Full and Partial Dentures in New Orleans
At NOLA Dentures and General Dentistry, Dr. Russell Schafer restores his patient's smiles with full and partial dentures.
All of our dentures are custom-made by expert US-based dental technicians so that your teeth feel good and look natural. We do not use low-quality foreign labs or denture materials. Whether you need to replace an old denture, you're having one made for the first time, or you just need to replace a few missing teeth, Dr. Schafer and his team work hard so that you get the best new smile possible.
Types of Dentures We Offer
Acrylic Partial Dentures
We can use an acrylic partial denture as a long-term or short-term option to replace a tooth that's been injured, decayed, or even knocked out (avulsed).
As a long-term solution, we use an acrylic partial denture for replacing one or multiple adjacent missing teeth. This can provide the function and aesthetics that were lost when your teeth were compromised.
Immediate Dentures
Immediate dentures, or healing dentures, are made to wear after dental surgery. Immediate dentures in New Orleans not only give you a smile that you can take home but also act as a band-aid to help your mouth heal after surgery. Dr. Schafer may also recommend immediate dentures to help you adapt to dentures while the mouth heals by training your tongue and lips to adjust.
Custom Full Denture
Dr. Schafer fabricates our custom full dentures with high-quality acrylic and beautiful, strong teeth. We create our dentures from tough, stain-resistant materials so that they can last for many years. To ensure that you like your smile, we offer a try in so that you can approve the final look and make sure that it is right for you.
Making a Denture
A well-made denture requires between 3 to 5 appointments to make but can be broken into 3 steps.
1. Taking Accurate Impressions for Perfect Fit
The first step is making sure that we have a snug fit for the denture to the gums by taking good models of the jaws. By properly fitting to the gums, the denture can place even pressure on the gums as well as have more suction. Having a good fit is crucial to making a denture feel comfortable.
2. Trial Dentures and Bite
The next step is getting a good bite. A good bite will help determine how the jaws line up. This is important for two reasons. First, the bite and the fit determine where the teeth go and how they close together when chewing.
The second reason is that when the bite is good, then the denture is more comfortable as it presses the dentures into the gums evenly on all sides. To do the bite, we mold wax that fits the mouth properly which is called a trial denture. We place the trial dentures in the mouth and line them up properly. We then place a strong material (which is almost always blue) that connects the two trial dentures. The picture shows the two trial dentures connected by the blue material and the models are placed so that we can tell how the top and bottom jawline up.
3. The Try-In
The next and most important step is the try-in. During the try-in, the denture teeth are placed on the wax trial dentures themselves. This shows exactly where we will place the teeth in the mouth and the patient can see exactly what their new smile will look like and how the bite will feel.
In Dr. Schafer's opinion, this step is crucial because dentures should look natural and beautiful. At this step, Dr. Schafer encourages all of his patients to be hyper-critical of how their trial smile looks. If they don't love it, he does it again until it looks right.
The Final Product
Finally, by following all these steps closely, we create a beautiful, well-fitting denture. From the front and side views, the denture fits together well and looks beautiful in the patient's mouth.
Follow-Up Visits
After the patient receives their denture, Dr. Schafer asks for a minimum of three follow-up visits: one day, one week, and one month. The one-day follow-up is to make sure that everything is fitting well. Most dentists do this step.
At the one-week follow-up, the denture wearer has started to learn how the dentures fit and the dentures work. This is the most important of the three visits because if there are issues with the denture such as being too tight or fitting too well to the gums, the issues generally arise at the one-week visit.
Finally, the one-month visit is to check-in and make sure all is ok. By following all these steps, Dr. Schafer can ensure an excellent outcome for each denture wearer.
Contact Your New Orleans Dental Office to Learn More!
We look forward to providing you with dentures that meet your lifestyle and needs. Give us a call or schedule a consultation today for a free denture exam, x-ray, and consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
At NOLA Dentures and General Dentistry, we offer two different types of partials: metal partials and acrylic partials.
Metal partials have a strong metal base with esthetic gums and teeth placed on them whereas acrylic partials have no metal base but may have metal components to connect the partial to the teeth.
Metal Partial Dentures in New Orleans
Dr. Schafer recommends metal partials when the partial is meant to last for more than 2 years. As you might assume, the metal base is much stronger than the acrylic base. Because of this strength, the partial is more comfortable to chew with.
Also, these partials can act as a brace to help support the other teeth and keep them locked into place so that they don't drift over time.
Finally, these partials tend to be lighter and thinner as the metal base can remain strong even when made very thin.
