Restorative · Since 1987
Dentures in Wilmington, NC
A well-made denture restores chewing and the shape of the lower face. A poorly made one is the reason people give up on dentures altogether.
About dentures
We make full dentures, partials, and implant-retained overdentures that snap onto two or more implants. That last option is what we recommend most often for a lower arch, because a lower full denture has little ridge to hold on to.
Fit changes over time because the ridge underneath keeps resorbing. A denture that fit at delivery will need relining. That is normal and it is planned for.
How it works
- Assessment and recordsWe examine the ridges and tissue, then take impressions.
- Try-inYou see the teeth set in wax and approve shape, shade and midline before anything is processed.
- DeliveryThe finished denture is fitted and adjusted.
- AdjustmentsTwo or three short visits over the following weeks. This part is expected and included.
Recovery and aftercare
Take them out at night. Clean them over a folded towel or a basin of water so a drop does not become a remake. Come back when they start to feel loose rather than waiting until a sore spot has become an ulcer.
Cost and coverage
Dentures span a wide range depending on whether they are immediate, conventional or implant-retained. Many plans include a denture benefit on a multi-year cycle. We check that cycle before quoting, and we lay out what adding implant retention later would cost so you can decide with the full picture.
You may be a candidate if
- You are missing all the teeth in an arch
- You are missing several teeth and want one appliance to replace them
- Your current denture is loose, sore, or needs adhesive daily
- Implants are outside what you want to take on right now
- You want the option to add implant retention later
Dentures by town
We see patients from across New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Onslow counties.
In their own words
Hear from Dr. Barry Frazelle
Dr. Frazelle on why the injection is nothing to dread, and a cheap whitening habit he gives patients.
Questions we get asked
Will people be able to tell?
A denture designed for your face rather than a stock mold reads as natural. Tooth shape, shade and how much shows when you smile are all choices we make with you at the try-in.
How long until I can eat normally?
Give it a few weeks. Start soft, cut food small, chew on both sides. Lower full dentures take the longest to adapt to.
Can dentures be attached to implants?
Yes. Two implants transform the stability of a lower denture, and it is the single upgrade most patients say they wish they had done sooner.
How often do dentures need replacing?
Relines every few years, full replacement somewhere around the seven to ten year mark, sooner if the ridge has changed a lot.
Do I have to use adhesive?
A well-fitting upper usually does not need it. Lowers often do, unless they are implant-retained.
Dentures
You have probably been told several different things about this.
Bring the opinions you have already been given. We will look at your scan with you and say which parts we agree with.
- Three doctors, 50+ years of combined experience
- Implant surgery and restoration in one building
- Sedation available for longer appointments
- Written, phased treatment plans with costs attached
Worried it is too much work at your age? Health matters far more than the number, and we will tell you if we think a smaller plan serves you better.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
Please do not include Protected Health Information. For anything urgent, call (910) 762-0958.
