and long-term oral health

Gentle Dental Burlington is located at 184 Cambridge Street, Burlington, MA 01803. The office offers extended weekday hours and alternating Saturday availability.

How Much Do Dentures Cost in Burlington?

The cost of dentures varies according to:

• Whether you need full or partial dentures
• Whether one or both arches require treatment
• The materials used
• The number of remaining teeth
• Whether extractions are required
• Whether immediate dentures are needed
• The number of fitting and adjustment appointments
• Whether repair, relining, or other preparatory care is required
• Dental insurance benefits
• Whether dental implants are involved

Many dental insurance plans may provide partial coverage for dentures when they are considered necessary to restore oral function. Coverage depends on your deductible, waiting period, annual maximum, replacement frequency rules, and individual plan benefits.

Gentle Dental Burlington accepts most major insurance plans and offers financing options, including CareCredit and the Essential Dental Plan. The team can review your estimated treatment cost and available payment options before care begins.