Acrylic Partial Dentures: Flexible or Hard
On the other hand, our dentures dentist, Dr. Schafer, recommends acrylic partials when the partial is meant to last less than 2 years.
These partials can also be made more quickly than the metal partial. The metal partial typically takes 4 to 5 appointments to make whereas the acrylic partial usually only take two.
The final reason that many people choose acrylic partials is that they are less expensive than metal partials. The reason why they are less expensive is that they are easier for the lab technician to make and the materials are not as expensive.
Contact your New Orleans Dentures Dentist
Contact the NOLA Dentures and General Dentistry dental team at (504) 392-5104 to arrange an appointment today!
Cosmetic dentures in Gretna are simply prosthetics that are natural-looking and functional. In our dental office, we create custom dentures to give you back your smile and restore your bite function.
We offer:
- Full dentures
- Partial dentures
- Immediate dentures
- Same-day dentures
No matter the option you choose, you can count on a custom prosthetic that fits the unique contours of your smile.
A full denture stands in for complete tooth loss. Our partials work with clips and healthy adjacent teeth for support.
We place immediate dentures after tooth extractions, and they act as a bandage to promote healing. With this option, you’ll also never have to go without teeth.
Same-day dentures are fabricated here in our dental office, using innovative technology, digital impressions, and special software.
Why It’s Important to Replace Missing Teeth
Without teeth, you’re unable to enjoy meals or speak clearly. Tooth loss can also impact your confidence and ability to feel at ease with others.
Additionally, tooth replacement helps prevent oral health issues like tooth migration.
Are You Looking for Same-Day Dentures in Gretna?
We are always happy to restore your smile and your confidence. To schedule a consultation, give us a call today.
We proudly serve patients everywhere, including Gretna, Timberlane, Belle Chase, Marrero Harvey, Terrytown, and Woodmere.
Short answer, yes it will at one point or another. While Dr. Schafer makes a lot of fantastic dentures, no matter how good of a job he does, a denture can still be removed by the hands, which means that it can fall out of the mouth. For first-time denture wearers, the dentures will slip out simply because the mouth has not learned how to work around the denture and the denture feels foreign. It is especially true if it is an immediate or healing denture. Dr. Schafer works with each of his patients to help them feel comfortable while learning to use their denture because it is important that everyone feels comfortable with their smile.
Generally, a new set of dentures does not require any denture adhesive. However, many patients who have worn dentures for a long period of time feel more secure wearing denture adhesive. The denture adhesive in these cases fills in the gaps between the denture and the gums. These gaps form over time as the gums change shape and shrink which is why it is recommended to have a new liner placed in the dentures every 5 to 8 years and a new denture made every 8 to 10 years. While the adhesive works well for a short-term measure, the problem with long-term use is that it creates pressure spots on the denture causing faster shrinking of the gums.
Dental Implants over Adhesive
When patients feel that they need adhesive as soon as a new set is made, it is a better idea to start considering implants. While implants are more expensive than adhesive, they allow for the denture to feel more natural and chew more comfortably.
You can chew gum with dentures and even blow bubbles.
However, we recommend sampling a few brands and choosing the one that doesn’t stick to your prosthetic. Fortunately, many gum brands do not stick!
Dentures cannot get tooth decay, but if you have a partial, you might consider sugarless gum to keep your supporting teeth healthy and cavity-free.
Gum can help keep the mouth hydrated by stimulating salivary glands.
About Dentures in Gretna, LA
At Nola Dentures and General Dentistry, we offer full-service dental care but particularly emphasize tooth replacement options like dentures.
We offer complete dentures, partial dentures, cast-metal partials, 3-D printed dentures, and even next-day dentures for your convenience! We can also create an implant denture—a denture connected to the jaw with dental implants—for a more stable solution to tooth loss.
The dentist can review the various options with you, explaining the benefits and helping you decide on the best denture type for your needs, goals, and budget.
Schedule a Consultation with a Gretna Dentist
Contact a dental team member today for more information on our denture packages, including next-day dentures. Also, call us if you’re ready to book a comprehensive tooth replacement consultation with the dentist.
Meet Our Doctor:
Russell Schafer DDS
Dr. Russell Schafer is happy and proud to call New Orleans his home. He was born in New Orleans, raised in Pearl River, and attended Jesuit High School and graduated in 2003. He went to Rice University in Houston where he graduated with a bachelors and masters in mechanical engineering degree. While at Rice, Dr. Schafer was a a cheerleader for all four years, active in Rice Catholic Student Association as well as student government, and tutored fellow students as well. Before attending dental school, Dr. Schafer spent ...
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