How Denturists Help

Get Your Smile Back with Alberta’s Denturists

Missing teeth can affect more than just your smile—they can impact your confidence, comfort, and ability to enjoy everyday life. The good news is that Alberta’s denturists are specially trained to restore your smile with modern denture solutions designed to look natural, feel comfortable, and function properly.

Denturists are experts in the design, creation, and fitting of dentures. Using advanced techniques and technology, they provide personalized care to help you regain the confidence to eat, speak, and smile again.

If you’re experiencing missing teeth, discomfort with your current dentures, or changes in your smile, a denturist can help.

Many denturists offer an initial consultation—often at no cost—where they will assess your needs, answer your questions, and guide you through the treatment options available to restore your smile.

Get your smile back by finding a Denturist NEAR YOU

How Alberta denturists can help you

Full dentures

Replace upper or lower (or both) sets of teeth with high-quality, well-fitting dentures that restore your natural smile.

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Full Dentures

Full dentures are a removable dental prosthesis designed to replace all missing teeth and associated oral tissues in either the upper or lower jaw, or both. It is custom-made for the patient to provide functionality and aesthetic restoration.

  • Base Material: Typically made from acrylic resin, which forms the foundation of the denture and rests on the oral tissues, ensuring stability and support.
  • Artificial Teeth: Manufactured from acrylic, composite, resin, or porcelain, these teeth are set in the base to mimic the appearance and function of natural teeth.
  • Retention and Stability: The denture stays in place through suction, muscle coordination, and occasionally the use of adhesives. Lower dentures may rely more on muscle control due to reduced surface area for suction and tendency to move around due to the tongue.
  • Customization: Designed to fit the unique shape of the patient's gums and oral cavity for optimal comfort, function, and aesthetics.
  • Functionality: Restores the ability to chew and speak effectively while also supporting facial structures to maintain the patient’s appearance.
  • Maintenance: Requires regular cleaning and proper care to ensure longevity and prevent oral health issues.

Full dentures are a cost-effective solution for patients who have lost all their teeth, providing an improvement in quality of life.

Immediate dentures

Protect your smile with temporary dentures until your permanent dentures are created.

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Immediate Dentures

An immediate denture is a removable dental prosthesis that is fabricated before the extraction of natural teeth and placed immediately after the teeth are removed. This type of denture provides the patient with an immediate solution to tooth loss, ensuring they are never without teeth during the healing period.

Designed to maintain function, aesthetics, and oral health immediately after tooth extraction. It also helps protect the extraction sites during the healing process.

  • Artificial Teeth: Manufactured from acrylic, composite, resin, or porcelain, these teeth are set in the base to mimic the appearance and function of natural teeth.
  • Fabrication: Made before the extractions using impressions and measurements of the patient's oral cavity while their natural teeth are still present.
  • Base Material: Typically made from acrylic resin for the base and artificial teeth, similar to standard dentures.
  • Retention and Stability: Initially crafted to fit the pre-extraction anatomy. Adjustments are often required as the gums and bone heal and shrink over time.
  • Functionality: Restores chewing, speaking, and appearance while allowing the patient to adapt to wearing dentures.
  • Maintenance: Regular follow-ups for adjustments and relining are required to ensure proper fit as the oral tissues heal.
  • Transition: Often serves as a temporary solution until the gums and bone have healed enough to support a conventional denture or another long-term prosthetic solution. Immediate dentures can be temporary until a new denture is built or until it is relined/refitted once the oral tissues are healed. Usually 8-12 months.

Immediate dentures are a convenient option for patients who want to avoid a period without teeth, offering a seamless transition during the extraction and healing phases.

Removable partial dentures

Replace one or more missing teeth for a powerful, stable bite.

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Removable Partial Dentures

Removable partial dentures are a removable dental prosthesis designed to replace one or more missing teeth in the upper or lower jaw. Unlike complete dentures, partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain, providing both functional and aesthetic restoration.

  • Framework: Typically made from metal or flexible materials, the framework provides strength and stability while supporting artificial teeth.
  • Artificial Teeth: Made from acrylic, composite, resin, or porcelain, these teeth are attached to the framework to fill the gaps left by missing teeth, matching the shape, size, and color of the patient's natural teeth.
  • Base Material: The base, often made from acrylic resin, rests on the gums and is designed to mimic the appearance of natural oral tissues.
  • Retention and Stability: Retained in place with the help of clasps or precision attachments that anchor to the remaining natural teeth, ensuring stability during use.
  • Customization: Designed to fit the unique shape of the patient's gums and oral cavity for optimal comfort, function, and aesthetics.
  • Functionality: Restores chewing and speaking abilities while preventing the shifting of remaining natural teeth and preserving facial aesthetics.
  • Maintenance: Requires regular cleaning and care to ensure durability and oral hygiene.

