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Whether it’s due to trauma, decay, or gum disease, there are multiple reasons why you could lose your teeth. But you'll still need a bit of help to smile and eat, and with dentures you can go about carrying on with your life.

How do you go from gums to grinning?Whether you are a first-time denture-wearer or just plain curious about how dentures are made, the process requires extensive artwork and eye to detail.

You'll Get to Know Your Dentist Really Well

Having a denture made can be a process that takes several separate appointments to complete. Exactly how long it takes depends mainly on how easy it is to make a denture that comfortably fits your mouth. From extractions to healing or adjustments, some people may be back and forth to their dentist’s office a few times before everything looks and feels just right.

Multiple trips to visit your dentist will help you get to know your team of providers well, and vice versa! That's a good thing, since a great working relationship with your dentist will help you design a better denture together.

Why Do Dentures Take So Much Time?

Dentures are gradually created from a series of impressions of your mouth and then from molds or casts that are created based off those impressions. These replicas are necessary to check the way your teeth are meant to close together, as well as to recreate the shape of your mouth.

You'll want dentures that fit comfortably against the surface of your gums and make it easy to close your mouth. The better the fit, the less likely you need to wear something like a denture adhesive paste or tape.

What are dentures made from?

Today's most popular denture material is acrylic resin, which is very strong but not too expensive. The teeth on some dentures (particularly front ones) may be made of porcelain, because that most closely resembles the enamel on natural teeth.

Your First Denture: What to Expect

From start to finish, your experience may look something like this:

First visit: Talk with the dentist to find out what your restorative needs are. Get answers to questions such as:

• Should remaining teeth be extracted?
• What kind of denture is right for you?
• When should you get started?

You'll then need some x-rays to get a better idea of how to begin.

Second visit: Get impressions of your gums and any remaining teeth.

Third visit: Molds based off the shape of your mouth are used to create dentures which you'll try on to find the best fit.

Fourth visit: Design the size, shape, and color of the teeth in your new smile.

Fifth visit: Try out your new smile! If your denture needs further adjusting, you'll have to come back once more to pick it up.

Clearly, a quality denture takes some careful time and planning. If you're considering the possibility of anchoring your dentures in place with implants, it will be even longer before your smile is ready.

Is a new denture in your immediate future? You've got a team of experienced denture dentists in Houston at your local Summit Dental Center location. Contact us today for more information.