Dentures & Partial Dentures in Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania, VA

Full dentures are used when all of the teeth in a dental arch (upper or lower) are missing. They rest on the gums and rely on suction or adhesive. Partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain; they have a metal or acrylic framework that clasps onto the remaining teeth to hold the artificial teeth in place.

It is normal for new dentures to feel slightly awkward or bulky for the first few weeks. You may experience minor irritation, increased saliva flow, or difficulty pronouncing certain words initially. However, your mouth, tongue, and facial muscles will quickly adapt, and these issues will subside.

No, modern dentures are crafted to look highly natural. We carefully select the shape, size, and color of the artificial teeth to match your facial structure and look completely lifelike. The acrylic base is also shaded to mimic the natural color of your gum tissues.

While you technically can, it is highly recommended that you remove your dentures at night. Taking them out gives your gums and underlying bone a chance to rest and recover from the pressure of wearing them all day. It also allows you to thoroughly clean the dentures overnight.

Dentures should be brushed daily with a soft-bristled denture brush and a non-abrasive denture cleanser (not regular toothpaste, which can scratch them). When you take them out at night, they should be soaked in water or a mild denture-soaking solution to prevent them from drying out and warping.

Implant-supported dentures (or overdentures) are a hybrid solution. Instead of relying on suction, these dentures snap onto dental implants that have been surgically placed in your jawbone. This provides a vastly superior, slip-free fit and allows for much stronger chewing capability.

A well-fitting custom denture should ideally require little to no adhesive, relying instead on natural suction (especially for upper dentures). However, over time, as your jawbone naturally shrinks due to missing teeth, the fit can loosen. Small amounts of adhesive can help, but if they become very loose, a reline or replacement is needed.

With proper care, a set of dentures can last between 5 and 10 years. However, because your mouth naturally changes shape over time (bone loss), the dentures will eventually need to be relined, rebased, or remade to ensure they continue to fit securely and function properly.