VisitsSeveral fittings
AfterAdjustments included
OptionImplant-supported option
In short
A denture is a removable plate of replacement teeth that rests on your gums. It is for people who have lost several teeth, or all of them, and want to chew and speak normally again.
Does this sound like you?
- You have lost most or all of the teeth on your top or bottom jaw.
- Several teeth are missing and eating has become slow or one-sided.
- Remaining teeth are loose or too damaged to save and need to come out.
- An old denture is loose, clicks when you talk, or rubs a sore spot.
- Bridges or implants are not an option for you because of health or bone loss.
Full, partial or implant-supported
Dr. Malik fits all three, and places the implants himself, at 5105 Hurontario, Unit 6.
Full denture
- What it replaces
- Every tooth on the top or bottom jaw
- How it stays in
- Suction on the gums; adhesive helps some people
- Eating
- Soft food first; chewing on both sides at once helps
- Care
- Out at night; brush it, soak it in water
- Visits
- Usually four or five, over several weeks
- Insurance in words
- Plans often cover part, with limits on how often
Partial denture
- What it replaces
- Some teeth, with your own teeth kept around them
- How it stays in
- Small clasps that hook onto your own teeth
- Eating
- Closer to normal, since your own teeth do the work too
- Care
- Out at night; brush it and the teeth it hooks on
- Visits
- Usually four or five, over several weeks
- Insurance in words
- Plans often cover part, with limits on how often
Implant-supported denture
- What it replaces
- Every tooth on a jaw, held by implants in the bone
- How it stays in
- Snaps onto two or more implants; you still take it out
- Eating
- Firmest of the three; less sliding with tough food
- Care
- Out at night; brush the denture and around each implant
- Visits
- Implant surgery, a few months of healing, then the denture visits
- Insurance in words
- Costs the most; plans often cover the denture, rarely the implants
Your first weeks with a new denture
Everyone settles at a different pace, so treat these as usual, not fixed.
- Day 1
Your mouth feels full and you may make more saliva than usual. Eat soft food cut small, and keep the denture in most of the day so your gums start to adapt.
- First week
Talking often feels odd; reading aloud at home fixes most of it. Small sore spots are common. Take it out at night and let your gums rest.
- Weeks 2 to 4
Chewing gets easier and you can try firmer food, both sides at once. Your cheeks and tongue learn where the denture sits and stop fighting it.
- First adjustment
Usually within the first few weeks. Dr. Malik trims the spots that rub and rechecks your bite. Wear the denture for a few hours before you come so the sore areas show.
- Long term relines
Gums slowly shrink over the years, so a denture that fit well starts to loosen. A reline refits the base, usually every few years. Plans often cover part of it.
What happens.
First visit to finish, in order.
Several fittingsAdjustments includedImplant-supported option
- Exam and X-raysDr. Malik checks your gums, any remaining teeth and the bone underneath. Together you choose a full denture, a partial that clips to your own teeth, or one held by implants.
- Impressions and biteWe take moulds of your mouth and record how your jaws meet. The lab uses these to build a wax trial denture.
- Try-inYou try the wax version and check the fit, the tooth colour and how it feels when you talk. Changes happen now, before anything is finalized.
- FittingThe finished denture goes in. Dr. Malik checks pressure points and your bite, then shows you how to clean it and how long to wear it each day.
- Adjustments and relinesSore spots are normal in the first weeks; come back and we trim them. As your gums change shape over the years, a reline refits the base so it stays snug.
Cost and insurance.
A full or partial denture usually takes four or five visits over several weeks, plus a short follow-up for adjustments. Many dental plans cover part of dentures and relines, often with limits on how often. We bill your insurance directly. You see the estimate in writing before anything starts; an implant-supported denture is quoted separately because it includes the implant surgery. No insurance? We tell you the cost up front.
Questions people ask.
How long does it take to get used to dentures?
Usually a few weeks. Soft food cut small, and reading aloud at home, speed it up. Sore spots are common early on and take a short visit to trim.
Should I take my dentures out at night?
Yes. Your gums need the rest, and the denture needs to soak in water or a cleaning solution so it does not dry out and warp.
What is an implant-supported denture?
A denture that snaps onto two or more implants placed in the jaw, so it does not slide when you eat. Dr. Malik places the implants himself, so both stages happen at the same office.
Can I get dentures if I have diabetes or heart problems?
Usually, yes. Dr. Malik has twenty years of experience with seniors and patients with complex medical histories. Bring your medication list to the first visit so we plan around it.