Reviewed by Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS — South Florida Smile Spa, Pompano Beach, FL
Dentures in Pompano Beach at South Florida Smile Spa are made to fit the mouth you have now and the one you will have in a year, because gums and bone keep changing after teeth are lost. Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS designs full dentures, partial dentures and implant-supported dentures, and will tell you plainly which one suits your mouth, your budget and how much you want to be able to chew.
Quick answer
A denture replaces missing teeth with a removable appliance: a full denture when all the teeth in an arch are gone, a partial denture when some natural teeth remain. At South Florida Smile Spa in Pompano Beach, Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS also provides implant-supported dentures that snap onto two to four implants so they do not slip, and fixed All-on-4 bridges for patients who want teeth that never come out. A conventional denture takes about four to six weeks and several fittings; an immediate denture can be placed the day teeth are extracted. Dentures are relined as the gums change and typically replaced every five to ten years.
Dentures
The four kinds of dentures, and who each one suits
“Dentures” covers very different appliances. The right one depends on how many teeth are left, how much bone remains, and how much chewing power and stability you want back.
- Full dentures replace every tooth in the upper or lower arch and rest on the gums. An upper denture seals against the palate and is usually stable; a lower denture has less to hold onto and is the one most patients struggle with.
- Partial dentures replace some teeth and clip onto the natural teeth that remain, with a metal or flexible base. They keep the remaining teeth from drifting and are the most economical way to replace several teeth at once. See dentures and partial dentures.
- Implant-supported dentures snap onto two to four dental implants. The denture still comes out for cleaning, but it does not move when you chew or speak, and the implants slow the bone loss that makes ordinary dentures loosen over time.
- Fixed full-arch bridges (All-on-4) are not removable at all: a full arch of teeth is screwed to four to six implants and only the dentist takes it out. For patients who never want to take their teeth out, this is the alternative to a denture. See All-on-4 dental implants.
Conventional denture vs. implant denture vs. All-on-4
| Conventional denture | Implant-supported denture | All-on-4 fixed bridge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it stays in | Suction and fit against the gums; adhesive if needed | Snaps onto 2 to 4 implants; comes out for cleaning | Screwed to 4 to 6 implants; removed only by the dentist |
| Chewing | Roughly a quarter of natural biting force; tough and sticky foods are difficult | Much improved; most foods are back on the menu | Closest to natural teeth |
| Bone over time | Jawbone keeps shrinking, so the denture loosens and needs relining | Implants slow bone loss where they are placed | Implants preserve bone across the arch |
| Surgery | None (extractions only, if teeth remain) | Minor: implant placement, with healing time | Implant placement, often with teeth fitted the same day |
| Timeline | 4 to 6 weeks; immediate dentures the day of extraction | 3 to 6 months including implant healing | Provisional teeth usually the same day; final in 4 to 6 months |
| Maintenance | Reline every 1 to 2 years; replace every 5 to 10 | Replace the snap attachments every 1 to 2 years; reline as needed | Professional cleaning; bridge serviced over the years |
| Cost | Lowest up front | Middle | Highest up front; fewest remakes over time |
The Process
How dentures in Pompano Beach are made at our office
A denture that fits well is the product of several short visits, not one long one. Each step checks something the last one could not.
- Exam and planning. X-rays or a CBCT scan to see the bone, an assessment of any remaining teeth, and a conversation about what you want to be able to eat and whether implants are worth considering now or later.
- Impressions. A first impression of the gums, then a more precise one in a custom tray made from it, so the base matches the exact shape of your ridge.
- Bite and tooth selection. We record how your jaws meet and the height of your bite, and choose the shade, size and shape of the teeth, usually from photographs of your natural smile.
- Try-in. The teeth are set in wax so you can see them in your face and feel the bite before anything is finalized. This is the visit to change what you do not like.
- Delivery and adjustments. The finished denture is fitted, then adjusted at one or two short follow-ups as sore spots show up. See what to expect when getting dentures and adjusting to new dentures.
If teeth still need to come out, an immediate denture is made beforehand and placed the same day as the extractions, so you are never without teeth. It is relined once the gums have healed, usually after three to six months.
Living with dentures: the first weeks and the long run
New dentures feel large, make speech slightly different and produce extra saliva for the first week or two. Start with soft foods cut small, chew on both sides at once, and read aloud to retrain your speech; most people are comfortable within a month. Sore spots are normal and are fixed with a quick adjustment, not by toughing them out. Our denture care page covers daily cleaning, why dentures come out at night, and what to do if you damage or break a denture.
Over the years the jawbone under a denture continues to shrink, which is why a denture that fit perfectly loosens. A reline every year or two restores the fit; a replacement is usually needed after five to ten years as the teeth wear and the bite changes. Keeping an annual exam even with full dentures matters for the same reason, and because the mouth still needs an oral cancer screening. The American Dental Association’s guide to dentures covers the same ground.
