Some patients only contact us if they experience a problem with their denture. Other patients want to schedule checkups even when they feel everything is fine. Which kind of patient are you? And how often should you really be seeing your denturist?
The following is a brief guide to how we approach scheduling at Vernon Denture Clinic. No matter whether you’re a new or experienced denture wearer, if you are having an issue or have a question about your denture, we want to hear from you!
Immediate dentures
First year following extractions:
- Patients transitioning to an immediate denture will require regular appointments to maintain comfort and refit the denture as their mouth changes.
- These appointments include adjustments, tissue conditioning, and a reline or rebase of the denture at 1 year post-insertion.
- Adjustments are provided at no charge for the first year post-insertion. One tissue conditioner is also provided at no charge.
After one year:
- Patients will see us as needed to maintain their denture comfort, fit, and function.
- Additional relines or rebases of the denture may be required to address the effects of bone resorption and keep the denture fitting comfortably.
- We will connect with patients annually, to encourage them to schedule an appointment with us if denture fit or function has changed.
First dentures (but not immediate)
- Patients who have not had recent extractions but are new to wearing a denture may take more time to adjust to their new denture than experienced denture wearers. As such, following insertion we pre-book these patients for one or more adjustment appointments to assist them with the initial period of adapting to their new denture.
- After that, we encourage patients to contact us as needed to ensure that the comfort, fit, and function of their denture continues to be satisfactory. Adjustments are provided at no charge for the first year post-insertion.
- We will connect with patients annually, to encourage them to schedule an appointment with us if denture fit or function has changed.
- We normally recommend a denture reline or rebase approximately 2 years post-insertion, to address the effects of bone resorption and keep the denture fitting comfortably.
Replacement dentures
- Following insertion, we pre-book these patients for one adjustment appointment to assist them with the initial period of adapting to their new denture.
- After that, we encourage patients to contact us as needed to ensure that the comfort, fit, and function of their denture continues to be satisfactory. Adjustments are provided at no charge for the first year post-insertion.
- We will connect with patients annually, to encourage them to schedule an appointment with us if denture fit or function has changed.
- We normally recommend a denture reline or rebase approximately 2 years post-insertion, to address the effects of bone resorption and keep the denture fitting comfortably.
Implant-supported dentures
- Following insertion, we pre-book these patients for one adjustment appointment to assist them with the initial period of adapting to their new denture.
- After that, we encourage patients to contact us as needed to ensure that the comfort, fit, and function of their implant-supported denture continues to be satisfactory. Adjustments are provided at no charge for the first year post-insertion.
- We recommend these patients schedule appointments to change their abutment locators at regular intervals. For some patients, this could be as frequently as every 3 months. These short appointments will ensure that a patient’s implant-supported denture has proper retention when engaged with their implants, maintaining denture stability and function.
- We will connect with patients annually, to encourage them to schedule an appointment with us if denture fit or function has changed. We will also encourage these patients to see their oral surgeon as required for implant care and maintenance.
- We will recommend a denture reline or rebase when it is time to address the effects of bone resorption and keep the denture fitting comfortably.
Denture relines or rebases
- Following a reline or rebase, we pre-book these patients for one adjustment appointment to assist them with the initial period of adapting to their relined or rebased denture.
- We encourage patients to contact us as needed to ensure that the comfort, fit, and function of their denture continues to be satisfactory.
- We will connect with patients annually following a denture reline or rebase, to encourage them to schedule an appointment with us if the fit or function of their denture changes in any way.
Denture repairs
- Following a repair, we encourage patients to contact us as needed to ensure that the comfort, fit, and function of their denture continues to be satisfactory.
- We will connect with patients 6 months following a denture repair, to encourage them to schedule an appointment with us if they have any concerns about their denture or if the fit or function of their denture changes in any way.