Dr. Ostovar performs a comprehensive oral examination, reviews CBCT 3D imaging, evaluates any remaining teeth, assesses the ridge anatomy and soft tissue health, and discusses your functional needs and aesthetic goals. He then presents the available denture options — conventional, implant-retained, or implant-supported — with specific timelines and costs for each approach. The consultation typically takes 45 to 60 minutes.

The consultation fee is typically $100 to $250, which includes the clinical examination and any necessary diagnostic imaging. This fee is applied toward the cost of treatment if you proceed with a denture at our office. Many dental insurance plans cover the consultation as a diagnostic visit. We verify your coverage before the appointment.

A conventional denture rests on the gum tissue and relies on suction and adhesive for retention. An implant-retained denture snaps onto two to four dental implants placed in the jawbone, providing dramatically improved stability and chewing force. An implant-supported fixed denture is permanently attached to four to six implants and does not come out at all — it functions like natural teeth. Each option has different costs, timelines, and maintenance requirements.

Not necessarily. If some teeth are healthy and well-positioned, a partial denture may be a better option — preserving the natural teeth while replacing the missing ones. In some cases, retaining strategic teeth (particularly canines) under an overdenture provides significantly better stability than extracting everything. Dr. Ostovar evaluates each tooth individually and preserves healthy teeth whenever it serves the overall treatment plan.

A conventional denture for a patient who is already edentulous takes approximately four to six weeks from the first impression to delivery — involving four to five appointments. If extractions are needed, healing time adds six to eight weeks before the definitive denture can be fabricated. Immediate dentures — placed the same day as extractions — require a reline three to six months later once the ridge has stabilized. Implant-supported options add three to six months for implant integration.

Conventional complete dentures range from $1,500 to $3,500 per arch depending on the materials and tooth quality selected. Implant-retained overdentures range from $5,000 to $12,000 per arch including the implants. Implant-supported fixed dentures (All-on-X) range from $20,000 to $35,000 per arch. Dr. Ostovar presents options at multiple price points and discusses which investment makes sense for your specific situation. CareCredit and Cherry financing are available.

We plan carefully to minimize any toothless period. Immediate dentures can be placed the same day as extractions, so you never leave the office without teeth. If a conventional denture is being made after healing, the fabrication process is timed so that your existing teeth or temporary denture bridges the gap. Dr. Ostovar discusses timing during the consultation and plans around your social and professional needs.

An immediate denture is fabricated before your teeth are extracted and placed in your mouth immediately after the extractions — at the same appointment. This means you are never without teeth. However, immediate dentures are considered transitional because the ridge changes shape significantly during healing. A hard reline or new denture is typically needed three to six months later once the bone has stabilized.

Age alone is not a contraindication for dental implants. We have successfully placed implants for patients in their 70s, 80s, and beyond. The determining factors are bone quality, bone quantity, overall health, and any medications that might affect healing. A CBCT scan during the consultation reveals whether you have sufficient bone for implants or whether bone grafting would be needed first. Many patients who assumed they were too old are pleasantly surprised by their candidacy.

Most dental insurance plans cover dentures as a major prosthetic benefit, typically at 50 percent after deductible. Coverage usually applies once every five to eight years. Implants may or may not be covered depending on the specific plan — medical insurance sometimes covers implants when they are related to trauma, cancer reconstruction, or congenital conditions. Our insurance team verifies your coverage and maximizes your benefits before treatment begins.

In many cases, yes. We can reline, rebase, or adjust existing dentures to improve their fit and function. However, if the denture has fundamental design problems — wrong occlusion, incorrect vertical dimension, poor tooth position, or a warped base — modifications may not be enough. Dr. Ostovar evaluates the existing denture honestly and recommends whether repair, reline, or replacement is the most cost-effective path to a good result.

Bring your current denture (if you have one), any recent dental X-rays or records from other providers, your dental insurance card, and a list of medications you take. If you have old photographs showing your natural teeth and smile, bring those as well — they can be extremely helpful for Dr. Ostovar in designing tooth position and arrangement that looks natural and familiar to you.

Conventional upper dentures typically provide good chewing function because the palate provides a large surface area for suction. Lower dentures are more challenging — particularly for hard or sticky foods — because the tongue and floor of the mouth reduce the available surface area. Implant-retained dentures improve chewing efficiency by 60 to 200 percent compared to conventional lower dentures. Dr. Ostovar discusses realistic functional expectations during the consultation based on your specific anatomy.

Prosthodontists complete three additional years of residency training focused on designing and fabricating dental prostheses — including hundreds of denture cases during residency. This training covers advanced impression techniques, jaw relation recording, aesthetic tooth arrangement, and management of complex cases that general dental school does not adequately address. The difference is most apparent in difficult cases: severely resorbed ridges, unfavorable anatomy, patients with high expectations, or cases requiring integration of implants with the denture design.

Absolutely, and we encourage it. Denture treatment involves significant decisions about cost, timeline, and treatment approach. Having a spouse, adult child, or trusted friend present helps ensure that all the information is understood and that the decision feels supported. Family members often notice functional or aesthetic concerns that the patient may not mention on their own.