The successful denture starts with a Complete Denture Examination. It is important to determine if a person actually needs a denture and whether an overdenture is indicated. Because of advances in dentistry it is often possible to return the mouth to health without the construction of a denture. It is always the best choice to KEEP your teeth or at least some of them.  A successful denture can be made but is always a compromise.

As with a patient that has teeth, It is important that a proper exam be performed before a denture is constructed on someone who has worn a denture for many years . It is important to check for changes in the mouth and to determine if the dental arches can be enhanced by ridge enhancement surgery, before the new denture is constructed. If any pathology is present, it is important not to construct a new denture over active disease.

A complete clinical examination of the mouth is used to determine the condition of the soft tissues and the size and shape of the dental arches. The relationship of the upper and lower jaws can also be determined.

Edentulous Panoramic X-Ray

1.  Nasal Cavity  2.  Maxillary Sinus  3.  Zygomatic Arch  4.  Head of the Condyle  5.  Cornoid Process   6.  Soft Palate  7.  Maxillary Tuberosity  8.  Hard Palate  9.  Tongue Shadow  10.Mandible  11.Mental Foramen  12.Submandibular Fossa  13.Inferior Alveolar Canal

• Retained tooth roots
• Hard and soft tissue lesions
• Hyperplastic (loose tissue)
• Size of the ridges
• Jaw relationship
• Oral Cancer

For patients wanting to maintain some teeth while a denture is constructed an Immediate Denture can be constructed. Implants may be placed in the jaw to anchor a denture when a patient is unable to wear a denture successfully.