Reviewed by Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS — South Florida Smile Spa, Pompano Beach, FL
Getting dentures in Pompano Beach at South Florida Smile Spa is a process of several visits over a few weeks, not a single appointment, and knowing the sequence in advance takes most of the anxiety out of it. Whether you are replacing a few teeth with a partial, all of them with a full denture, or having teeth removed and an immediate denture placed the same day, Dr. Nicole M. Berger follows the same path: records and planning, impressions, a bite and a try-in you approve before anything is finished, delivery, and the adjustment visits that follow. This page walks through each visit, how long the whole thing takes, what it feels like, and what to decide before you start.
Quick answer
A conventional denture takes four to six visits over three to six weeks: a consultation with X-rays and a treatment plan; a first impression and a precise custom-tray impression; a bite record that sets how your jaws meet and how much tooth shows; a wax try-in where you see and approve the teeth before the denture is processed; delivery; and one or two adjustment visits for sore spots. An immediate denture is made from impressions taken before the teeth are extracted and is placed the same day they come out, then relined as the gums heal over three to six months. A partial follows the same steps with a metal or flexible framework that clips to your remaining teeth. Dr. Berger does every step, including the extractions with sedation if you want it, and nothing is finalized until you have seen the teeth in your mouth.
Before You Start
Getting dentures in Pompano Beach: what is decided at the first visit
The consultation is where the denture is really designed. Dr. Berger examines the teeth, gums and bone, takes a panoramic X-ray, and talks through the choices that shape everything after.
- Which teeth stay. A partial that clips to healthy teeth is more stable than a full denture, so teeth that can be saved usually are. Teeth that cannot be saved are scheduled for removal, here, by our periodontist or by Dr. Berger.
- Immediate or conventional. An immediate denture means you are never without teeth, at the cost of more relines as the gums heal. A conventional denture waits six to eight weeks after extractions for a better first fit.
- Full, partial or implant-supported. Two implants under a lower denture change how it holds; a fixed implant bridge replaces the denture entirely. Both can be planned now and added later.
- How you want the teeth to look. Shade, shape and how much tooth shows when you smile are chosen with you, from photographs of your natural teeth when they exist.
- Sedation. Extractions can be done with nitrous oxide or IV sedation provided by Dr. Berger under her Florida sedation permit.
- Cost and timeline. You leave with a written plan listing every visit, every fee and what your insurance covers.
The American Dental Association’s page on dentures outlines the same types and the same visit sequence.
The visits, in order
| Visit | What happens | How long | Time to the next visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Consultation and records | Exam, panoramic X-ray, photographs, treatment plan and written estimate; teeth to be removed are identified | 60 to 90 minutes | Same week |
| 2. First impressions | Stock-tray impressions of the upper and lower jaws; a custom tray is made from them | 30 minutes | 1 week |
| 3. Final impressions | Precise impressions in the custom tray, capturing the gums and borders the denture will rest on | 30 to 45 minutes | 1 week |
| 4. Bite record | Wax rims set the height of the bite, the position of the lip and the midline; tooth shade and shape chosen | 45 minutes | 1 to 2 weeks |
| 5. Wax try-in | The teeth set in wax are tried in your mouth; you see them, speak with them and approve or change them | 30 to 45 minutes | 1 to 2 weeks |
| 6. Delivery | The processed denture is fitted, the bite balanced, and instructions given | 45 to 60 minutes | 3 to 7 days |
| 7. Adjustments | Sore spots relieved; usually one or two short visits | 15 minutes | As needed |
| Immediate denture extra steps | Extractions and delivery on the same day; soft reline at 6 to 8 weeks; hard reline or new denture at 3 to 6 months | Varies | Through 6 months |
The Big Day
What delivery day is like
- Fitting. Dr. Berger seats the denture and checks the fit against the gums, the borders against the cheeks and lips, and how the upper and lower meet. Small pressure areas are adjusted straight away.
- The bite. You close, slide and swallow while she checks that the teeth meet evenly on both sides; an uneven bite is the most common cause of a sore spot later, so it is balanced before you leave.
- Speech and smile check. You read a sentence or two aloud and look at the smile in a mirror; the try-in has already settled the appearance, so this is confirmation.
- Instructions. How to insert and remove the denture, what to eat for the first week, how to clean it, and whether to sleep in it on the first night (only for immediate dentures).
- Adjustment visit booked. A short visit three to seven days later is scheduled before you leave, because almost every new denture needs at least one small adjustment once you have worn it.
Immediate dentures: teeth out and teeth in on the same day
When all the remaining teeth in an arch have to go, most patients do not want weeks without teeth, and an immediate denture solves that. The impressions, bite and try-in are done while your teeth are still in place, and the lab builds the denture to the shape the gums are expected to take. On surgery day the teeth are removed, usually under sedation, and the denture goes in immediately as a bandage and a smile. The first week is the hardest week of any denture, with swelling and soreness on top of the normal adjustment. As the sockets heal over six to eight weeks the ridge shrinks and the denture loosens; a soft reline keeps it snug, and at three to six months a hard reline or a new conventional denture gives the final fit. Our adjusting to new dentures page covers those weeks in detail.
