A denture that fit well fifteen years ago rarely fits the same today. The jawbone under a denture slowly shrinks once the natural teeth are gone, so a set that once felt snug starts to rock, rub, or need more adhesive every year. Many of the Squirrel Hill patients we see are not new to dentures at all. They are ready for a set that works again.
Atlas Dental Specialists is a prosthodontic practice, and dentures are part of our specialty training rather than a side service. Drs. Nicholas and Mara Mangini see Squirrel Hill patients at our Shadyside office on Ellsworth Avenue, a short drive up Shady Avenue from Forbes and Murray, and at our Downtown office on Fifth Avenue.
When an older denture stops fitting, there are three realistic paths. A reline adds new material to the inside of your current denture so it matches the shape of your gums again. It is quick and affordable, but it only works if the teeth and base are still in good condition.
A new complete or partial denture makes sense when the teeth are worn flat, the base is cracked, or your bite has collapsed over time. Worn denture teeth can make the face look shorter and the lips thinner, and a well-designed replacement often restores some of that lost support.
The third path is to anchor the denture to implants. For long-term wearers whose lower denture floats no matter what, this is often the change that makes the biggest difference. Our main dentures page covers every option in more detail.
Upper dentures get suction from the palate. Lower dentures have far less surface to grip and a tongue pushing against them, which is why so many people say the bottom one is the one that moves. After years of wear, the ridge of bone it sits on is often much lower than it was.
A common solution is two implants in the lower jaw with the denture snapping onto them, while the upper stays a conventional denture. It is one of the more affordable implant options, and patients can add implants to the upper arch later if they choose. Learn how the attachments work on our implant-supported dentures and snap-in dentures pages.
We start by examining your current denture, your gums, and the bone underneath. If implants are a possibility, 3D imaging shows exactly how much bone is available and where. You will leave the consultation knowing whether a reline, a new denture, or implant support makes the most sense, along with the cost of each.
For new dentures we take detailed impressions and bite records, then fit a try-in version so you can judge the look and feel of the teeth before the final denture is made. Small adjustments during the first few weeks are a normal part of the process.
Squirrel Hill is full of longtime homeowners, and that shows in our chairs. Many patients have worn dentures for decades and have simply gotten used to living around the problem, avoiding certain foods at the restaurants on Murray Avenue or keeping a tube of adhesive in every coat pocket.
You do not have to accept that. A prosthodontist can usually tell within one visit why a denture is failing and what it would take to fix it. If you are also looking for general care nearby, visit our Squirrel Hill dental care page or read about dental implants near Squirrel Hill.
Often, yes. If the teeth are not badly worn and the base is intact, a reline can restore the fit for a fraction of the cost of a new denture. We will tell you honestly if the denture is too far gone for a reline to help.
Conventional dentures typically last five to ten years. Relines in between can extend their life, and implant-supported dentures tend to hold up longer because the implants reduce the wear on the gums and bone.
Our Shadyside office on Ellsworth Avenue is a short drive north on Shady Avenue from Forbes and Murray. Our Downtown office on Fifth Avenue is also available if it fits your schedule better.
Drs. Nicholas and Mara Mangini completed their prosthodontic residencies at the University of Pittsburgh and later taught there as Clinical Associate Professors. They plan and complete every stage of denture and implant care in-house, so you never need an outside referral.
We accept MetLife, Cigna, Principal, and Ameritas and work with most PPO plans, with financing through CareCredit, Cherry, and SunBit. Contact us to set up your consultation.
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