Full and Partial Dentures in Gretna & New Orleans

At NOLA Dentures and General Dentistry, Dr. Russell Schafer restores his patients' smiles with custom full and partial dentures. Our office is on Behrman Highway in Gretna, a short drive from Algiers, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero and New Orleans across the river.

Every denture we make is custom-made by experienced US-based dental technicians, so your teeth feel good and look natural. We don't use low-quality foreign labs or materials. Whether you're replacing an old denture, getting one for the first time, or replacing a few missing teeth, Dr. Schafer and his team work to give you the best new smile possible, starting with a free denture exam, x-ray and consultation.

Types of Dentures We Offer

Acrylic Partial Dentures

An acrylic partial replaces one or several missing teeth and can be a short-term or long-term option. Dr. Schafer usually recommends acrylic partials when the partial is meant to last less than two years. They're the most budget-friendly partial because they're simpler for the lab to make, and they usually take only two appointments.

Cast metal partial dentures

A metal partial has a strong, thin metal base with natural-looking gums and teeth attached. Dr. Schafer recommends metal partials when the partial is meant to last more than two years. The metal base makes chewing more comfortable, braces your remaining teeth so they don't drift, and stays light and thin. Metal partials typically take four to five appointments. Learn more about cast metal partials.

Immediate Dentures

Immediate dentures are placed right after tooth extractions, so you never go without teeth. They protect your gums while they heal and help your tongue and lips get used to wearing a denture. When to replace a healing denture.

Custom Full Denture

Dr. Schafer makes custom full dentures from tough, stain-resistant acrylic and strong, natural-looking teeth, so they last for many years. Before your final denture is made, you approve your new smile at a try-in appointment.

Implant-supported dentures

 If a denture feels loose even when it's new, dental implants can hold it firmly in place so it feels more natural and chews better. Learn about dental implants.

How We Make Your Denture

A well-made denture takes three to five appointments, in three main 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.

The result is a well-fitting, natural-looking denture. See our denture before-and-after photos.

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.

Serving Gretna, New Orleans and the Westbank

We welcome denture patients from Gretna, Terrytown, Timberlane, Woodmere, Harvey, Marrero, Belle Chasse, Algiers and across the river in New Orleans. Call (504) 392-5104 or book online to schedule your free denture consultation

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.