Dentures (Full & Partial) in Lisle, IL
The impact of missing teeth goes well beyond appearance, making it harder to eat, altering the way you speak, and letting your facial muscles sag over time. As a proven, affordable way to replace some or all of those teeth, dentures address each of these problems. Every denture we make at Brammeier Family Dental is custom-fit for your comfort, function, and confidence.
What they are
Removable, custom-made replacements for missing teeth and the surrounding tissue, built to look and function like natural teeth.
Who they're for
Anyone who has lost multiple or all of their teeth to gum disease, decay, or injury, particularly when dental implants aren't an option.
How we help
A custom fit, precise adjustments, and ongoing care that keep your dentures comfortable and functional for years to come.
Are missing teeth chipping away at your confidence or your ability to eat? Dentures can restore your smile and your quality of life.
Types of Dentures
Partial Dentures
- Fill in some missing teeth while your healthy natural teeth stay put
- Anchor to your existing teeth with a metal or flexible framework for stability
- Offer a removable alternative to a traditional dental bridge
- Keep your remaining teeth from shifting out of position
- Adjust easily as your mouth changes over time
Full Dentures
- Replace all teeth in the upper jaw, the lower jaw, or both
- Round out your facial profile and head off the sunken look that missing teeth cause
- Conventional dentures: Made once teeth are out and the tissues have fully healed, which takes several weeks
- Immediate dentures: Placed the very day teeth are extracted, so you are never without teeth while you heal
- May call for relining after the jaw heals and settles into its final shape
How Dentures Are Made
The Process
- Impressions: A precise mold of your mouth goes off to a dental laboratory
- Custom fabrication: Your denture is built around the unique shape of your mouth, your bite, and your appearance
- Try-in appointment: You check the fit and look before the final version is finished
- Adjustments: Fine-tuning brings comfort, clear speech, and effective chewing
- Follow-ups: Further adjustments as you settle in with your new dentures
Adaptation Tips
- Expect a brief adjustment period for eating and speaking
- Begin with soft foods cut small, chewing evenly on both sides
- Read aloud to get your speech back to normal quickly
- A little soreness early on is common, and we'll ease any pressure points
- Within a few weeks, most patients feel completely comfortable
How Long Do Dentures Last?
Daily wear means dentures eventually need to be relined, rebased, or remade. Because your mouth naturally changes shape as you age, dentures can start to loosen, and loose dentures irritate your gums, make chewing harder, and affect your speech. Regular dental checkups keep them fitting well and working the way they should.
Caring for Your Dentures
Daily Care Routine
- Rinse after eating to wash away food debris
- Clean your mouth once dentures are out, brushing any natural teeth along with your gums, tongue, and palate
- Brush dentures twice daily using a denture brush and denture cleaner, never regular toothpaste
- Soak overnight in water or denture solution so they keep their shape and moisture
- Rinse before reinserting to clear off any cleaning chemicals
Important Precautions
- Avoid harsh products: Stiff brushes and regular toothpaste can scratch and damage dentures
- Never use whitening products on removable dentures, since they can cause permanent damage
- Handle over a towel or water so a dropped denture won't break
- Don't bend the clasps on partial dentures while cleaning
- Keep dentures moist when they are out, because drying out can warp them
Not sure which type of denture fits you best? We'll walk you through all your options.
What to Expect at Your Visit
Visit Steps
- Evaluation: We take stock of your remaining teeth, gum health, and bone structure
- Discussion: Drs. Brammeier and Ericson lay out partial versus full denture options along with alternatives like implant-supported dentures
- Impressions: Precise molds are made for your custom dentures
- Fitting: Your dentures are tried in, adjusted, and handed over with complete care instructions
Helpful Tips
- Bring any dentures you already own, even ones that no longer fit well
- Pack a few photos of your natural smile for reference
- Ask how implant-supported options could add stability
- Plan on 2–4 appointments from first impression to final delivery
- Follow-up visits matter for getting the comfort just right
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost of dentures hinges on the type you need (partial versus full), the materials used, and whether extractions or other procedures have to come first. An upper or lower denture, a set for both arches, and immediate dentures placed the day of extraction all carry different price points, so an exam is the only way to pin down your number.
At your consultation in our Lisle office we provide a detailed written estimate before any treatment begins. We accept most dental insurance plans, which typically cover a portion of denture treatment, and we offer financing options with flexible payment plans to keep dentures affordable.
