How Our Dentists Help You Choose the Right Denture
Will I have to go without teeth? It’s one of the first things people ask when they’re facing denture treatment, along with how long it takes and what it costs. Usually, the answer is no, thanks to immediate dentures.
At Desert Hills Dental Care, our dentists provide full, partial, immediate, and implant-supported dentures, and we handle repairs and relines, too. Below you’ll find each type, the timeline, and the cost of dentures, so you know what to expect before your first visit.
Call (505) 327-4863 to schedule your denture consultation.
From Tooth Removal to Your Final Fit
Patients who need dentures often need more than a set of teeth. They may need teeth taken out and something to wear while they heal. Then they need a denture that fits, and someone nearby to fix it when it breaks or loosens. Our dentists can guide you through each of those steps, working with a dental lab that makes the dentures.
- Extractions first: When teeth can’t be saved, we numb the area and remove them here.
- Immediate dentures while you heal: If teeth need to come out, ask whether immediate dentures fit your case.
- Repairs when something breaks: If yours cracks, chips, or loses a tooth, call us, and we’ll tell you how quickly it can be fixed.
- Relines as your jaw changes: A denture can loosen over time. A reline every year or two, or whenever the fit changes, can make it snug again.
- Implants if your denture slips: We offer dental implants too. If a denture keeps slipping, ask about steadying it with mini dental implants or moving to implant-supported dentures. You won’t have to start over at a new office.
Dr. Clarissa Burgess, one of our Farmington dentists, has practiced here since 2013 and made new dentures for a local artist, who shared her story in one of our Smile Lifestyle patient videos. Dr. Gene Hilton, a member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, is on the same team if you later choose implant-supported dentures.
Her video is one of several patient stories on our site, alongside dental reviews from patients who travel in from as far as Gallup.
Types of Dentures
Full Dentures
Full dentures, also called complete dentures, replace a whole upper or lower row of teeth. If a few teeth remain in that arch, they’re usually removed first.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures fill gaps when you still have some healthy teeth. They hook onto your remaining teeth, so we don’t have to remove them, and they keep those teeth from drifting into the empty spaces.
Immediate Dentures
Immediate dentures go in right after your teeth come out, so you’re never without teeth. Your gums and jaw change shape as they heal, so an immediate denture is usually temporary until your conventional denture is ready.
Implant-Supported Dentures
Implant-supported dentures attach to a few implants in your jaw instead of resting on your gums alone. Some snap onto a metal bar or ball-shaped attachments, so they don’t slide when you talk or eat. If you’d rather have teeth that stay in, ask about All-on-4 dental implants.
Comparing Options
| Full denture | Partial denture | Implant-supported denture | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it suits | No teeth left in the arch | Some healthy teeth left | Wanting a denture that stays put |
| What holds it | Suction on your gums | Hooks on your own teeth | Implants in your jaw |
| Surgery needed | Only extractions, if any | Usually none | Implant placement |
| Typical lifespan | About 5 to 10 years | About 15 years | Many years with care |
| Typical cost in New Mexico | About \$1,500 to \$2,750 per arch | Often similar or less | About \$6,000 to \$15,000 per arch (US) |
Are Dentures Right for You?
Dentures may be a good fit if you:
- Are missing most or all of your teeth in one or both arches
- Have teeth that can’t be saved and need to come out
- Want to chew and speak more easily again
- Want an option that often costs less than replacing each tooth with dental implants
- Wear an old denture that’s loose, cracked, or more than 10 years old
Implant-supported dentures need enough jawbone to hold the implants, and some patients need a bone graft first. We’ll check at your exam.
Your Denture Visit
Getting dentures with us usually follows five steps:
- Consultation: Our Farmington dentist examines your mouth, takes digital X-rays, reviews your medical history, and asks about your goals.
- Your plan and price: You’ll hear which type we recommend and why, and the fee, before anything is made.
- Preparation: If teeth need to come out, we numb the area first, and we do tooth extractions in our office. If you’re nervous, we offer sedation.
