Tooth replacement

Dentures in Plano: full, partial or implant-supported, chosen for how you live

Dr. Tam points to a panoramic X-ray on the wall screen as a patient watches from the chair

If your denture shifts when you laugh, or you are facing the loss of several teeth and dreading what comes next, you do not have to choose anything today. Your first visit is an exam, a scan and a straight conversation about the three kinds of denture, so you can see which ones fit your mouth. You leave with a written, itemized quote for each option that suits you. Nothing is booked until you feel ready.

Book a Visit 972-265-9033

If your plate moves

Does your denture move, or is soft food all you trust?

Many people wear a denture that stopped fitting years ago. It clicks when you talk and food gets underneath. Or several of your own teeth are failing at once, and you are dreading the day they come out.

It helps to know why a denture loosens. The bone under the gums slowly shrinks once teeth are gone, so a plate that fit once ends up resting on a different shape. That is not your fault.

You do not need to decide anything on the day. A first visit shows you the options on your own scan, and then you can go home and think about it.

“I only order soft food when we eat out”A better fit, or a few implants, often changes that.
“I cover my mouth when I laugh”Gaps, failing teeth or a plate that slips make people self-conscious. You are not the only one.
“Honestly, I am nervous about the whole thing”Tell us when you call. We explain each step first and go at your pace.

A 3D-printed dental model on the printer platform

The short answer

What is a denture, and which type is best?

A denture is a removable set of replacement teeth on a gum-colored base. A partial fills gaps around the teeth you keep, a full denture replaces a whole upper or lower arch, and an implant-supported denture snaps or locks onto a few implants for the most stability. The best one depends on how many healthy teeth you have left and how much stability you want. Conventional dentures usually take several weeks. Implant-supported ones take several months, because the implants heal first.

A patient looks at a 3D scan of her teeth on the chairside screen

Your first visitYou see all three options on your own scan before anything is decided.

Are dentures the right choice for you?

Dentures become the sensible move when repairing tooth by tooth no longer adds up. The honest answer comes from an exam and a scan.

You may be a good fit if

Several teeth are failing at once, and saving each one would mean a long run of crowns and root canals.
You already wear a denture, and it has loosened, cracked or started rubbing sore spots as the bone underneath changed.
You want something that stays put but not an implant for every tooth, or your health makes a series of surgeries a poor fit.

What happens at your first visit

An exam, X‑rays and, when implants are on the table, a low-radiation 3D scan
All three types explained on your own scan
A plan for the day any teeth come out, not only for the months after
A written, itemized quote for each option that fits you

Book a Visit

Dr. Chiem reviews a panoramic X-ray with a patient in the treatment room

Life with a denture that fits

What changes with a denture that fits properly?

Results vary from person to person, and a new denture takes a few weeks to settle. These are the differences most people notice once it does.

01
Eat with less planning
A well-fitted denture, or one held by implants, lets most people take on foods they had given up.
02
Speak without thinking about it
When the plate stays put, you stop choosing words around it.
03
Smile without covering your mouth
Teeth chosen for your face, in a shade you pick with us.
04
Support for your face
Missing teeth let the cheeks and lips fall in. A denture puts the support back.
05
Keep the teeth you still have
A partial fills the gaps around your natural teeth without shaping or removing them.
06
An upgrade path if you want it
A few implants added later can turn a conventional denture into one that snaps in and stays put.

Compare your options

Full, partial or implant-supported: which denture fits you?

Three main types, plus immediate dentures that cover the healing gap after extractions. The right one depends on how many healthy teeth you have, how much stability you want and how long you can give it.

