Losing teeth affects how you eat, speak, and feel about your smile. At Smile Spot in Mawson Lakes, we provide custom-fitted full and partial dentures designed for natural appearance and day-to-day comfort, with implant-retained options for those seeking a more stable solution.
A well-fitted denture makes an enormous difference to daily life. It should stay comfortably in place while you eat and speak, look natural when you smile, and not cause ongoing soreness to your gums. At Smile Spot in Mawson Lakes, we take care with every stage of the fitting process — from the initial impressions through to shade selection and the final adjustments — because small details matter when it comes to comfort and confidence.
Modern denture materials are significantly more lifelike than those of previous decades. Acrylic teeth can be matched closely in shade, shape, and translucency to your remaining teeth or to photographs of your natural smile. The gum-coloured base can also be shaded to match your own tissue colour, so the overall result looks far more natural than the uniform pink dentures of a generation ago.
We understand that needing a denture can be an emotional experience for many patients. Whether you are facing the loss of teeth for the first time or replacing an older denture that no longer fits, we approach these appointments with sensitivity and take the time to answer your questions at every stage.
A full denture replaces all the teeth in the upper or lower arch. Upper dentures are generally stable due to the suction they form against the palate. Lower dentures are inherently less stable because there is no equivalent surface for suction, and the tongue can dislodge them. For patients finding lower denture stability a challenge, implant retention is often a worthwhile consideration.
When some natural teeth remain, a partial denture fills the gaps while the remaining teeth provide additional support and retention. Partial dentures use clasps or precision attachments to anchor to adjacent teeth. They are a cost-effective and flexible option for patients with scattered tooth loss who are not candidates for fixed bridgework.
For patients who want the stability of a fixed solution but the practicality of a removable one, implant-retained dentures offer a significant step up in confidence and comfort. Two or more implants are placed in the jaw bone, and the denture incorporates attachments that clip onto these implants. The denture can be removed for cleaning but is firmly held in place during all normal activities. Bone volume and health are assessed before recommending this approach.
If you are having teeth extracted, an immediate denture can be placed on the same day as your extractions so you are never without teeth. These are fitted based on pre-extraction impressions and typically require adjustments as your gums heal and remodel over the following weeks and months.
The denture process takes place over several appointments spread across a few weeks. We begin with detailed impressions of your mouth, followed by bite registration appointments where we record the relationship between your upper and lower jaws. A try-in appointment allows you to see and feel a wax trial denture before the final version is made, giving you the opportunity to request adjustments to the tooth position, shade, or shape.
Once the final denture is ready, we fit it carefully and check for pressure points and bite balance. Most patients need one or two adjustment appointments in the weeks following fitting as the gums respond to wearing the denture. These adjustments are a normal part of the process and are included in your treatment.
For patients travelling from Parafield, Salisbury, Para Hills, Ingle Farm, and surrounding northern Adelaide communities, our evening appointments Monday to Thursday until 7 pm mean you can attend these multiple visits without disrupting your working week.
Dentures, like natural teeth, benefit from routine professional care. We recommend bringing your denture to each check-up appointment for an assessment of its fit and condition. As the years pass, your jaw bone and gum tissue naturally change in shape, and a denture that fitted well when first made may become looser over time. Relining the fitting surface of the denture updates it to fit the current shape of your ridges without needing to make a completely new prosthesis.
Most dentures need to be replaced every five to eight years, though this varies depending on the rate of bone change and how well the denture has been maintained. A denture that is cracked, worn significantly, or no longer fits securely despite adjustments should be replaced rather than continued with, as a poorly fitting denture can cause soreness, difficulty eating, and accelerate bone loss in the jaw.
If you already have dentures and are unhappy with how they fit or look, we are happy to assess them and discuss whether adjustment, relining, or replacement would give you the best outcome. Come and see us at the Mawson Lakes practice and we can take it from there.
A full denture replaces all the teeth in the upper or lower arch and is held in place by suction against the gum and palate. A partial denture replaces one or more missing teeth when some natural teeth remain, and typically uses metal clasps or precision attachments to anchor to those remaining teeth. Your dentist will assess which type is appropriate based on how many teeth you have and their condition.
Most people find that full dentures take several weeks to feel natural, particularly for eating and speaking. Your jaw muscles and tongue adapt gradually to working with the denture in place. Partial dentures are generally more stable and easier to adjust to. We encourage patients to be patient with themselves during the settling period and to contact us if they experience significant sore spots or difficulty, as adjustments can usually resolve these quickly.
Yes. Implant-retained dentures use two or more dental implants placed in the jaw to provide fixed anchor points that the denture clips onto. This dramatically improves stability, particularly for lower dentures which can be prone to movement. The denture is still removable for cleaning, but it stays securely in place during eating and speaking. Not everyone is suitable for implants, so we assess bone volume and overall health carefully before recommending this option.
Remove your dentures every night to give your gum tissues a rest and soak them in a denture-cleaning solution or plain water overnight. Brush the denture surfaces gently with a soft brush each day, but not with regular toothpaste as it is too abrasive for acrylic materials. Also brush your gums, tongue, and any remaining natural teeth morning and night. Handle dentures carefully over a folded towel or basin of water, as they can crack if dropped.
Book a denture consultation at Smile Spot Mawson Lakes. We take the time to understand your needs and explain your options without pressure.
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