When a denture is the wrong answer
Dr. Berger will say so. A patient with a few failing teeth and good bone is often better served by saving what can be saved and replacing single gaps with dental implants than by extracting everything for a full denture, because a full denture starts the bone loss that makes every later option harder. Equally, a patient who has fought a loose lower denture for years is usually a straightforward candidate for two implants under it, and that conversation is worth having before ordering another conventional denture. Dr. Berger has written about what missing teeth do to nutrition, which is often the reason patients finally ask about implants.
Cost and insurance
The fee depends on the type of denture, the materials, whether extractions or implants are part of the plan, and whether an immediate denture is needed first. You receive the exact figure after the exam, before anything is made. Most dental insurance plans cover a portion of full and partial dentures as a major service, typically once every five to seven years, and our team verifies your benefits and submits the claim. Monthly financing is available, and implant options are quoted alongside the conventional denture so you can compare the two with real numbers rather than guesses.
Care in Pompano Beach
Why patients choose South Florida Smile Spa for dentures
- Every option under one roof. Conventional dentures, implant dentures and All-on-4 are all planned and restored by Dr. Berger, with implants placed by our periodontist at South Florida Smile Spa, so the recommendation is not limited by what the office can do.
- A cosmetic dentist’s eye. Tooth shape, shade and lip support are chosen to look like your teeth, not a standard set, and you see them in wax before they are made.
- Extractions and immediate dentures coordinated. If teeth have to come out, the denture is ready the same day, with sedation available for the surgery.
- Adjustments without a fight. Follow-up visits for sore spots are part of the plan, not an extra.
- Judgment-free. Many denture patients have avoided the dentist for years. That is where the conversation starts, not a problem with it.
Patients come to us for dentures from Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Coconut Creek. If you already have a denture that does not fit, bring it: a reline or a repair is often the answer, and if it is not, you will hear why.
If your denture slips, hurts, or you are putting off getting one
A denture consultation is a conversation about what you want to be able to eat and what your mouth can support. You leave knowing which option fits, what it would involve, and what it would cost, including the implant alternative, side by side.
South Florida Smile Spa · Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS · 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 · (954) 785-1100
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get dentures?
A conventional full or partial denture takes about four to six weeks across four or five short visits: impressions, bite record, a wax try-in and delivery, followed by one or two adjustment visits. If teeth need to be extracted first, an immediate denture is made beforehand and placed the same day as the extractions, then relined after the gums heal.
Will my dentures look fake?
They should not. Tooth shade, size, shape and arrangement are chosen for your face, often from old photographs of your natural smile, and you see the teeth set in wax at a try-in before the denture is finished. Very white, very even teeth are what makes a denture look like a denture, and we avoid that unless you ask for it.
Can I eat normally with dentures?
With conventional dentures you regain roughly a quarter of natural biting force, so tough meats, crusty bread and sticky foods take practice or stay off the menu. Implant-supported dentures restore much of that force, and a fixed All-on-4 bridge comes closest to natural teeth. If eating is your main concern, that is the conversation to have at the consultation.
Why does my lower denture move so much more than the upper?
An upper denture seals against the palate; a lower denture sits on a narrow ridge with the tongue, cheeks and lips all pushing on it, and the lower jaw loses bone faster. Two implants under a lower denture solve this for most patients and are the most common upgrade we recommend.
What is an implant-supported denture?
A denture with snap attachments that clip onto two to four implants placed in the jaw. It stays in place when you chew and speak but still comes out for cleaning. The implants are placed by our periodontist at South Florida Smile Spa and need three to six months to heal before the denture is attached; in the meantime you wear a conventional or immediate denture.
What is the difference between an implant denture and All-on-4?
An implant denture is removable and snaps on and off. All-on-4 is a full arch of teeth fixed to four to six implants that only the dentist removes, so it functions like natural teeth. All-on-4 costs more and involves more implant surgery, but needs fewer remakes over the years. Both are available here.
How often do dentures need to be replaced or relined?
A reline, which refits the inside of the denture to the changing gums, is usually needed every one to two years. A full replacement is typical after five to ten years as the teeth wear and the bite changes. Loose, clicking or sore dentures are the signs it is time.
Can I sleep in my dentures?
It is better not to. Gums need a rest from pressure, and dentures worn around the clock are linked to higher rates of fungal infection and gum irritation. Take them out at night, clean them, and keep them in water or a cleaning solution so they do not dry out and warp.
Does insurance cover dentures?
Most dental plans cover part of the cost of full and partial dentures as a major service, usually with a replacement allowed every five to seven years, up to the plan’s annual maximum. Implant options are covered less often. Our team checks your benefits before treatment, and monthly financing is available for the balance.
My denture broke. Can it be repaired?
Usually, and often within a day or two. Cracks, broken teeth and broken clasps can be repaired; a denture that has been glued at home is harder to fix, so bring the pieces in as they are. Our damaged dentures page explains what to do first.
Do you see patients from outside Pompano Beach?
Yes. Patients come for dentures from Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Coconut Creek and across Broward County. The office is at 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach. Call (954) 785-1100 or request an appointment.