Partial dentures are an affordable and non-invasive option for patients with partial tooth loss, offering a balance of comfort, functionality, and aesthetics.

Implant retained dentures

Enjoy natural-feeling, well-anchored dentures that restore your natural smile and protect your bone and gum tissue.

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Implant Retained Dentures

Implant-retained dentures are removable or fixed dental prostheses designed to replace all or some missing teeth in an upper or lower arch, stabilized by dental implants for enhanced retention and functionality. These dentures combine the benefits of traditional dentures with the stability of implants.

  • Base Material: Made from acrylic resin, which mimics the appearance of natural gum tissue, forms the foundation of the denture and rests on the oral tissues as well as the implant attachment. Zirconia and composites are also alternate materials that can be used.
  • Artificial Teeth: Crafted from acrylic, resin, composite, zirconia, or porcelain, these teeth are attached to the base and customized to match natural teeth' appearance and functionality.
  • Implant Support: Anchored by an average of 2-6 dental implants per arch, which are surgically placed in the jawbone to provide stability and prevent the denture from shifting.
  • Attachment System: Uses precision attachments, such as locator abutments, ball attachment mechanisms, or screw-retained attachments, to securely connect the denture to the implants.
  • Retention and Stability: The implants improve retention, making the denture less likely to move during eating or speaking, while also eliminating the need for denture adhesives.
  • Functionality: Restores chewing and speaking ability while providing a more natural feel compared to traditional dentures.
  • Bone Preservation: Stimulates the jawbone through the implants, helping to prevent bone loss and maintaining facial structure.
  • Customization: Designed to fit the unique shape of the patient's gums and oral cavity for optimal comfort, function, and aesthetics.
  • Maintenance: Requires daily cleaning and periodic professional adjustments to ensure proper fit and long-term success, implant check-ups and cleanings.

Implant-retained dentures are an excellent option for patients seeking a stable, reliable, and natural-looking solution for complete tooth replacement.

Repairs, relines and rebases

Preserve the look, fit, and life of your dentures with professional repairs.

Routine check-ups and maintenance

Ensure the look, fit, and function of your dentures.

The soft liner alternative

Upgrade your dentures for increased comfort and a superior fit.

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The Soft Liner Alternative

A permanent soft liner is a cushioning material applied to the inner surface of a denture base to provide long-term comfort and improved fit for patients with sensitive or irregular gum tissues. Unlike hard acrylic liners, soft liners are made from flexible, medical-grade materials which offer greater adaptability and cushioning.

  • Material: Made from resilient, biocompatible materials that remain pliable over time.
  • Application: Bonded to the underside of the denture, where it contacts the gums, to create a softer interface between the denture and oral tissues.
  • Comfort: Reduces pressure points and irritation, especially for patients with thin gum tissues, bony ridges, or chronic soreness.
  • Adaptability: Conforms to the natural contours of the gums, ensuring a snug and secure fit.
  • Durability: Designed for long-term use, typically lasting 1-2 years with proper care before needing replacement or reapplication.
  • Indications: Ideal for patients who experience discomfort with traditional acrylic bases.
  • Maintenance: Requires gentle cleaning to avoid damage. Periodic dental check-ups are needed to monitor wear and ensure continued effectiveness.

Permanent soft liners are an excellent option for improving the comfort and functionality of dentures, particularly for patients with unique oral health challenges.

Athletic mouth guards

Safeguard your natural teeth with a comfortable, high-quality mouth guard.

Anti-snoring appliances

Improve your (and your partner’s) sleep quality with comfortable, specially designed anti-snoring devices.

You’re in good hands

To make sure you get excellent treatment, all denturists in Alberta undergo rigorous training and complete yearly registration requirements.

Training

Training

Candidates enroll in a three-year Denture Technology Program which includes a year-long internship. After these four years of training, denturists must challenge and pass the provincial licensure exams.

Licensing

Licensing

Once they’ve successfully passed their exam and obtained their official licence, denturists in Alberta must promptly register with the College of Alberta Denturists in order to legally practice in the province.

Practicing

Practicing

To maintain their license, denturists must continue their education and ensure they are up-to-date with the latest practices and technology. Alberta denturists must also carry Professional Liability Insurance (PLI).