general dentistry
Dentures, made to be worn — not parked in a drawer.
A denture that fits gets worn; a denture that doesn't lives in a drawer next to the good intentions. The difference is rarely the denture itself — it's the fitting, the adjustments after, and whether anyone told you the truth about the first month.
We make full dentures, partials that clip around remaining teeth, and — when you want the version that doesn't float — dentures that snap onto implants. All three get compared honestly at the consult.
The truth about the first month
New dentures take learning: speech practices back to normal in days, eating starts soft and works up, and sore spots are expected — that's what adjustment visits are for, and yours are part of the plan, not extra fees. A denture should never be endured heroically; it should be brought back and adjusted.
Partials have a shorter learning curve and a longer strategic value: they keep remaining teeth from drifting while replacing the missing ones, at a friendlier price than most people expect.
Relines, repairs, and the drawer dentures
Gums and bone change shape over years, which is why a denture that fit in 2019 rocks in 2026. Relining refits your existing denture to today's gums — routine, quick, and much cheaper than remaking. Cracks and broken clasps are usually repairable too; bring it in before improvising with anything from the hardware aisle.
And if you're reading this as a longtime denture-endurer: the snap-on upgrade exists, it's a middle price point, and it changes dinner. It has its own page under dental implants.
Questions we hear in the chair
- How long do dentures last?
- The appliance, five to ten years; the fit, less — expect relines along the way as gums change. Annual checks catch the drift before it becomes sore spots and skipped meals.
- Can I sleep in my dentures?
- Take them out at night — gums need the rest, and overnight soaking keeps the denture clean. It's the single habit that most extends both the denture's life and your gum health.
- Will I be without teeth while dentures are made?
- No — immediate dentures are placed the day teeth are removed when extractions are part of your plan, then relined as healing settles. You'll know the sequence before anything starts.
- Why does my old denture keep getting looser?
- Bone under a denture slowly recedes without tooth roots to stimulate it — the fit loosens because the foundation changed. Relines refit it; implants are the option that actually stops the recession.
Clinical content reviewed by Dr. Marissa DeAngelis, Senior Dentist.
Serving Crozet for 50+ years. At least two full-time doctors in the building, Monday through Friday.