What to expect at your first visit
Your first visit is a conversation with our prosthetist. We ask what brought you in, examine your mouth and any denture you wear, and explain what we find. You leave with a clear recommendation, and the decision is yours.
Your first appointment works the same way whether you need your first denture, a replacement, or help with one that’s never felt right. People tell us they worry about being processed like a number, or not understanding what’s happening. We take the time to understand your situation and explain everything so you can decide for yourself.
- One prosthetist: you see our prosthetist at every appointment, from consultation to aftercare, with 18 years in dentures.
- No pressure: you’ll leave with a clear recommendation, and the choice is yours.
- Your choice of location: visit our Capalaba or Redland Bay clinic, or book a home visit if you struggle to travel.
Before your appointment
Just call, and we’ll look after the rest. Your name and number is all we need to book.
You can also text, email or send the enquiry form. Our prosthetist is usually with a patient for 20 to 30 minutes at a time, so if we miss your call, we’ll call back within four business hours. There’s nothing you have to prepare, though these help if you have them:
- Your current denture: if you already wear one, wear it in, even if it’s broken or doesn’t fit.
- Your health fund card: so we can claim any eligible treatment on the spot with HICAPS.
- Your questions: anything you’d like to ask, from how dentures feel to what to expect.
If you’d like a family member or carer with you, they’re welcome to come along.
During your consultation
We start by asking what made you look into dentures now. We keep that in mind from the first appointment to the last.
We then examine your mouth, explain what we find and talk you through the option we recommend. Some people want every detail and some just want to be told what they need. Either way, we talk you through each step as it happens.
- A conversation: about what’s bothering you, whether that’s pain, a loose denture, a breakage or teeth your dentist says need to come out.
- An examination: of your gums, jaw and any remaining teeth, plus any denture you wear.
- A clear recommendation: the option we think suits you, and why, rather than a menu to pick from.
- Cost: We talk you through cost once we know what your treatment involves.
Nervous about dental appointments?
Denture work is gentle and non-invasive. We talk you through each step as it happens, and we’re with you for the whole process.
What happens next
If you decide to go ahead, we look after each step from here, as we did at your first visit. Most treatment takes two to four appointments, and a full set made from scratch takes about four.
Records
We take impressions and record your bite in your natural jaw position. All records and design are done in-house.
- Impressions: of your gums and any remaining teeth.
- Bite records: so your teeth meet evenly when you close.
- Tooth selection: you choose your shade and shape from a wide range.
Try-ins
Before we finish anything, you try on a wax version of your denture so we can check the fit, bite and look with you.
- A trial fitting: in the clinic, or at home on a home visit.
- Changes: to tooth position, shade or shape until it’s right.
- Your sign-off: before we finish the final denture.
Fitting and aftercare
We fit your finished denture and show you how to care for it, then see you for adjustments as needed while you settle in.
- Final fitting: with any last adjustments for comfort.
- Adjustments: as needed in the weeks after fitting.
- Ongoing care: a clean and polish every six months is good practice, with a fit check at least every two years.
Many returning denture wearers have forgotten how their last denture was made, so we explain the process even if you’ve been through it before.