At a glance	Option 1Full denture	Option 2Partial denture	Most asked aboutImplant-supported denture
Replaces	Every tooth in an upper or lower arch	Some teeth, fitting around the ones you keep	A full arch, anchored on implants in the jaw
Held in by	Suction and fit against the gums, sometimes adhesive	Clasps or attachments on your remaining teeth	Two or more implants it snaps or locks onto
Stability when eating	Fair; lower dentures tend to move more	Good, braced by your natural teeth	Very good; it stays put when you chew
Comes out	Yes, nightly	Yes, nightly	Snap-in versions yes; fixed versions only at the office
Palate and taste	An upper covers the roof of the mouth, which can feel bulky at first	Often leaves most of the palate open	An upper can often be made with less palate coverage
Cleaning	Take it out and brush it daily, soak overnight	Take it out and brush it daily, and brush the teeth it clips to	Snap-in: take it out and brush; fixed: brush and water-floss under it
The jawbone	Bone under the gums keeps shrinking slowly	Bone shrinks where teeth are missing	Implants help slow bone loss where they sit
Time to finish	Usually several weeks across a few visits	Usually a few weeks	Usually several months, because the implants heal first
Typical lifespan	Often 5 to 10 years, with relines along the way	Often 5 to 10 years	Implants often last decades; the denture teeth wear and get replaced
Up-front cost	Usually the lowest for a full arch	Usually lower than replacing each tooth	Usually the highest, reflecting the implants
Read our guide to dentures: types, costs and timelines, or see the implants themselves on our dental implants page. Book a Visit 972-265-9033

4.8out of 5 on Google

Google reviews

Reviewed by our own patients

Custerpoint Family Dental averages 4.8 stars across 234 public Google reviews, as of September 8, 2026, so you can read them yourself before you call. Results vary from person to person, so your consult covers what is realistic for your mouth.

Read the reviews on Google

Step by step

How long does it take to get dentures?

A conventional denture runs in five stages over several weeks. Implant-supported dentures add a healing stage of a few months.

01
Consultation, exam and scans, the first visit
Dr. Tam or Dr. Chiem examines your mouth, takes X‑rays and, when implants are on the table, a low-radiation cone-beam CT. You talk through the three types and leave with a written plan and quote. If you would rather discuss it in Chinese, see our Chinese-speaking dentist page.
02
Extractions and healing, only if needed
Teeth that cannot be saved are removed under local anesthetic, so most people feel pressure rather than pain. If you choose an immediate denture, it goes in the same day. It then needs relining as the gums settle over the following months.
03
Records and bite, about one to two weeks later
We record the shape of your gums and how your jaws meet, digitally with the iTero scanner where the case allows. You choose the tooth shape and shade with us, with your face in view rather than a chart.
04
Try-in, usually a week or two later
You wear a preview version to check the fit, the bite, your speech and the look before the final is made. Changes are easy now, so say everything you notice.
05
Delivery and adjustments, the following weeks
Your final denture is fitted and adjusted in the chair. Expect one or more short follow-ups over the next few weeks to relieve sore spots as your mouth adapts. That is normal. If a sore spot does not ease in a day or two, call 972-265-9033.

The waiting room at Custerpoint Family Dental

No surprisesNothing is booked until you have a written quote for each option and you feel ready.

Cost

How much do dentures cost in Plano?

It depends mostly on which type you choose and what your mouth needs first. A low advertised price often covers a basic denture only, without the extractions, relines or the materials that make it look natural. It is always fair to ask what a quote includes.

What moves the number

The type: full, partial, immediate or implant-supported
Whether teeth need removing first, and how many
How many implants anchor the denture, if any, and whether grafting is needed
The materials for the base and teeth, which affect looks, strength and lifespan

Good to knowRelines in the first months are part of the process, so ask whether a quote includes them. Many PPO plans pay part of a denture, with limits on how often it can be replaced.

You get a written, itemized quote for each option that fits you, so you can compare the types on real numbers. If anything changes, we update the quote first.

The details are on our insurance and financing page.

Insurance, financing and monthly payments

Insurance and financing

PPO claims filed for youWe check your benefits before treatment, show your share in the quote and file the claim.
CareCredit monthly paymentsSpread the cost over monthly payments, with approved credit, instead of paying all at once.
Staged when it helpsImplants can be placed first and the denture attached once they heal.

