How Dentures Are Fabricated: The Chevy Chase Denture Process

Step One: Initial Consultation and Examination

Your denture journey begins with a thorough consultation. You’ll meet with Dr. Marlin to discuss your tooth loss, goals for your restoration, and any concerns about the denture process. He’ll examine your remaining natural teeth if any are present, evaluate your bone structure using CBCT imaging when needed, and assess your overall oral health. This appointment establishes a baseline understanding of your anatomy and helps him determine whether traditional dentures, partial restorations, immediate dentures, or implant-supported options are most appropriate for your situation.

During this consultation, you’ll discuss timeline expectations, cost, and whether you prefer immediate dentures (placed at extraction) or delayed dentures (fabricated after healing). Dr. Marlin will also evaluate your remaining natural teeth if you’re a partial denture candidate, determining which teeth can be preserved and which require extraction.

Step Two: Tooth Extraction and Preliminary Impressions

If teeth need extraction, this occurs either before denture fabrication or at the time of immediate denture placement. Following extraction or during the initial consultation, your first impression is captured. This preliminary impression guides fabrication of a custom tray designed specifically for the shape of your gum ridge.

The custom tray ensures that your final impression captures the precise contours of your tissues. This detail matters significantly for denture retention and stability. A poorly fitting custom tray leads to an inaccurate final impression, which compromises your final denture fit.

Step Three: Final Impression and Bite Record

At your next appointment, the custom tray is used to capture a final impression with extreme precision. This impression captures every detail of your gum ridge, showing the shape of your bone and tissues in their stable, healed form.

Simultaneously, Dr. Marlin records your bite relationship. He uses a bite rim, a specially prepared wax form, to determine how your upper and lower jaws relate to each other when your jaw closes. This bite record establishes the proper vertical dimension for your teeth, ensuring they’ll meet correctly when your denture is worn. Improper vertical dimension causes bite problems and discomfort.

Step Four: Tooth Selection and Shade Matching

With your impression and bite recorded, Dr. Marlin guides you through selecting the size, shape, color, and style of your prosthetic teeth. You’ll preview various tooth shade options under different lighting conditions to ensure the selected shade matches your skin tone and facial characteristics. If you’re receiving a partial denture, the shade will be matched to your remaining natural teeth.

Tooth position and arrangement are determined by your facial anatomy. Dr. Marlin considers your lip contour, your smile line, and your facial proportions to position teeth that look natural and proportionate to your face.

Step Five: Denture Fabrication in Our Lab

Once your selections are made, our on-site laboratory begins fabrication. Your custom impression guides construction of a denture base that will fit your tissues precisely. Your selected teeth are positioned according to Dr. Marlin’s specifications. The denture base is processed using modern techniques that ensure strength and durability.

Working in our own laboratory gives Dr. Marlin direct oversight of fabrication. He can communicate directly with our technicians about any refinements needed, ensuring the final result matches his vision for your restoration.

Step Six: Try-In Appointment Before Final Processing

Before your denture is fully processed, you’re scheduled for a try-in appointment. At this visit, your denture is fitted in your mouth in a semi-finished state. This allows Dr. Marlin to verify that teeth are positioned correctly, that the bite feels proper, that your tissues are contoured appropriately, and that the overall appearance matches your aesthetic expectations.

Any adjustments needed are made at this stage. If the bite doesn’t feel right, Dr. Marlin adjusts the bite relationship. If the appearance isn’t quite what you envisioned, tooth shape or position can still be modified. This try-in step ensures your final denture meets your expectations before irreversible final processing occurs.

Step Seven: Final Processing and Quality Assurance

Following your approval at try-in, your denture proceeds to final processing. It’s completed, polished, and carefully inspected to ensure quality. Our laboratory verifies proper fit, checks that all details meet specifications, and ensures the final restoration is reliable.

Before delivery, Dr. Marlin performs a final examination, checking the finished denture against your specifications and ensuring everything is perfect.

Step Eight: Delivery and Initial Adjustments

At your delivery appointment, Dr. Marlin inserts your new denture and carefully evaluates the fit. He checks how well it seats on your tissues, verifies that your bite feels comfortable, and makes any minor adjustments needed to optimize comfort and function. He provides detailed instructions on insertion, removal, cleaning, and initial care.

He’ll answer your questions about eating and speaking with your new denture and discuss what to expect during your initial adaptation period.

Step Nine: Follow-Up Adjustments

Over the first two to four weeks after delivery, your mouth adapts to your new denture. Adjustment appointments are scheduled during this critical period. As your tissues continue healing, minor adjustments may be needed to eliminate pressure spots or improve retention. Dr. Marlin sees you as often as needed to ensure your comfort and function.

Most patients develop complete comfort and proficiency with their dentures within a month.

Step Ten: Long-Term Maintenance and Bone Management

Following initial adaptation, you’ll return for periodic follow-up appointments. Dr. Marlin monitors how your bone is resorbing and makes minor adjustments as your bone shape gradually changes. These regular visits extend the functional life of your denture and ensure continued comfort and retention.

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Elite Prosthetic Dentistry 4400 Jenifer Street NW, Suite 220 Washington, DC 20015 (202) 244-2101 Request a Consultation Contact & Directions

Chevy Chase patients are 3-5 minutes away via Wisconsin Avenue. Friendship Heights Metro station is one block from our office. Free parking is available in our building.

For related care, see our pages on dental implants and Dentures in Bethesda.