Digital dentures are removable replacement teeth designed from a 3D model of your mouth and made by a dental lab with computer-aided design. Redondo Beach Dental Group makes them for patients with missing teeth in Redondo Beach, a short drive from Torrance, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.
The process can be finished in as few as two visits to our office on Artesia Boulevard, and the digital record of your mouth stays on file for the day you need a new set. Call (310) 542-6988 to talk through whether dentures fit your situation.
Losing all of your teeth is more common than many people realize. According to the CDC, in 2017 to March 2020 about 1 in 10 adults aged 65 to 74, and about 1 in 5 adults aged 75 or older, had lost all of their natural teeth.
How Digital Dentures Are Made
Traditional dentures are built up through a series of molds, wax models and try-in appointments. With digital dentures the lab designs from a 3D model instead, and treatment can be completed in as few as 10 days.
- At the first visit, impressions of your mouth are taken, and the way your upper and lower jaws should meet is worked out with you.
- The information goes to a dental lab, where 3D software and computer-aided design are used to build your denture from the model of your mouth.
- At the second visit, you come back to have the denture placed. The fit and the way it works when you bite and speak are checked, and adjustments are made before you leave.
Why the 3D Model Matters Later
The 3D model created for your denture stays in your treatment records. After teeth are lost, the jawbone under the gums slowly shrinks, so a denture that fit well at first can start to feel loose years later. Dentures also wear and can crack or break. When that happens, having the digital record already on file makes it easier to make a replacement set, instead of starting again from nothing.
A loose denture is worth having checked. Depending on how much your mouth has changed, the fit may be adjusted, the inside of the denture may be relined, or a new denture may be the better answer. Ask us which applies to yours.
Dentures, Implants or a Bridge?
Dentures sit alongside implants and bridges in restorative dentistry, and the right choice depends on how many teeth are missing, the health of the bone and any remaining teeth, and your budget.
A removable denture
A denture needs no surgery and generally costs less than implant-based options. It rests on the gums and comes out for cleaning. The tradeoff is stability: a lower denture in particular can move when you eat or talk, and the fit changes as the bone underneath shrinks.
A denture held by implants
Implants can also hold a removable denture in place so it no longer slips. A few dental implants are placed in the jaw, and the denture attaches to them. You still take it out to clean it. Ask for an estimate on an implant-held denture, since the cost depends on how many implants your case needs.
A fixed full arch
If you want teeth that do not come out at all, All-on-4 implants hold a full arch of teeth on four implants. At our office it typically costs $20,000 to $30,000 per arch.
When only a few teeth are missing
If you still have healthy teeth on both sides of a gap, a dental bridge fixed to those teeth may be a better fit than a removable appliance.
Getting Used to New Dentures
The first few weeks are an adjustment for most people. Extra saliva is common at first, and some words can sound different until your tongue and cheeks learn to hold the denture in place. Reading aloud helps. Start with soft foods cut into small pieces, chew on both sides at once, and add firmer foods as you get comfortable. Sticky and very hard foods, such as caramels, hard candy, nuts and tough meat, are the ones most likely to loosen or damage a denture.
Sore spots are common early on and are usually fixed with a small adjustment. Call us rather than waiting for them to settle, and do not try to file or bend the denture yourself.
Caring for Your Dentures
- Brush the denture every day with a soft brush and a denture cleaner, since regular toothpaste can scratch it.
- Clean over a folded towel or a sink partly filled with water, so the denture does not break if you drop it.
- Keep it in water or a soaking solution when it is out, so it does not dry out and lose its shape, and avoid hot water, which can warp it.
- Brush your gums, tongue and the roof of your mouth gently each day, and any natural teeth that remain.
- Keep having regular checkups even with no natural teeth, so the fit and your gums can be checked.
What Dentures Cost
The cost of dentures depends on whether you need one arch or both, whether any teeth have to be removed first, the materials chosen, and whether implants are part of the plan. Ask for an estimate after your exam so you have the full number before treatment begins.
Dental plans often treat dentures as major restorative care and pay a smaller share than they do for checkups and fillings, within an annual maximum, and many limit how often a denture can be replaced. We accept PPO plans; ask us how your plan applies to this treatment. For the remaining balance, we offer payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub, plus an in-office plan for patients without insurance.
Who You Will See
Dr. Moshe Eizdi leads care at Redondo Beach Dental Group. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors, and his work covers cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including implant restorations. Ask us to compare dentures with implant options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are digital dentures?
Digital dentures are dentures designed from a 3D model of the mouth using computer-aided design, instead of being built up only through physical molds and wax try-ins. At Redondo Beach Dental Group the process takes as few as two visits, and the 3D model stays on file to help make a replacement set later.
What’s the average price of a good set of dentures?
The price of a set of dentures varies with the number of arches, the materials, any extractions needed first and whether implants are involved. Redondo Beach Dental Group gives an estimate after an exam, and payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub are available.
Is it cheaper to get dentures or implants?
Dentures are generally cheaper than implants up front. At Redondo Beach Dental Group a single implant typically costs $3,000 to $6,000 including the abutment and crown, and All-on-4 typically costs $20,000 to $30,000 per arch. Dentures cost less but need relining or replacing as the jawbone changes over the years.
Why can’t you wear your dentures at night?
Most dentists advise taking dentures out at night so the gums can rest and the denture can be cleaned and soaked. Wearing them around the clock keeps the gums covered and makes irritation and infection under the denture more likely.
How long do dentures last?
How long dentures last depends on wear, care and how much the jawbone and gums change underneath them. Many people need an adjustment or reline after some years, and eventually a new set. A loose, cracked or worn denture should be checked rather than worn as it is.
How long do you have to wait to get dentures after teeth are pulled?
The wait for dentures after teeth are pulled depends on how the gums and bone heal, which can take months, and the shape of the mouth keeps changing during that time. Some patients receive a denture the same day teeth are removed and have it relined after healing, while others wait until healing is further along. Ask us which approach fits your situation.
What is a denture doctor called?
A dentist who has completed specialty training in replacing missing teeth is called a prosthodontist. Making dentures is not limited to specialists, though, and many general dentists make dentures as a routine part of their work.
What foods should I avoid with dentures?
Foods to avoid with dentures are mainly sticky and very hard ones, such as caramels, taffy, hard candy, nuts, popcorn kernels and tough meat. They can loosen the denture or crack it.
Book a Denture Consultation in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. We are open Monday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online to start on new dentures or have a loose one checked.