Denture Appointment Steps
It is important to us that you understand what to expect during the denture process. Knowing what to expect at each appointment may help to eliminate any dental anxieties as well as help you understand what is required to create your new or replacement dentures.
Step 1: Impressions
During your impression appointment, the assistant will take impressions of your upper and lower arches. Once the impressions are completed, the lab will use the impressions to pour a model that will replicate the anatomy of your mouth so that they are able to start the denture process. This is a very important part of the denture process, so it may require multiple attempts and in some cases you may be required to come back in for a new impression.
It is important to let the dental assistant that will be taking your dental impressions know if you have a gag reflex. It is likely that they have treated other patients with strong gag reflexes, so they will be able to walk you through the appointment and relieve any anxiety you may have.
When doing impressions, it is important to remember that the impression itself will only take a few minutes – at most, so the more you can think about this step being temporary the better able you will be to remain calm until the impression tray is removed.
Breathe through your nose and focus on slow, deep breathing. If you are stuffed up or have trouble breathing through your nose, you may want to consider nasal strips or a decongestant prior to your appointment. Trying to leave your airway open to breathe through your mouth during the impressions will only increase your chance of gagging.
Don’t swallow. Having the impression tray in your mouth may cause you to salivate. The excess saliva may trigger your gag reflex, but do not be afraid to drool. Your dental assistant will drape a dental bib or napkin to keep your clothing clean.
Possibly the most successful way to keep yourself calm during your impression appointment is to create a mental traffic jam to distract yourself from concentration on the impression. Some ideas are:
- Make a fist, with your thumb clenched inside your fingers
- Pinch the fleshy point between your thumb and index finger (the Hegu point)
- Wiggle your toes
- Flex your calf muscle
- Raise your legs in the air if the assistant has you leaned back for the appointment.
If you need the dental assistant to help you through the appointment you may ask that they talk to you, tell you about working for the office, or talk to you about the procedure.
If laying back causes anxiety during the appointment, you may ask that the dental assistant keep you in an upright position. This is always an option.
Step 2: Wax Bite / Bite Registration
The second step of the denture process is the wax bite / bite registration. During this step, the denture lab technician will insert occlusal wax rims to register the relationship between the upper and lower jaw. Once this is completed, the technician will mount your models on an articulator (an appliance that helps to recreate your jaw movements) and will use the wax rims as a base to set teeth for your denture. Once the models have been articulated and the lab technician begins setting the teeth, there may be questions about the bite that was taken. If the lab technician is concerned about proceeding with your case, you may be asked to come back in to re-do this step.
If back molar teeth are still present, the lab technician may take a bite registration at the impression appointment and this step may be skipped. For bite registrations, the lab technician will use a tool to squirt an orange mousse material to register the relationship between your upper and lower teeth instead of using the wax rims.
Step 3: Wax Try-in
The third step of the denture process is the wax try-in. Only our Select and Elite denture packages come with this option. This is not offered for immediate dentures because when teeth are present you are not able to try in the wax plates to assess the appearance of the denture. To prepare for this step, the lab technician will use the denture teeth he/she feels that are the best fit for your anatomy. This is based off of your bite registration, the size of your mouth, and how much or how little of the gums/teeth should show when smiling or talking. Once this is completed, the technician will insert these plates and have you evaluate to ensure you are please with the denture esthetically. We are not concerned with the fit at this appointment, just the shape, length, width, and color of the teeth chosen for your denture. If during this appointment you have any concerns with the appearance, you must make the lab technician and the assistant aware. Once the denture is processed, no changes can be made.
Step 4: Delivery
The final step in the denture process is the delivery. If we are delivering a new or replacement set of dentures and you are not awaiting an oral surgery appointment, then you will be required to be seated for an appointment for the lab technician to evaluate and make sure no adjustments need to be made to the denture. If you are pleased, and no adjustments are needed, you will be released to follow up as needed.
If you are having the extractions completed by an oral surgeon, you will need to pick up your dentures the day before or the morning of your oral surgery appointment. You will return to the office for a post-operative appointment either the evening after your surgery or the following business day. It is recommended that you schedule your surgery on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday so that you can be evaluated the next day by our office.
Once your post-operative evaluation is completed and it is determined that you are able to return as needed for adjustments you will be scheduled a 9 month healing check to see if you are ready to proceed with any reline or replacement dentures.