Dentures offer a practical solution for individuals who have lost their natural teeth due to decay, injury, or disease. But how long does it take to make dentures?
This article provides a comprehensive guide to the process and timeline involved in creating these dental prosthetics.
Quick Answer: How Long Does It Take to Make Dentures?
On average, the entire process takes between two and eight weeks, depending on factors such as the type of dentures, the number of try-in required, the laboratory turnaround time, patient's oral health, and any additional treatments required.
Select dental offices will do “same day dentures” or “dentures-in-a-day,” but this is not common. Usually these offices are able to expedite the process by having dedicated, in-house laboratories with full-time laboratory technicians.
Could a denture be made ASAP? Sure, but the cosmetics, bite, and fit would all be worse as a result of bypassing the try-in appointments.
The process begins with a consultation, oral examination, and taking impressions. This stage sets the foundation for the type and design of dentures needed.
Custom dentures are then designed and fabricated over several weeks, usually involving multiple stages of fitting (“try-ins” or “wax try-ins”) and adjustment to ensure comfort and functionality.
After the completed denture returns from the laboratory, a denture insertion appointment ensures the dentures fit properly. Adjustments are made as necessary for a comfortable and secure fit. This appointment — where you get to actually leave the dentist’s office with your new dentures — usually occurs 4-8 weeks after the initial denture impression was taken.
The Denture Fabrication Process
The process of creating dentures is a meticulous one that involves several steps. Each step is crucial to ensuring that the dentures fit perfectly and provide the wearer with comfort and functionality.
Dentists understand your desire to get your new denture made as soon as possible.
However, it is important to understand that the try-in appointments are necessary, and patient satisfaction drops substantially if the try-in appointments are skipped.
Could a denture be made ASAP? Sure, but the cosmetics, bite, and fit would all be worse as a result of bypassing the try-in appointments.
It's important to note that the process can vary slightly depending on the type of dentures being made and the individual patient's needs. However, the general steps remain the same.
Initial Consultation & Examination
The first step in the denture process is an initial consultation and examination. During this appointment, the dentist will assess the patient's oral health and discuss the best denture options for their specific needs.
If financial considerations are in order, impressions of the patient's mouth will also be taken during this visit. These impressions are used to create a model of the patient's mouth, which is used in the design and fabrication of the dentures.
*Please note that many dental insurance companies require a “pre-authorization,” which will add an additional visit because you will have to wait for a response before taking the initial impression.
Please also note that payment will generally be required at the denture impression appointment — and dentures are not cheap! Many patients will opt not to take impressions at the consultation appointment, because they would like some time to get their funds in order.
Finally, note that many dental offices split the “Consultation appointment” and the “Impression appointment” into 2 different visits. This is quite common. If you are unsure, call your dental office before the visit and confirm whether impressions will be taken at the initial appointment.
Denture Design & Fabrication
Once the impressions have been taken, the process of designing and fabricating the dentures begins. The dentist and dental technician will work together to create a denture that fits the patient's mouth perfectly and matches the color of their natural teeth.
This process can take weeks or months to complete, as it involves multiple stages of fitting and adjustment to ensure the dentures are comfortable and functional.
Average turnaround time for a dental lab (including shipping both ways) is 2-3 weeks.
So, if multiple try-in appointments are required, the entire denture fabrication process could take 2-3 months.
Timeline for Making Dentures
The timeframe for making dentures can vary greatly depending on a number of factors. These include the type of dentures being made, the individual patient's needs, and the specific procedures involved.
However, on average, it typically takes between two to eight weeks to make a set of dentures from the initial consultation to the final fitting. This timeframe can be broken down into several key stages.
Initial Consultation & Examination
The initial consultation and examination typically takes around one to two hours. During this time, the dentist will assess the patient's oral health, discuss denture options, and take impressions of the patient's mouth if the patient and his/her insurance company is prepared to begin the process.
It's important for patients to ask any questions they may have during this appointment, as it sets the foundation for the rest of the denture fabrication process.
Denture Design & Fabrication
The design and fabrication stage is the longest part of the denture creation process. This stage can take anywhere from two to eight weeks to complete.
During this time, the dentist and dental technician will create a denture that fits the patient's mouth as perfectly as possible. Multiple fittings may be required to ensure the dentures are comfortable and functional.
The purpose of these fittings (“try-ins”) is to ensure the fit of the denture, the size/shape/color/position of the denture teeth, and the comfort of the bite. If we skip these try-in steps, all of these things will be affected.
