Getting dentures follows a fairly predictable path: a free consultation, impressions and design, a fitting appointment, and a few weeks of adjustment. It typically spans several visits over a few weeks, though the exact timeline depends on your mouth and the type of denture you need. Knowing what happens at each stage tends to make the whole process feel far less unfamiliar. Here’s an honest, start-to-finish look at what to expect.
The free consultation
Your journey starts with a free consultation at our clinic — no referral from a dentist or physician is needed to book one. At this visit, one of our denturists examines your mouth, asks about your medical history and any teeth you still have, and talks through which option fits your situation, whether that’s a complete denture, a partial, or an immediate denture fitted the same day as extractions. If any remaining teeth need to be removed first, your denturist explains why and what that part of the process looks like, so there are no surprises later. It’s also the time to ask about timelines and what each visit will involve — and if you’d like to read up beforehand, our FAQ covers common questions about dentures and coverage. Nothing is decided on the spot; you leave with a clear picture of the steps ahead and as much time as you need before moving forward.
Impressions and design
Once you decide to move ahead, your denturist takes detailed impressions of your gums and jaw, along with measurements of your bite and the position of any remaining natural teeth. These impressions become the blueprint for your new denture. Your denturist also works with you on the shape, size, and shade of the teeth, aiming for a result that suits your face rather than a generic, one-size-fits-all set. Before the final denture is processed, many patients have a try-in visit, where your denturist checks a wax version in your mouth and confirms the fit, bite, and appearance while changes are still easy to make. From there, the design goes to our own Ottawa lab, where technicians craft your denture by hand to those exact specifications. Keeping design and lab work under one roof means small adjustments can be made quickly, without waiting on an outside supplier.
Fitting day
At your fitting appointment, your denturist places the finished denture and checks how it sits against your gums, your bite, and your jaw movement. It’s normal for a brand-new denture to feel large, tight, or simply unfamiliar at first — your mouth hasn’t had anything quite like it before, and your tongue and cheeks need a little time to learn around it. Some people notice extra saliva for the first day or two as well; that settles down as your mouth adjusts. If you’re receiving an immediate denture the same day as your extractions, expect some tenderness from the extraction sites themselves on top of the new-denture feeling — your denturist talks you through caring for both together. Before you leave, your denturist checks your bite carefully, walks you through cleaning your new denture and how many hours a day to wear it at first, and our team schedules a follow-up visit to fine-tune anything that still feels off.
The adjustment weeks
The first few weeks are really about your mouth and your new denture meeting in the middle. Sore spots are a normal part of this — they show up where the denture presses a little more than your gums are used to, and a short in-clinic adjustment usually smooths them out within a visit or two. It’s worth avoiding the temptation to file or adjust a denture yourself; a small change in the wrong spot can throw off the whole fit. Eating tends to go more smoothly if you start with softer foods cut into small pieces, then work back up to your usual diet as your confidence builds. Speech can sound a little different for a week or two while your tongue relearns where to rest — reading aloud at home for a few minutes a day is a simple way to speed that along. A few habits help during this stretch:
- Rinse your denture after meals to clear away loose food particles.
- Brush it daily with a soft brush and a denture-specific cleaner, not regular toothpaste.
- Take it out overnight so your gums get a rest.
If soreness doesn’t ease after an adjustment visit, or a sore spot isn’t improving, contact our team so it can be looked at rather than waiting it out. Most people settle into a comfortable rhythm within a matter of weeks, though everyone’s timeline looks a little different.
Costs and coverage
Cost depends on the type of denture, the materials involved, and whether preparation such as extractions is needed first, so it varies from person to person rather than following one set figure. Rather than guessing, our team puts together a written estimate specific to your mouth before any treatment begins, so you know what to expect before committing to anything. For a general sense of how those factors affect price, our denture cost guide is a useful starting point. Many patients are also eligible for support through the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan, and we direct-bill CDCP for eligible treatment, which simplifies the paperwork on your end. Your free consultation is also a good time to ask what your own coverage looks like and how it applies to your estimate.
Every mouth is different, so timelines vary from one person to the next — but the pattern above holds for nearly everyone who comes through our doors, and our denturists are there to guide you at each stage along the way.
Reviewed by our licensed denturists · Updated July 2026