Yes, though it takes a short adjustment period to get there. New dentures feel bulky at first and your mouth needs time to learn how to control them, so the key is to start slowly. Begin with soft foods cut into small pieces, and gradually work your way up to firmer textures as your comfort and confidence grow.
Most patients are eating a full range of foods comfortably with their dentures within a few weeks. A couple of habits make a lasting difference: chew evenly on both sides at once to keep the denture stable and balanced, and steer clear of very sticky or extremely hard foods that can dislodge or damage it. If a denture keeps slipping while you eat, let us know so we can check the fit.
There can be a brief adjustment period. When you first get dentures, certain words, particularly those with s and f sounds, may feel or sound different because your tongue and lips are learning to work around the new appliance. This is completely normal and temporary.
The fastest way to adapt is simply to practice. Reading aloud at home and speaking a little more slowly at first trains your mouth quickly, and most patients are speaking naturally with their dentures within a week or two. If your dentures click or shift when you talk, a minor adjustment to the fit usually solves it.
Cared for properly, dentures usually last 5 to 10 years before they need replacing. The teeth and base material do gradually wear with daily use, and a denture that is worn down or no longer fitting well should be remade to protect both your comfort and your oral health.
Even a well-made denture often needs relining or minor adjustments well before that 5 to 10 year mark, because your jawbone and gums naturally change shape over time once teeth are gone. A denture that once fit snugly can start to loosen as a result. Keeping up regular dental visits lets us catch these changes early and adjust the fit, so your dentures keep working the way they should.
Taking your dentures out at night is generally recommended. Wearing them around the clock keeps constant pressure on your gums and the underlying bone, and going without that pressure for several hours each night gives those tissues a chance to rest and recover.
Removing dentures overnight also cuts down on the bacteria and fungus that can build up when they stay in place continuously, and it lets you soak them so they keep their shape and moisture. There are a few situations, such as right after immediate dentures are placed, where wearing them overnight is advised for a short time. Drs. Brammeier and Ericson will advise you based on your specific situation.
The difference comes down to what holds the denture in place. Traditional dentures rest directly on your gums and stay put through natural suction, a snug fit, or clasps that grip your remaining teeth. They work well, but because they sit on the surface they can shift when you eat or speak and offer less chewing power.
Implant-supported dentures instead snap onto dental implants anchored in your jawbone. That anchoring adds considerable stability, restores stronger chewing power, and helps slow the bone loss that occurs when teeth are gone, since the implants stimulate the bone the way natural roots would. If a loose or slipping denture is your main concern, implant-supported dentures make a great upgrade.
They usually change it for the better. Many people worry that dentures will look artificial, but in most cases dentures actually help restore a more youthful facial appearance rather than detract from it.
Here is why. When teeth go missing, the facial muscles lose their internal support, the cheeks and lips sag inward, and the face can take on an older, sunken look. Well-fitting dentures fill out the cheeks and lips again and support the surrounding muscles the way natural teeth once did. The result is a fuller, more natural profile and a confident smile.
Yes. Partial dentures are designed specifically for patients who still have some healthy natural teeth. A partial fills in the gaps where teeth are missing while using the remaining teeth as anchors, and it has the added benefit of keeping those natural teeth from drifting out of position into the open spaces.
Whether a partial is right for you depends on the health of the teeth you still have. If the remaining teeth are strong, they make excellent anchors. If they are too damaged or failing, Drs. Brammeier and Ericson may recommend removing them and fitting full dentures instead, and can walk you through the trade-offs so you can decide with confidence.
Keeping dentures clean protects both the appliance and the health of your mouth. A simple daily routine covers everything:
- Brush your dentures twice a day with a soft denture brush and denture cleaner, never regular toothpaste, which is too abrasive and can scratch them
- Rinse them after meals to wash away food debris
- Soak them overnight in water or a denture solution so they keep their shape and moisture
- Rinse them once more before putting them back in your mouth
- Clean your gums, tongue, and palate every day too, even while the dentures are out
Handling your dentures over a folded towel or a sink of water is a smart habit, since it protects them from breaking if they slip out of your hands. If you ever notice buildup you cannot remove at home, we can professionally clean your dentures during a checkup.
Missing teeth don't have to hold you back. Custom dentures can restore your smile, your bite, and your confidence.