Dentures are removable dental appliances that replace missing teeth and surrounding tissue. They’re custom-designed to fit your mouth precisely not just to fill space, but to restore bite balance and facial support.
There are two main types:
- Full dentures — replace all teeth in the upper, lower, or both arches.
- Partial dentures — replace several missing teeth while preserving healthy ones.
Modern dentures are lightweight, natural-looking, and far more comfortable than the old “false teeth” your grandparents might have worn.
When dentures might be the right choice
You might benefit from full or partial dentures if you:
- Have multiple missing teeth or widespread decay
- Struggle to chew comfortably
- Notice facial sagging from tooth loss
- Want a removable, budget-friendly solution
- Aren’t ready for or don’t qualify for implants
We often meet patients who feel hesitant about dentures because they’ve seen older versions that looked bulky or unnatural. But today’s materials flexible resins, advanced acrylics, and precision-milled bases have changed everything.
Types of dentures available at Anchor Dental
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Type
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Best For
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Key Features
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Full Dentures
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Replacing all upper/lower teeth
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Customized for comfort and appearance; can be conventional or immediate
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Partial Dentures
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Replacing several missing teeth
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Clasp onto remaining teeth; prevent shifting and preserve alignment
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Implant-Supported Dentures
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Patients seeking added stability
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Snap securely onto dental implants — no slipping or adhesives
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Flexible Dentures
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Those wanting lightweight comfort
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Made of flexible nylon for a softer, natural feel
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At Anchor Dental, we help patients choose based on comfort, lifestyle, and long-term goals. Some start with partial dentures and later transition to implant-supported options for even greater stability.
The denture process at Anchor Dental
1. Consultation and planning
We start by evaluating your oral health, bone level, and bite alignment. If any extractions are needed, we plan them carefully so healing and fit go smoothly.
2. Impressions and digital scans
Using digital scanning or traditional impressions, we capture the exact shape of your gums and remaining teeth. This ensures your dentures sit comfortably and distribute bite pressure evenly.
3. Try-in and adjustment
Before the final set, we create a wax model of your dentures so you can see the shape and smile line. This stage lets you give feedback on fit and appearance.
4. Final fabrication and delivery
Your custom dentures are crafted at our Bay Area partner lab. Once ready, we adjust the fit, polish them, and walk you through how to care for them.
5. Follow-up visits
We’ll see you for small bite and comfort adjustments after a few days or weeks this helps prevent sore spots and ensures the perfect fit.
What it feels like to wear dentures
New dentures always take a little time to get used to — your mouth and tongue need to relearn certain movements. Most patients adapt within a few weeks.
You might notice:
- Slight tightness at first (a good sign — it means they fit snugly)
- Minor changes in speech that improve quickly
- A big difference in chewing comfort once your gums adjust
Patients often tell us the real change comes when they can laugh, eat, and smile freely again.
Caring for your dentures
To keep your dentures clean and long-lasting:
- Brush them daily with a soft denture brush and mild cleanser (not toothpaste).
- Rinse after meals to remove food debris.
- Soak them overnight in a denture cleaning solution or water.
- Brush your gums and tongue daily to keep tissues healthy.
- Handle them carefully — even durable materials can crack if dropped.
If they ever feel loose, don’t use glue or over-the-counter adhesives long-term — schedule a quick adjustment at our office. Fit changes naturally over time, and we can reline or rebase them for comfort.
Full vs. Partial Dentures — what’s the difference?
- Full dentures replace an entire arch of missing teeth. They rest on the gums and rely on suction and muscle control for stability.
- Partial dentures replace only a few missing teeth and attach to nearby healthy teeth with small, discreet clasps.
Many patients start with partials and later choose full dentures or implant-supported versions as their needs change.
A retiree from Inner Sunset said, “My partial felt strange the first week, but now I forget it’s there. It’s just part of my mouth.”
How long do dentures last?
With proper care, dentures typically last 5–8 years before needing replacement due to natural gum and bone changes.
Implant-supported dentures last longer and stay more stable over time.
We recommend checkups every six months so we can assess the fit and keep your gums healthy.
Common questions we hear
Will dentures affect how I eat?
After a short adjustment period, most patients eat almost everything they used to — from apples to steak — though cutting food into smaller bites helps early on.
Will people notice I have dentures?
Modern dentures are incredibly realistic. We customize the color, size, and alignment of each tooth so your smile looks like you, not like a set of dentures.
Can I sleep in my dentures?
We recommend taking them out at night to let your gums rest and keep tissues healthy.
Do dentures hurt?
They shouldn’t. Some mild pressure early on is normal, but pain or sores mean they need adjustment. We handle those quickly.
Why San Francisco patients trust Anchor Dental for dentures
- Personalized design — Dr. Esra Salihoglu Yener takes time to match your facial shape and natural smile line.
- Advanced materials — We use lightweight, durable acrylics and flexible bases made by top Bay Area labs.
- Digital precision — Scans mean no bulky trays or guesswork in fit.
- Gentle adjustments — Follow-up visits are quick and comfortable.
- Convenient location — Right in West Portal, serving Inner Sunset, Noe Valley, and Daly City.
