Denture Consultation Questions to Ask Your Dentist

A denture consultation goes best when you arrive with questions. The most useful ones cover five areas: whether any of your own teeth can be saved, which type of denture suits you (full, partial or implant-supported), how the denture will be made and fitted, what caring for it involves, and what it costs. Asking them helps you compare options clearly and leaves you with a plan you understand.

Below are the denture consultation questions worth asking your dentist, with the answers you can expect at the Timonium, MD office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS. There is a separate set for partial dentures, because fit and care work a little differently when you still have some natural teeth. If you are just beginning to think about dentures, where to start if you want dentures covers the path from first visit to first denture.

Before you go: what to bring

• Your current denture or partial, if you have one, even if it is uncomfortable. It shows what is and isn’t working.
• Your health history, including conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, artificial joints or heart valves, and every medication you take. Forms can be completed online before your visit.
• A short list of what bothers you: slipping, sore spots, trouble chewing certain foods, how your smile looks, or how you sound when you talk.

Questions about your mouth and your options

“Can any of my teeth be saved?”

This comes first. The goal is to keep natural teeth where possible, and all options are discussed before an extraction is recommended. Any useful teeth that can support a good final result are kept.

“Do I need a full denture or a partial?”

That depends on how many healthy teeth remain and where they are. Your exam answers it, and the answer may change if some teeth can be saved with treatment.

“Would dental implants help my denture?”

Ask this even if you plan on a conventional denture. The implant-supported denture is the standard of care recognized by the ADA for a lower denture, and snapping or locking a denture onto implants improves how well it stays in. Upper dentures can be secured to implants too. Read how implant dentures work.

“What happens if teeth have to come out?”

Extractions are performed with gentle care. Immediate or transitional dentures can be delivered as soon as the remaining teeth that can’t be restored are removed, acting as a bandage over the sockets while you heal.

Questions to ask during a partial denture consultation

If you are keeping some natural teeth, these questions help you get a partial with a proper fit and a care routine you can keep up.

“How will my partial hold on?”

A conventional removable partial usually grips nearby teeth with metal clasps, which can show when you smile and can affect how you taste food. Clasps also put stress on the teeth they hold. A partial secured by implants needs no clips or wires.

“What happens if I lose another tooth later?”

With a conventional partial, losing a tooth can mean losing everything you paid for and starting over. With a snap-on implant partial, a tooth can simply be added, which makes it easier to plan ahead.

“How do I clean my partial and the teeth it touches?”

Take the partial out and clean it after meals, brush the natural teeth it rests against, and remove it for at least 8 hours each day, preferably at bedtime. Leaving it in around the clock can cause sores and fungus underneath.

Questions about how your denture is made

“How do you design dentures?”

At the practice, dentures are made with the branching technique, a method that isn’t taught in dental schools. Dr. Haywood learned it from Dr. Jack Turbyfill and pairs it with the best teeth, the best plastics and lab technicians personally trained by Dr. Turbyfill. The practice takes its time with every step so dentures fit comfortably and look natural.

“What training do you have with dentures?”

Dr. Haywood is specially trained in prosthodontics, the field of replacing lost teeth, and has over 35 years of experience. Asking this at any office tells you how much of the dentist’s work involves dentures.

Questions about fit, adjustments and relines

“What if it rubs or gets sore?”

Sore spots are adjusted. Wear the denture regularly before an adjustment visit, so the dentist can find exactly where it rubs.

“Will it need to be relined?”

With immediate dentures, yes. As the sockets heal the denture gets loose and is adjusted several times. At the end of 3 months it is relined in-house to fit tighter, and because bone usually takes a year to heal completely, it is sent for a lab reline at the end of that year. The lab reline is usually done within a day, so plan to take that day off.

Questions about daily care

• Cleaning: remove and clean the denture after meals, and at bedtime brush it and soak it in water, mouthwash or a denture cleaner.
• Storage: don’t let it dry out, as that can cause it to warp.
• Handling: clean it over a sink with a washcloth and some water in the basin, because acrylic breaks if dropped.
• Adhesive: some people feel more comfortable with an over-the-counter adhesive; remove all of it every day when you clean the denture.
• Checkups: keep seeing the dentist even with a full denture, so the fit and bite can be checked and you can be screened for oral cancer.

Questions about cost and comfort

Ask what each option costs for your own mouth and whether it can be staged. With snap-on implant dentures, many people start with two implants for financial reasons, and more can often be added later. The practice is out of network with all dental insurance companies: you pay at the time of your visit, and the office files the claim so your plan can reimburse you for what it covers. Health savings and flex plans are welcome, and financing is available through CareCredit, with no-interest options for up to 12 months, and Cherry, with plans from 3 to 24 months. If you are anxious about extractions, ask about sedation.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get used to a new denture?

Learning to wear new dentures, particularly full dentures, is much like learning a new sport: it takes practice and patience. Talk and read aloud, and you should sound normal within a very short time.

Should I sleep in my dentures?

No. A removable partial or full denture should come out for at least 8 hours each day, preferably at bedtime, to avoid sores and fungus underneath.

Can you fix dentures made at another office?

Yes. Bring in your problem dentures. Implants can even be placed under dentures you already have, though new, properly constructed dentures are often recommended for the best long-term value.

Is it normal to have extra saliva with a new denture?

Yes. You may salivate more when you first get a denture, and it usually settles within a few minutes to a few days.

Book a denture consultation in Timonium

Bring your questions and your current denture, and leave with a clear plan. Learn more about dentures in Timonium, request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399. The office is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093.