Final Fitting & Adjustment
Once the dentures have been fabricated, the patient will return to the dentist for a final fitting and denture insertion. This appointment typically takes around one hour.
During this visit, the dentist will make any necessary adjustments to the dentures to ensure they fit properly and comfortably. The patient will also be given instructions on how to care for their new dentures.
Most importantly, this is the visit where you actually get to leave the office with your new dentures in your mouth!
If you experience discomfort or sore spots in the first few days or weeks, don’t fret. It is very common to develop sore spots, and your dentist can usually address this problem with a few quick adjustments on the denture.
Factors that Can Affect the Timeline
While the average timeframe for making dentures is two to eight weeks, there are several factors that can affect this timeline. Understanding these factors can help patients have realistic expectations about the denture creation process.
Some of these factors include the type of dentures being made, the patient's oral health, and the complexity of the patient's case.
Type of Dentures
The type of dentures being made can significantly impact the timeframe for their creation. For example, complete dentures (which replace all the teeth in the mouth) may have a different timeline than partial dentures (which only replace some of the teeth).
Similarly, immediate dentures (which are placed in the mouth immediately after teeth extraction) require a quicker turnaround time than conventional dentures (which are placed in the mouth several weeks after teeth extraction). The shorter turnaround time comes with a catch, though — there are no try-in appointments to verify the fit, comfort, and size/shape/position of the denture teeth.
The biggest variable is the number of try-in appointments needed. Generally speaking, each try-in appointment will add 2-3 weeks in total time. This is because an average lab turnaround time, including shipping both ways, is at least 2 weeks.
Patient's Current Oral Health
The patient's oral health can also affect the timeline for making dentures. This can add additional time to the denture creation process, as the patient may need to undergo treatments such as tooth extraction before the dentures can be made.
If there are remaining teeth that need to be removed before a denture is made, this often greatly increases the timeline. A denture fits better if the teeth are extracted, then some healing time (weeks or months, at minimum) is allowed, and then the denture is made.
However, there are also cases where the presence of teeth can actually speed up the process. This is because you may be a candidate for an immediate denture (wherein the denture is inserted immediately after extractions). But, as was noted above, this comes at the expense of try-in appointments.
Complexity of the Case
The complexity of the patient's case can also impact the timeframe for making dentures. For example, if the patient has a complex bite or requires significant adjustments to the dentures, this can add additional time to the denture creation process.
Similarly, if the patient requires additional procedures such as bone grafting or dental implants, this can also extend the timeframe for making dentures.
Final Thoughts
Making dentures is a meticulous process that requires careful planning and execution. While the average timeframe for making dentures is two to eight weeks, this can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, particularly the number of try-in appointments needed.
By understanding the process and timeline involved in making dentures, patients can have realistic expectations and be better prepared for their denture journey.
FAQs
How quickly can dentures be made?
Traditional dentures typically take between two to eight weeks to be made after the initial consultation and impression appointment. This includes time for designing, crafting, try-ins, and fitting.
Can dentures be made in one day?
Yes, same-day or immediate dentures can be made in one day. These are pre-made before tooth extraction and fitted on the same day the teeth are removed, although they may require more adjustments later on.
Please note that “same day” dentures usually require an initial impression appointment 2-3 weeks before the “same day” denture is made. So, if you walk into a dental office hoping for a denture today, there is a nearly zero percent chance that you will have a denture made by the end of the day.
Do you have no teeth while waiting for dentures?
With traditional dentures, you might be without teeth for some time as your gums heal from extractions. However, with immediate dentures, you won't be without teeth as they are inserted right after tooth removal. Traditional dentures are better for comfort, fit, and esthetics, while immediate dentures are “better” because you don’t have to spend any time without teeth.
How long does it take a lab to make immediate dentures?
Immediate dentures are typically made before your tooth extraction appointment. The process might start a few weeks before the extraction, so they are ready for placement immediately after your teeth are removed.
How painful are same day dentures?
Same-day dentures can cause severe discomfort and soreness initially, as they are placed on the same day of extraction when gums are still healing. The level of pain varies from person to person but is generally tolerated with prescribed pain relief and adjustments. Pain and discomfort usually decrease as your mouth heals and adjusts to the dentures. Expect the first week to be quite uncomfortable, and expect things to improve after a couple weeks.
* Though the author of this post is a licensed dentist in the state of Kansas, this information is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Please use your best judgment and contact emergency medical services in the event of an emergency.