Call Us
1320 Stratford Rd SE

Decatur, AL 35601
Monday - Thursday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Closed on Fri, Sat, & Sun

Schedule an Appointment
""
1

REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT

To request an appointment, please fill out the form below. A representative will get in touch with you to schedule your appointment.

Patient Information
First Name
Last Name
Phone Number
Phone Number Type
Zip Code

Appointment Information

Reason for Apppointmentpick one!
Choose a Date
Timepick one!
How Can We Help?
0 /
Previous
Next

Removable Dentures

Dental Services

K.S.

Dr. Leach and his staff accommodated me on short notice to help fix my chipped tooth. The tooth looks GREAT! Dr. Leach uses the latest techniques in dentistry and I am extremely happy to call him my dentist.

K.S.

Traci S.

Thank you for everything leading up to and the day of my visit for Bioclear. I’m so happy with the results from the procedure and I appreciate all of the information everyone provided during the process. Thanks so much to you, Dr. Leach, for investing your time and talents in making this procedure available in our state. I’m very grateful for all of the kindness and care everyone gave to me. The office visits, phone conversations, and really all of my interactions with your office were very positive and put me at ease. Thank you so much for all that you all do!

Traci S.

J.M.

Dr. Leach did a magnificent job on my teeth. He did some bonding to fill in some spaces and my teeth look just perfect. I am completely happy with the great job he did! He also did the work with no discomfort whatsoever and without even numbing. I was very comfortable the whole time.

J.M.

P.K.

Thank you all for your great service, kind care, and sweet attitudes. I love being your patient, blessings!

P.K.

Katie W.

Dear Dr. Leach,  I just wanted to tell you thank you for my beautiful veneers! I love them and get compliments on them all the time. Thank you again!

Katie W.

Stephanie R.

Today I have a smile I am confident in. I chose Bioclear because it does not damage the teeth and it can be done in one appointment. I felt very comfortable with Dr. Leach and his staff. He listened to me and customized the treatment to my liking.

Stephanie R.

C.R.

Wow, my dental appointments were actually looked at as a pleasant experience, since Dr. Leach and his staff are so capable and sincere – and there was no discomfort as one usually expects.

C.R.

D.D.

After recent orthodontic treatment I ended up with black triangles between my lower front teeth. After doing some research online, I found out that Dr. Leach was a certified Bioclear Doctor. I drove 7 hours to have him treat my lower black triangles. I am beyond happy with the job he did! So worth the trip! Thank you so much for the beautiful outcome and the stress free and pain free experience!

D.D.

K.H.

My family and I have been a client of Dr. Steven Leach for 13 years. He has been a very positive influence concerning oral health. After consulting with Dr. Leach concerning a very crooked front tooth, he advised me and we came to the conclusion that we need to crown the teeth. His staff was encouraging, very kind and helpful with the decisions that needed to be made. Dr. Leach took great care to make sure that everything went according to plan. When it was time to fit the new teeth he was meticulous and the outcome was beyond my wildest hopes. For the first time I had a smile that I could really be proud of. Dr. Leach’s expertise, his excellent staff, and the lab made what could have been a harrowing experience a very enjoyable one.
Thank you Dr. Leach, “She said with a smile”!

K.H.

Losing teeth — full or partial – isn’t just a self-image issue. It can also lead to an increased risk of developing other health issues. Fortunately, Dr. Leach and the experts at Steven Leach dental offer the time-tested remedy to this condition: dentures.

Denture Faces
Click to Enlarge

Dentures are one option among many for replacing missing teeth (others include bridegework, implants, etc). Each approach has pros and cons and should be discussed with an expert at Steven Leach Dental. Dentures also come in several varieties, from partial to overdentures (which are supported by implants).

How Do Removable Dentures Work?

Full or partial dentures are prosthetic teeth, connected to a gum-colored base. These prosthetic teeth are built to look and function just like your natural teeth. The gum-colored base is made of a plastic resin that sits over the bone ridge that formerly held your teeth.

Dentures are held in place primarily via suction. This suction is created by fitting the dentures properly and closely to the alveolar (bone) ridges. Upper dentures also get support from the large surface area of the palate (roof of the mouth), which adds extra stability.

Dentures may require some acclimation. At first, as the dentures become “balanced” in the space that formerly held your natural teeth, talking and eating may take some adjustment. Over time, however, the muscles, nerves and ligaments in your mouth adapt to new ways of working. As an additional benefit, dentures also help support the facial skeleton, lips and cheeks. This can lead to a more youthful appearance.

Types of Full Dentures

Immediate Dentures

Immediate dentures are often used as a transition to full dentures. When a tooth is extracted, for example, the muscular adjustment and gum shrinkage that accompany that procedure necessitate temporary (immediate) dentures. Permanent dentures will be fitted when healing is complete. Immediate dentures, while not permanent, provide new teeth right away, and give your muscles and nerves time to adjust.

Conventional Full Dentures

After a period of time to heal, permanent dentures can be created. These dentures will be fabricated with near-perfect accuracy in order to fit your mouth, to look natural and to function properly for as long as possible.

Implant-Supported Overdentures

In order to increase stability,some dentures may be anchored using two or more dental implants. Dentures placed on the upper jaw, which has less bone density than the lower jaw,  require three or more implants to anchor properly. Many patients find this option comfortable and functional.

Types of Partial Dentures

Transitional Partial Dentures

Relatively inexpensive, these removable plastic dentures serve as temporary teeth and help maintain space as you heal from other dental procedures (e.g extraction). Once healed, permanent dental implants can be installed.

Removable Partial Dentures (RPDs)

Typically crafted from cast vitallium, these metal-based partial dentures are lighter and less obtrusive than plastic. Though they are more expensive than plastic dentures, they will fit better. And, they are MUCH less expensive than dental implants or fixed bridgework.

Removable Denture Types

How Dentures Are Made and Fitted

Dentures are an impressive blend of artistry and science!

The first step in the process is taking impressions (molds) of the alveolar (bone) ridges of your upper and lower jaw. This impression is used by the lab to create the base of your dentures. Dr Leach works with lab technicians to select the best combination of denture size, shape and color.

“Balancing” your dentures is crucial for normal speech and normal eating with your new dentures. As you bite, upper and lower dentures come together and stabilize one another. Form and fit function are carefully checked to ensure proper denture functionality.

What to Expect After You Get Dentures

If you’ve recently lost teeth, tissue shrinkage and bone loss is normal. During this time you will be wearing immediate dentures, and their fit may change as your tissues heal. Once this happens, Dr. Leach offers two options: Have the immediate dentures relined or move to a set of full dentures. Relining dentures involves adding material to the base to create a better fit. Moving to a set of full dentures is typically the better option, as it offers a better fit and is a longer lasting solution.

When cared for properly, dentures offer a economical, functional and aesthetically pleasing remedy to tooth loss.