When missing teeth affect your ability to eat, speak, or smile with confidence, dentures can offer a reliable, beautifully natural solution. At Richmond Center for Advanced Dentistry, Dr. Ali Byrd provides custom-made complete dentures and partial dentures designed to restore function, support facial structure, and help patients of all ages feel more confident in their everyday lives.
A denture is a custom, removable dental appliance made to closely resemble your natural teeth, often enhancing your smile in the process. Whether you’re missing several teeth or an entire arch, dentures offer a dependable way to regain strength, balance, and confidence.
What Are the Types of Dentures?
There are two main categories of dentures, depending on how many natural teeth remain.
Complete Dentures
Complete dentures replace all teeth in an arch (upper, lower, or both). They are ideal when no natural teeth remain.
There are two types of complete dentures:
- Conventional Dentures
Created after teeth are removed and the gums have healed (typically 4–6 weeks).
These dentures offer a precise, customized fit but require a healing period without teeth. - Immediate Dentures
Made before teeth removal and placed immediately after extraction.
Patients never go without teeth, but adjustments are often needed as the gums heal and shrink.
Partial Dentures
A partial denture is used when several natural teeth remain. It fills the spaces created by missing teeth while preventing remaining teeth from shifting. Partials not only restore function but help maintain the alignment of your natural smile.
Why Choose Dentures?
Dentures can dramatically improve daily comfort and oral function, making them a life-changing option for many patients.
Common Reasons for Dentures
- Complete tooth loss in an arch
- Loss of several teeth in one area
- Restoring chewing function and digestion
- Improving speech clarity
- Enhancing facial support and fullness
- Boosting smile aesthetics
- Replacing a removable partial denture with a more updated, natural-looking option
When designed well, dentures provide renewed confidence and allow patients to enjoy a wider range of foods and activities.
What Does Getting Dentures Involve?
Creating high-quality dentures is a detailed and personalized process. Because each patient’s anatomy, bite, and gums are unique, multiple visits are needed to achieve the best possible fit.
Step-by-Step Denture Process
- Initial Impressions & Measurements
Dr. Byrd takes highly accurate molds and records the natural position of your jaws and bite. - Custom “Try-In” Appointments
Wax models are created to test the shape, fit, and color of your future denture.
Several try-ins may be needed to perfect comfort, alignment, and esthetics. - Final Denture Placement
Once your customized denture is complete, Dr. Byrd makes precise adjustments to ensure a secure, natural feel.
What to Expect as You Adjust
It’s normal to experience:
- Increased saliva
- Mild soreness
- Temporary speech adjustments
- Chewing challenges
These sensations fade as your muscles and tissues naturally adapt to the new appliance.
Caring for Your Dentures
Proper care helps your dentures last longer and stay comfortable.
Care Tips
- Clean your dentures daily using non-abrasive cleaners
- Keep dentures moist when not in use to prevent warping
- Brush remaining natural teeth and gums every day
- Schedule routine dental visits for adjustments and oral health checks
- Avoid very sticky or hard foods until fully adjusted
With good home care and regular professional maintenance, dentures can last many years.
A Confident, Functional Smile Is Within Reach
At Richmond Center for Advanced Dentistry, Dr. Ali Byrd believes every patient deserves a smile that feels natural, comfortable, and uniquely theirs. Whether you need a complete denture, a partial denture, or help upgrading an older appliance, our team is here to guide you every step of the way. If you’re ready to restore your smile and improve daily comfort, we’re here to help you get started.