The basic process: from your mouth to the lab
False teeth are made in a dental laboratory, not in your dentist's office. The process starts with your dentist taking an impression — a mold of your gums and remaining teeth — and ends weeks later with a custom set of dentures fitted to your mouth. Between those two points, a dental technician shapes acrylic resin or porcelain into individual teeth, sets them into a base that matches your gum color, and tests the fit multiple times to make sure they work the way natural teeth do.
The whole timeline usually takes three to six weeks, though some dentists offer faster options. The speed depends on how busy the lab is, whether you need adjustments, and what type of dentures you're having made.
Key Takeaways
- Your dentist takes a mold of your gums, then sends it to a lab where a technician builds your dentures by hand.
- The teeth themselves are made from acrylic resin or porcelain and are shaped to match your bite and facial structure.
- You will have at least two or three appointments: one for the impression, one or two for fitting and adjustments, and possibly one more if changes are needed.
- The base of the denture is custom-colored to match your natural gum shade and is made from acrylic resin.
Step one: taking the impression and bite record
At your first appointment, your dentist uses a special tray and impression material — usually a thick paste or putty — to capture the exact shape of your gums, the ridge where your teeth used to be, and the roof of your mouth. This mold is the blueprint for everything that comes next. If you still have some natural teeth, the dentist may also take an impression of those to help the lab understand your bite and how your jaw closes.
Your dentist also records your bite — the way your upper and lower jaws come together. This is done by having you bite down on a soft material that hardens and shows the lab exactly how your teeth should meet. Without an accurate bite record, the dentures won't sit right and chewing will feel off-balance.
Step two: the lab creates a model and wax denture
Once the impression and bite record reach the laboratory, the technician pours a hard plaster model from the mold. This model is an exact replica of your gums and jaw ridge. The technician then builds a denture base — the pink part that sits on your gums — out of wax on top of this model. This wax denture is a temporary version that lets you and your dentist see the shape, size, and position of your future teeth before they're made permanent.
The technician also uses the bite record to set up the wax denture at the correct angle, so your jaw will close naturally when you wear the finished dentures.
Step three: your dentist checks the wax denture
At your second appointment, your dentist inserts the wax denture into your mouth to check the fit and bite. This is called the "try-in" appointment. Your dentist looks at how the denture sits on your gums, whether it covers the right amount of your mouth, and whether your bite feels balanced. You may be asked to close your teeth together, move your jaw side to side, or speak a few words so the dentist can see if anything needs to shift.
If adjustments are needed — for example, if the denture is too loose, too tight, or sits too far forward — the dentist marks the wax denture and sends it back to the lab with notes. The technician reshapes the wax base until it matches the dentist's corrections.
Step four: the lab sets the teeth and processes the denture
Once the wax denture is approved, the technician removes the wax and replaces it with acrylic resin — the hard plastic material that forms the final base. Before that happens, the technician arranges individual artificial teeth into the wax denture in the exact positions marked during the try-in. These teeth are usually made from acrylic resin or porcelain and come in many shades and shapes so the lab can match your natural tooth color and size.
The teeth are held in place with a special adhesive, and then the whole denture — teeth and all — is placed in a pressure chamber called a flask. Hot acrylic resin is poured around the teeth to lock them in place permanently. Once the resin cools and hardens, the denture is removed from the flask and the technician trims, shapes, and polishes it until it's smooth and looks natural.
Step five: final fitting and adjustments
At your third appointment, your dentist inserts the finished dentures and checks the fit one more time. The dentures should feel snug but not painful, and your bite should feel even on both sides. Your dentist uses special marking paper to show where the denture is too tight — those spots are gently ground down to relieve pressure. You may also need adjustments to how the teeth meet when you bite down.
Your dentist will show you how to insert and remove the dentures, how to clean them, and what to expect as your mouth adjusts to wearing them. Some soreness and adjustment is normal for the first week or two. If problems come up after you go home, call your dentist — many minor adjustments can be done quickly at a follow-up visit.
Materials used: acrylic resin versus porcelain
Most dentures today are made from acrylic resin, a lightweight plastic that is straightforward to adjust, affordable, and looks natural. Acrylic teeth can be stained by coffee, tea, and tobacco, and they wear down slightly over time, but they are durable and can be repaired if they crack or chip.
Porcelain teeth are harder and more stain-resistant than acrylic, and they look very lifelike. However, porcelain is brittle and can break if you drop your dentures or bite down on something hard. Porcelain dentures also cost more and are harder to adjust or repair. Most people choose acrylic for everyday wear and reserve porcelain for special occasions or if staining is a major concern.
The base of the denture — the part that sits on your gums — is almost always acrylic resin. The technician colors it to match your natural gum shade so the denture looks like it's growing out of your mouth.
How long the whole process takes
From your first appointment to wearing your finished dentures usually takes three to six weeks. The timeline breaks down roughly like this: impression and bite record (first visit), lab work on the wax denture (one to two weeks), try-in appointment (second visit), lab processing the final denture (one to two weeks), and final fitting (third visit). If the lab is busy or if you need extra adjustments, it may take longer.
Some dental offices offer "same-day dentures" or "when ready dentures," which are made before your teeth are removed and inserted the same day. These are convenient but usually need more adjustments over the following weeks because your gums change shape as they heal. Standard dentures, made after your teeth are already gone, tend to fit better from the start because the gum shape is stable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the lab make dentures that look exactly like my natural teeth?
The lab can match your tooth shade, size, and shape if you bring photos of your natural teeth or describe them to your dentist. However, artificial teeth look slightly different under close inspection because they don't have the tiny lines and color variations of real teeth. From a normal distance, well-made dentures look very natural.
What happens if the dentures don't fit right when I first get them?
Minor fit problems are normal and expected. Your dentist can adjust the dentures at a follow-up visit by grinding down tight spots or reshaping the base. Major problems — like a denture that rocks side to side or a bite that feels very uneven — may mean the lab needs to remake parts of the denture, which takes another week or two.
Can dentures be repaired if they crack or break?
Yes. Acrylic dentures can be sent back to the lab for repair, which usually takes a few days. Your dentist may have a loaner denture you can wear while yours is being fixed. Porcelain teeth are harder to repair and may need to be replaced entirely.
Do I need to replace my dentures after a certain number of years?
Dentures typically last five to ten years before the base becomes loose or the teeth wear down noticeably. Your gums also change shape over time, so dentures may need to be relined — a process where the lab adds new material to the base to improve the fit — every few years.
How do I care for my dentures once I have them?
Rinse them after eating, brush them daily with a soft brush and denture cleaner (not toothpaste), and soak them overnight in water or denture solution. Avoid hot water, which can warp the acrylic. Handle them over a sink or soft towel so they don't break if you drop them.