Decay, accidents, and other issues can cause you to lose one or more teeth. However, full or partial dentures can restore the appearance and functionality of your smile.

Have a Natural Smile
The goal of Apex Dental is to fit you with dentures that match your existing or former teeth and mouth and face structure.

You will get dentures that:

• Appear natural. They will match the size, shape, and shading of your natural teeth.
• Fit securely in your mouth. Upper dentures often need no adhesive to remain in place.
• Provide you with the functionality you need. You will be able to confidently chew again.
• Are made with the highest quality materials available. We don’t have a “basic package”. All of our dentures are handcrafted by our own lab using the best materials and latest techniques to ensure a great looking product that will last a lifetime.

There are two types of dentures, immediate, or temporary dentures and definitive, or conventional dentures.

When multiple teeth are missing, but some healthy teeth remain to act as support, a partial denture can be a replacement option. It will be fabricated with customized clasping of remaining anchor teeth and support features for retention and stability. Metal based or metal-free options are available.

Partial dentures are likened by many patients to retainers, in that they utilize the soft tissues and remaining teeth for the retention of a “plate” which includes one or more replacement teeth. Partial dentures are often an excellent option for those seeking to replace multiple missing teeth at one time, as the appliance snaps into place like a puzzle piece.

Partial dentures are created out of a metal and acrylic composition or completely out of acrylic. A patient’s specific needs and anatomy dictate the design of the partial denture and every effort is made to construct a self-cleansing partial denture that preserves the remaining teeth and oral tissues.

Dr. Brad and our in-house lab will design your partial denture so that the chewing forces are evenly distributed over the entire surface area of the remaining teeth and soft tissues. Changes to your remaining teeth may be recommended to help equalize these forces.

Complete dentures can be fabricated and fitted in many ways.

•  Traditionally, Conventional Dentures are fabricated and fitted months to years after tooth extraction, allowing them to fit to the bone and gum support after all of the shrinkage of healing has occurred.
• Most people do not want to spend time without teeth in their mouth, and we totally understand that. We have an Immediate Denture solution for that, which allows for a patient to get their dentures on the same day the teeth are extracted, with plans in place to place a fresh acrylic lining into the denture after the shrinkage of healing, to allow for a better long term fit.
• An additional option with dentures is to add a “Snap In” feature, by placing two to four implants into the remaining bone and modifying the dentures to snap into place on the implant anchors. 

Traditional dentures rely on suction and soft tissue support to stay in place. This proven solution to tooth loss has come a long way from the old dentures of the past. While the basics remain the same, the materials and fabrication methods have vastly improved. Dentures can now be designed and created from a variety of dental-grade materials, including porcelain or acrylic. They can also be crafted in a way as to be virtually indistinguishable from real teeth to the casual observer.

When it comes to dentures, our doctors utilize a time-tested and proven denture technique over several short visits. This process results in the best fitting, most comfortable and esthetic denture possible. Done with precision, the goal of dentures is to replace the missing teeth in a way that idealizes the position, shape and color or what the teeth would be if they were perfectly healthy. Involving the patient in the smile design process ensures that their expectations are met, both aesthetically and functionally.

An immediate denture is made prior to the removal of the remaining teeth and is ready to be placed at the same appointment that the teeth are extracted. Some refer to this as “teeth in a day” or “same day teeth”. These are not temporary dentures, they are built with premium materials and the highest quality care by our in-house lab.

Due to the multiple extractions often necessary in preparation for a permanent denture, the mouth can take several months to fully heal. An immediate denture helps to prevent excessive swelling, and provides an obvious cosmetic benefit that would not otherwise be possible during the healing months.

The process begins with us making a mold of your mouth prior to the full extraction of all teeth. This mold is then taken to our in-house lab where the immediate denture is fabricated to match the size of the teeth in your mouth as well as the color and contour of your gums. Once the denture is complete, you will be scheduled for your extractions.

After your procedure, the immediate denture will be placed in your mouth, and required to remain in place for around 24 hours. As mentioned above, this helps to facilitate controlled healing, a process that allows your gums to heal in a protected manner without excessive swelling.

Immediate dentures ensure that a patient is never without teeth. During healing, a soft temporary liner is placed for comfort as the mouth heals and changes, and the immediate denture is easily modified to ensure a proper fit. After 4-6 months of healing, you will come in with your immediate denture for a reline. This adjustment entails adding a new layer to the inside of your denture in order to fit your mouth comfortably after the tissues have finished shrinking with healing.

Many denture wearers would tell you that there is typically a large contrast in function between an upper denture and a lower denture. Upper dentures have the advantage of a suction effect on the palate, which makes it more retentive and secure as compared to a lower denture. Denture adhesive is often required for the lower denture to aid in keeping it secure during function and speech. And, although the upper denture has the advantage of palatal suction, some patients find that the suction is not sufficient for their desires for stability during speech and eating. These variations in palatal suction are often due to anatomical compromise of the supporting bone or to reduced salivary flow. One alternative to the limitations of lower and/or upper dentures, is to utilize dental implants to help it snap on.

Implant supported (snap-in) dentures are those with snap-in attachments to dental implants that have been placed and allowed to fuse into your jawbone. In this video we’ll show you how implant overdenture, treatment is completed.

Implants can be placed at the time of tooth extraction, as in this video. It is important to note, however, that implants can also be placed at a later time, if a patient is struggling with the fit of their dentures, and the existing denture can be modified to fit to the implants.

Implant supported dentures provide for a more secure fit of your dentures. This allows you to speak and smile more confidently. It allows you to eat a wider variety of foods and is generally more comfortable.

What does this process look like?

• Dr. Brad will place dental implants below your gum line to support your denture.
• During the next three to four months, your jawbone and the implants will fuse.
• You’ll wear your immediate dentures during the healing period.
• When healing is complete, Dr. Brad and our in-house lab will convert your immediate denture into your final denture. He will secure it to the implants with snaps or screws, depending on the technique used.

Why should you consider implant supported dentures?

• Support – Implant fixtures fuse with your jawbone to provide a solid anchor for dentures. Unlike removable complete dentures, they won’t slip around or fall out.
• Function – It’s easier to speak and eat with implant overdentures. An implant-supported upper denture is palateless, which increases your ability to enjoy the taste of food. And your dentures will be quiet—no clicking or popping.
• Comfort – Implant-supported dentures don’t rest on your gums and rub or irritate them. They are comfortable and feel natural.
• Jawbone preservation – Implant fixtures stimulate the jawbone. That’s important because when all of your teeth are missing, the bone progressively shrinks and causes your facial muscles to sag, making you look older. Implant overdentures help prevent facial collapse and preserve your youthful look.