- Designing your dentures: We take 3D images of your mouth and send them to an offsite lab, which uses them to make your custom dentures.
- Fitting: We check the fit and bite, look with you, make adjustments, and show you how to put them in and take them out.
How Long Does the Denture Process Take?
- Immediate dentures: placed at the visit when your teeth are removed
- Conventional dentures: often several weeks, longer if your gums need to heal after extractions
- Implant-supported dentures: longer, since the implants need time to heal first
- Adjustments: usually a few short visits in the first weeks
What Life With New Dentures Feels Like
For the first few weeks, new dentures can feel bulky, and your mouth may make more saliva than usual. Sore spots are common early on. They usually ease with small adjustments, and many people need several in the first couple of weeks.
Eating takes practice. Cutting food into smaller pieces helps at first. Very hard, sticky, or chewy foods are often the last to feel easy, especially with a lower denture. Chewing usually improves with time, though a denture rarely feels exactly like natural teeth.
Speaking may sound a little different at first. Sounds like “s” and “f” can take a while as your tongue and lips adjust. Reading aloud at home is a simple way to practice.
Lower dentures usually take longer to get used to. Your tongue moves against them, and the lower ridge gives them less to hold onto. If yours keeps slipping after the first weeks, talk with us about implant options.
When to call us: Call (505) 327-4863 if your denture feels loose, pinches your gums, clicks when you talk, or leaves a sore spot that doesn’t go away. Don’t wait it out. A small adjustment at our office may fix it, and if your gums have changed shape, a reline can restore the fit.
Caring for Your Dentures
- Rinse and brush daily: Clean your dentures every day with a soft brush and denture toothpaste, and rinse them before you put them back in.
- Soak them overnight: Keep them in water or a denture cleaning solution.
- Take them out at night: Unless your dentures are fixed on implants, don’t sleep in them. Wearing them overnight can lead to bad breath and denture stomatitis, a yeast infection of the gums.
- Skip harsh cleaners: Avoid bleach, stiff bristles, and hot water, which can damage them.
- Clean around implants: If your dentures are fixed on implants, brush and floss as you would natural teeth.
- Keep your checkups: Visit us every six months so we can check the fit and your gums.
What Dentures Cost in Farmington
In New Mexico, a full denture often runs about \$1,500 to \$2,750 per arch (typical state fees). Partial dentures may cost about the same or less, and implant-supported dentures may run about \$6,000 to \$15,000 per arch nationally (snap-in denture costs). Your price depends on:
- Full, partial, immediate, or implant-supported
- One arch or both
- Whether teeth need to come out first
- How many implants you need, if any
Insurance plans may cover traditional dentures more readily than implant-supported dentures, and our team works directly with your insurance provider to get you the most coverage available. If there’s a gap, dental financing through CareCredit or 12 months same-as-cash can spread out the cost. A 5% senior dental discount is available if you’re over 60 and don’t have dental insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does NM Medicaid cover dentures?
Medicaid coverage for dentures depends on your plan. Call us before your visit, and we’ll help you check your benefits.
How long does it take to get used to dentures?
Getting used to dentures usually takes a few weeks, sometimes longer. You’ll likely need a few small adjustments in the first weeks.
Do I need denture adhesive?
You don’t always need denture adhesive. A well-fitting full denture may stay in place without it, though some people use a little adhesive for extra hold. Implant-supported dentures that snap onto implants don’t need adhesive.
Can dentures change how my face looks?
Dentures can change how your face looks, usually for the better. After teeth are lost, the jawbone slowly shrinks, which can make cheeks and lips look sunken. Dentures support your lips and cheeks, but they don’t stop that bone loss. Implants placed in the jaw help preserve the bone where they sit.
Book Your Denture Consultation in Farmington
Whether your teeth need to come out or an old denture has stopped fitting, our team can walk you through the next step. Call our denture dentists in Farmington at (505) 327-4863 or request an appointment online to schedule your denture consultation at Desert Hills Dental Care.
Patients come to us from Aztec, Bloomfield, Kirtland, Shiprock, and across San Juan County.