Your dentists and the technology

Who makes your denture, and how is it made here?

Dentures are an old treatment. The way they are made here is not. Dr. Tam and Dr. Chiem see every case through from the first scan to the final adjustment.

Dr. Larry TamGeneral dentist and ownerA Plano native and Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry graduate, caring for Dallas-area patients for more than ten years.

Dr. Johnny ChiemGeneral dentistYears of clinical experience and a gentle, compassionate approach; he walks you through your X‑rays on the screen before anything is decided.

Nervous? Please tell us

Nothing is rushed. Any extractions are done under local anesthetic, so most people feel pressure rather than pain, and at the try-in you approve the fit and the look before the final is made. If you need a break, say so and we stop.

The in-office 3D printer with a freshly printed model

The iTero digital scanner cart in the hallway

The cone-beam CT machine in the imaging room

In-office 3D printer01 / 03

01
In-office 3D printer
Prints models, try-ins and provisional teeth here rather than waiting on an outside lab, which shortens the gap between visits.
02
iTero digital scanner
Scans your gums and remaining teeth with no putty trays, which many longtime denture wearers remember as the worst part.
03
Low-radiation cone-beam CT
When implants will anchor a denture, a 3D scan shows where the bone can hold them.

Questions

Denture questions Plano patients ask us

Have one we have not covered? Call 972-265-9033 during office hours and you will reach the front desk.

Dr. Chiem explains a panoramic X-ray on the wall screen to a patient in the chair

Typically a few weeks for speaking and a month or two for eating comfortably. Lower dentures usually take longer than uppers, because the tongue and cheeks move them more. Start with soft foods cut small, chew on both sides at once, and read aloud for a few minutes a day. Short follow-ups to relieve sore spots are normal. Never adjust a denture or bend a clasp yourself.

For a week or two, often a little. Some sounds, especially s and f, can feel different while your tongue learns the new shape, and reading aloud speeds that up. Most people find their speech settles on its own within a couple of weeks. If it has not settled by then, the fit or the position of the teeth may need a small adjustment.

Usually take them out at night, so your gums can rest, unless we tell you otherwise. Brush them daily with a soft brush and a non-abrasive denture cleaner, then soak them overnight. Regular toothpaste can scratch them and hot water can warp them, and keep them in water when out. Brush your gums, tongue and any remaining teeth. The exception is the first night after an immediate denture.

Often 5 to 10 years, with relines along the way as your gums and bone change underneath. The teeth on a denture wear down with use, and the base can crack or stop fitting as the jaw changes. A denture that has become loose, cracked or worn flat usually needs relining or replacing rather than more adhesive. A yearly check catches a changing fit early.

For many people, yes, especially for a lower denture that will not stay put. A few implants can hold a denture firmly enough to eat a wider range of foods and speak without worrying about movement. It costs more up front and takes several months, because the implants heal first. Your scan shows whether your bone suits implants. See dental implants.

Often, yes, with an immediate denture made before the extraction appointment. It goes in right after the teeth come out, so you are not without teeth while you heal, and it acts as a bandage over the sockets in the first days. As the gums and bone settle over the following months, it needs a reline or a replacement, and that is planned and quoted from the start.

It depends on your plan. Many PPO plans pay part of a full or partial denture, usually with a limit on how often it can be replaced. Extractions are usually covered separately. We check your benefits before treatment, put your share in the written quote and file the claim for you. CareCredit covers the rest in monthly payments, with approved credit. See insurance and financing.

Sometimes. If the teeth and base are in good shape and only the fit has changed, a reline reshapes the inside to match your gums, at less cost than a new denture. If the teeth are worn flat, the base is cracked or the bite has changed, replacing it usually serves you better. An exam settles which one you need, and you get a written quote first.

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