Dentures in Beverly Hills, CA
Medically reviewed by Dr. Kayla Lebeau, DDS
Dentures that you can actually eat with
A denture has two jobs: to let you eat and speak, and to look like teeth rather than like dentures. A poor one fails at both, and most of the misery people describe, the clicking, the sore spots, the food underneath, comes from fit rather than from dentures as an idea.
Fit is mostly time. Impressions taken properly, a try-in you look at in a mirror before anything is finished, and adjustments afterwards without being made to feel like a nuisance.
- Usually takesSeveral visits over 6 to 10 weeks
- TypesFull, partial, or implant-supported
- Try-inYou approve before it is finished
- AdjustmentsExpected, and included in the plan
Worth talking to us if
- You are losing the last few teeth and want to know your options first
- Your current denture clicks, drops, or has never been comfortable
- You avoid eating in front of people, or have stopped eating certain foods entirely
- Your face has changed shape and your denture no longer supports your lip
- You have been told your only option is a full denture and want a second opinion
How a denture is made
- AssessmentWhat is left, the health of the gums and ridge, and how much bone there is. That last part decides whether a conventional denture will hold well or whether implants should be part of the plan.
- First impressionsA preliminary mold, then a second, more precise one taken in a custom tray made for your mouth. The accuracy of this step is most of the comfort you will feel later.
- Bite registrationRecording how your jaws meet, and where the teeth need to sit so your lips and cheeks are supported. Get this wrong and the face looks collapsed no matter how good the teeth are.
- The try-inThe teeth are set in wax and you see them in the mirror before anything is made permanent. Say what you think here. Shade, length, how much shows when you smile. Changes are easy at this stage and expensive afterwards.
- Fitting and adjustingFinished, fitted, and then adjusted. Nearly everyone needs a couple of small adjustments in the first weeks. That is normal, not a sign anything went wrong.
The option most people are not told about
A lower full denture has nothing to grip. No palate, and a tongue that lifts it. It is the single most common source of denture complaints, and it is solvable. Two implants in the lower jaw give a denture something to clip onto, and it stops moving.
Beyond that, All-on-4 supports a fixed set of teeth on four implants that you do not take out at all. It is a bigger decision and a bigger cost, and it is not for everyone, but you should be told it exists before you settle for a denture that floats.
Getting used to a new one
- Give it two to four weeks. Speech feels strange first and settles fastest. Reading out loud for ten minutes a day genuinely speeds it up.
- Start with soft food cut small, and chew on both sides at once. Biting with the front teeth tips a denture forward.
- Take it out at night unless you have been told otherwise. Your gums need the rest, and it lowers the risk of infection.
- Clean it over a basin of water with a denture brush and soap, not toothpaste. Toothpaste is abrasive enough to scratch the surface.
- Sore spots are fixable. Do not endure them and do not adjust it yourself. Come in, wearing it, so we can see where it is rubbing.
Will people be able to tell?
Done well, no. The giveaways are teeth that are too white, too even, and too short. We set them to suit your face and age, and you approve the look at the try-in.
Can I have teeth the same day mine are removed?
An immediate denture can be fitted at the extraction appointment so you are never without teeth. It will need relining later as the gums shrink, and that is planned for, not a surprise.
How long do dentures last?
The denture itself, five to ten years. But your jaw keeps changing shape underneath it, so a reline every few years is what keeps it fitting.
Should I use adhesive?
A well-fitting denture should not need much. If you are relying on adhesive to get through the day, the denture needs relining or replacing.
Can I eat normally?
Most foods, yes, with practice. Very hard and very sticky things stay difficult with a conventional denture, which is exactly where implant support changes the answer.
What if I only need some teeth replaced?
Then a partial denture is likely the better route, and it keeps your remaining teeth working.
Come and see what a well-fitted one feels like
- (310) 860-6969Someone here answers.
- Request a visitWe will call to confirm.
- Pick a time onlineChoose your own slot.
What to expect in the first months
Nobody enjoys the adjustment period, and being warned about it makes it much easier to get through.
Weeks one and two: increased saliva, a bulky feeling, and some sore spots. Sore spots are normal and are adjusted in minutes. Come in rather than enduring them or filing the denture yourself. Reading aloud for a few minutes a day retrains speech quickly.
Eating: start with soft food cut small, chew on both sides at once to keep the denture stable, and add harder textures over several weeks. Biting with the front teeth is the last thing to come back.
Months three to twelve: the gum ridge underneath continues to shrink, particularly after recent extractions, so the fit loosens. That is biology, not a fault. A reline restores the fit and is a routine, inexpensive appointment.
Long term, the bone keeps resorbing because there are no roots loading it. This is the honest argument for implant-retained dentures, which stop that process and remove the movement altogether.