What a try-in is for
The wax try-in is the step patients value most once they have been through it. The teeth you chose are set in wax on a base that fits your mouth, and you wear it for a few minutes: you see the shade in daylight, check how much tooth shows when you talk and smile, feel whether the bite is comfortable, and bring a family member if you like. Anything can still be changed at this stage, from a slightly whiter shade to a more natural overlap of the front teeth, and Dr. Berger would rather make three changes in wax than one in acrylic. Nothing is processed until you have approved it.
Partials: frameworks, clasps and the teeth that carry them
A partial denture replaces some teeth and clips onto the ones that remain. A cast metal framework is thin, strong and the longest-lasting; a flexible nylon partial has no metal and is more discreet for a few front teeth; an acrylic partial is the economical and temporary option. The teeth that carry the clasps are checked and sometimes reshaped or crowned first, since they take extra load, and the framework is tried in on its own before the teeth are added. Our dentures and partial dentures page compares the types.
If you already wear a denture
A replacement denture follows the same visits, with one advantage: your existing denture tells Dr. Berger what has worked and what has not. Its bite height, tooth position and the places it has rubbed all inform the new one, and it can be copied where you like it and corrected where you do not. If your current denture is loose but otherwise sound, a reline may be all that is needed, and that is said plainly before a new one is started. Our denture care page explains relines and when they are enough.
Cost and insurance
A denture is quoted as one fee that includes every visit in the sequence above and the adjustments in the months after delivery. Extractions, a framework for a partial, implants and the relines an immediate denture needs are listed separately on the written plan so there are no surprises. Most dental plans cover dentures at around 50 percent, once every five to seven years, and treat extractions as a separate benefit; our team verifies yours and sequences the work across plan years when that helps. Financing is available for denture and implant treatment.
Care in Pompano Beach
Why patients choose South Florida Smile Spa for dentures
- One dentist, every visit. Dr. Berger takes the impressions, sets the bite, checks the try-in and delivers the denture; nothing is handed off.
- You approve before it is made. The wax try-in means the teeth you get are the teeth you saw and agreed to.
- Extractions and sedation here. Teeth are removed in the same office, with nitrous oxide or IV sedation provided by Dr. Berger, and an immediate denture placed the same day.
- Adjustments included. Sore-spot visits after delivery are part of the fee and are booked the day you call.
- A clear path to implants. Two implants under a lower denture or a fixed implant bridge can be added later without starting over.
Patients come for dentures from Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Coconut Creek, and visits are grouped where possible for those who travel.
Thinking about dentures, or replacing an old set
Book a denture consultation with Dr. Berger. You will leave with a written plan showing every visit, what each costs, and what your insurance covers, before anything is started.
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 many visits does it take to get dentures?
Usually four to six visits over three to six weeks for a conventional full or partial denture: consultation, two impression visits, a bite record, a wax try-in and delivery, followed by one or two short adjustments. An immediate denture adds the extraction day and the relines that follow healing.
How long does the whole process take?
About three to six weeks from the first impression to delivery for a conventional denture. An immediate denture is delivered the day the teeth are removed, then relined over three to six months as the gums heal. A conventional denture after extractions waits six to eight weeks for healing before impressions start.
Will I be without teeth?
Not if you choose an immediate denture, which is made before the extractions and placed the same day. If you prefer to wait for healing before a conventional denture, a temporary partial or flipper can cover visible gaps in the meantime.
Does getting dentures hurt?
The impressions, bite and try-in are painless. Extractions are done under local anesthetic, with nitrous oxide or IV sedation available, and the first week with an immediate denture involves normal post-extraction soreness managed with medication. Sore spots after delivery are relieved in minutes.
Can I choose what my dentures look like?
Yes. Shade, tooth shape, length and how much tooth shows when you smile are chosen with Dr. Berger, often from old photographs of your natural teeth, and you see and approve the result at the wax try-in before the denture is made.
What is a wax try-in?
A trial version of the denture with the chosen teeth set in wax on a base that fits your mouth. You wear it briefly to check the look, the bite and your speech, and any change can still be made before the denture is processed in acrylic.
Should I get an immediate denture or wait?
An immediate denture means no time without teeth but more relines as the gums heal. A conventional denture after six to eight weeks of healing fits better from day one. Dr. Berger explains both at the consultation; many patients choose immediate for the front teeth and tolerate the extra visits.
Can dentures be made on implants?
Yes. Two to four implants can hold a removable overdenture that snaps in place, or a fixed bridge that does not come out. Both can be planned at the consultation and added later; our periodontist places the implants and Dr. Berger makes the denture or bridge.
Do you see patients from outside Pompano Beach?
Yes. Denture patients come from Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Coconut Creek and across Broward County, and visits are grouped for those who travel. The office is at 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach. Call (954) 785-1100 or request an appointment.