Extra care must be taken when handling dentures or partials because they are delicate and could break when dropped. It is also important to prevent dentures or partials from drying out so place them in the specified soaking solution or plain water when not in use. Avoid hot water because this will cause the denture to lose its shape. Brush dentures daily to dislodge food deposits and prevent them from becoming stained.


George Washington (1732–1799) suffered from problems with his teeth throughout his life, and historians have tracked his experiences in great detail.[14] He lost his first adult tooth when he was twenty-two and had only one left by the time he became president.[15] John Adams says he lost them because he used them to crack Brazil nuts but modern historians suggest the mercury oxide, which he was given to treat illnesses such as smallpox and malaria, probably contributed to the loss. He had several sets of false teeth made, four of them by a dentist named John Greenwood. None of the sets, contrary to popular belief, was made from wood or contained any wood.[16] The set made when he became president was carved from hippopotamus and elephant ivory, held together with gold springs.[17] Prior to these, he had a set made with real human teeth,[18] likely ones he purchased from "several unnamed Negroes, presumably Mount Vernon slaves" in 1784.[19] Washington's dental problems left him in constant pain, for which he took laudanum.[20] This distress may be apparent in many of the portraits painted while he was still in office,[20] including the one still used on the $1 bill.[21][a]
This type of denture is made to be placed in the mouth immediately after you have all your natural teeth extracted. This allows you to leave the office without the embarrassment of having no teeth while the gums heal from the extraction. The denture is made to conform to your mouth at the moment impressions were taken. Your gums will change drastically over the next few months and it is possible that the dentures will rub against the gums causing some soreness until the denture is adjusted. Most patients will require a realignment of their denture within the first few months due to the gums shrinking from the extraction of teeth. Another benefit of immediate dentures is the fact that the dentures act as a bandage to the extraction sites which covers the tooth sockets and prevents them from becoming irritated. Just remember, never remove the denture yourself, even for a brief moment unless your dentist has instructed you to. The gums have a tendency to swell when uncovered at first; and if you are without your dentures for a little while, they may never go back in.
Often, the process of getting beautiful, custom dentures begins with one or more tooth extractions. Next, your dentist will begin the process of creating your new dentures. A conventional denture is fitted after a full-mouth extraction (removal of all teeth) once your gums have healed. In most cases, immediate dentures are created and placed immediately after your extractions, allowing the gums to heal underneath the appliance.

Christopher Athari, DMD, FICOI, FAAIP, is a general dentist and is the practice owner of this Affordable Dentures & Implants-affiliated practice in Mesa, AZ. Dr. Athari and his staff look forward to fulfilling the denture and dental implant needs of patients who travel from Mesa, Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler, Scottsdale, Maricopa, Sun Lakes, Apache Junction, Fountain Hills, Florence, Superior and surrounding communities.
There are several types of partial and full dentures. Complete dentures, also called full dentures, may be recommended when all teeth in the upper or lower jaw are missing. There are two options for complete dentures: immediate and conventional. Immediate dentures are made before the patient's teeth are removed and can be inserted as soon as the tooth removal surgery is complete.

Stability is the principle that describes how well the denture base is prevented from moving in a horizontal plane, and thus sliding from side to side or front to back. The more the denture base (pink material) is in smooth and continuous contact with the edentulous ridge (the hill upon which the teeth used to reside, but now only residual alveolar bone with overlying mucosa), the better the stability. Of course, the higher and broader the ridge, the better the stability will be, but this is usually a result of patient anatomy, barring surgical intervention (bone grafts, etc.).


Content on the Oral Health Topics section of ADA.org is for informational purposes only. Content is neither intended to nor does it establish a standard of care or the official policy or position of the ADA; and is not a substitute for professional judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ADA is not responsible for information on external websites linked to this website.
Before we discuss the factors that will impact your buying decision, let’s first make a very important distinction: Seeking out affordable dentures prices is not the same as getting “cheap” dentures. You can get fitted by a seasoned, skilled dental professional and get quality dentures at an affordable out-of-pocket price. Affordable dentures refer to the value you get for your financial investment, and you can get well-crafted dentures that fit properly without paying thousands of dollars for them.
The process of receiving your customized partial dentures is relatively easy when compared to more invasive replacement procedures that take a long time, like dental implants. The creation and fitting of your partial dentures will take a few weeks at most. We will first make impressions and molds of your remaining teeth, gums, and jaw that will help us create partial dentures that fit you perfectly.
Dentures are removable appliances that can replace missing teeth and help restore your smile. If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth, whether from gum disease, tooth decay or injury, replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. That’s because dentures make it easier to eat and speak better than you could without teeth—things that people often take for granted.
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