Our Services / Dentures

What are dentures?

Dentures are removable oral appliances that replace your natural teeth and surrounding tissues. They rest on top of your gums and reduce the risk of potentially serious oral health problems like gum recession and bone loss.

Dentures won’t last forever, but with routine check-ups and at-home care, you can use them for 7-10* years and sometimes even longer.  

What are the types of dentures?

At Tukwila Dental Smiles, the team offers several types of dentures:

Full dentures

Full dentures replace an entire row of your permanent teeth. They feature a metal base shaped like a horseshoe, pink artificial gums, and an arch of false teeth. You apply an adhesive to the bottom to prevent your dentures from moving out of position.

Partial dentures

Partial dentures look similar to an orthodontic retainer. They have a metal frame, pink artificial gums, and one (or several) false teeth. Partial dentures snap into place around your existing teeth, allowing you to bite and chew confidently.

Implant-supported dentures

If you don’t want to remove your dentures before going to bed, the team might recommend implant-supported dentures. Implant-supported dentures can be full or partial; the difference is they attach to dental implants, titanium posts that replace your natural tooth roots.

What does getting dentures involve?

The process of getting dentures depends on the type you select:

Full and partial dentures

Your dentist measures your jaw, takes detailed impressions of your mouth, then sends that information to a dental lab. Technicians at the lab use your impressions to design and manufacture a custom set of dentures that fit perfectly.

Implant-retained dentures

If you want implant-retained dentures, you must first receive dental implants. To do that, your provider inserts a series of implants into your jaw during an outpatient procedure. 

Several months later, when your mouth finishes healing, you return to Tukwila Dental Smiles. Your provider takes impressions of your mouth and sends them to a dental lab. The laboratory uses your impressions to create a custom set of implant-supported dentures.

To see if you’re a candidate for dentures, make an appointment at Tukwila Dental Smiles by calling the office or clicking the online booking feature today. 

*Individual results may vary.