Your consultation structure will vary depending on the clinic, however at Kevin Manners Denture Clinic we provide four to five consultations before fitting your dentures:
Step 1: Initial consultations
When getting new dentures, a consultation is an important step. This initial consultation provides a detailed evaluation of your teeth and is the first step in creating a plan for your dentures, including what denture type is right for you.
During this stage, your dental technician will determine what needs to be done to improve your current dental situation and will explain how to go about this. Any relevant medical and dental history will also be taken at this stage to ensure the best plan can be put in place for you.
This stage will also include signing any paperwork, such as consent forms and discussing the full costs of your treatment.
Step 2: Extraction- if necessary
If any oral health concerns were identified during the previous stage, they will be addressed during this step- this often includes having teeth extracted. In the case of removing teeth, this is often done in a few steps as it can be a lot of both the patient and their mouth to have both front and back teeth removed in one session.
In order to allow the mouth to heal this is often done several weeks before step 6, where the dentures are fit. This also reduces the amount of swelling in the mouth, helping to improve the fit of the dentures.
Step 3: Take impressions of the upper and lower jaw
Your dental technician will take impressions of your upper and lower jaw to create an exact mould of your teeth. This is to provide them with an exact representation of your jaws and any existing teeth.
Step 4: Occlusive registration
This stage is where the relationship between the upper and lower jaws is worked out, allowing the dental technician to accurately record the positioning of the upper and lower jaws in relation to each other.
At this stage the colour, shape, size, and quality of the denture tooth is also decided. The cost of the treatment will also be confirmed during this consultation.
Step 5: View the wax trial dentures in the mouth and complete final alterations
Being able to see the wax trial dentures in the mouth allows the individual and the dental technician to decide if the desired appearance has been achieved. Alterations can be decided during this session if necessary.
At Kevin Manners Denture Clinic we want to ensure you are happy with your dentures and therefore at this stage the final decision is yours. If you feel you need alterations this will be done for you and no extra cost.
Step 6: Fitting the dentures or repeating appointment four if necessary
The fitting of the finished dentures is done during this appointment. Occasionally however it may be necessary to re-run of appointment 4 before this if any alterations have been necessary.
The process of getting dentures fitted can seem daunting if you haven’t gone through it before, or if you have had a bad experience previously. At Kevin Manners we make sure you understand the process and prioritise form and function to ensure you are happy with the result. If you want to find out more about the process of getting new dentures fitted, watch our short video below to follow the experience of one of our customers.
Step 7: Aftercare
Attending regular dental check-ups is equally as important as any of the above steps. They are essential for maintaining a healthy mouth and to prevent small issues with your dentures from getting worse. Dental check-ups will also enable you to recognise any issues early and get any subsequent denture repairs, helping you to extend the life of your dentures.
Top tip: A check-up once a year is recommended, however, smokers and alcohol drinkers should consider more regular check-ups.
You can book a denture check-up with our Clinical Dental Technician or our in-house dentist if you do not have a preferred dentist of your own. Call one of our clinics to arrange your appointment for a time that suits you.
Are you considering getting dentures? If you are still unsure what to expect next, read our top tips when preparing for dentures- from a Clinical Dental Technician.
At Kevin Manners Denture Clinics we pride ourselves on achieving optimum results for patients with regards to denture cosmetics, comfort, fit and function. To find out more about what to expect before and after getting dentures, contact us for your free consultation.