How Are Dentures Made? Step by Step, From Examination to Fitting
How are dentures made? a denture starts with an examination and impressions of your gums, goes through a bite record and a try-in, and is then finished in the laboratory and fitted. At Preston Dentures the laboratory is in the same building as the clinic, at 324 High Street, Preston, and the dental prosthetist you consult with is the person who makes your denture. Here is each step and what it is for.
How are dentures made, step by step?
A conventional denture is made from an examination, impressions of your gums, a bite record, a wax try-in, processing in acrylic in the laboratory, and a final fitting. A digital denture follows the same path, but it is designed on screen and then milled or 3D-printed.
| Step | What happens | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Examination | Gums, jawbone and any remaining teeth are checked, and timing is decided | Clinic |
| Impressions | A detailed impression records the shape of your gums | Clinic |
| Bite record | Wax rims set the height of your face and the position of your jaws; shade is chosen | Clinic |
| Wax try-in | Teeth set in wax are checked for fit, bite, speech and appearance | Clinic |
| Processing | The wax is replaced with cured acrylic, then trimmed and polished | Laboratory |
| Final Fitting | Pressure spots are relieved, the bite is adjusted, and you are shown how to look after the denture | Clinic |
The steps are from a clinical overview of how removable dentures are made. Our own pricing page lists the same journey: consultation, bite and shade, wax try-in, then fitting and care with complimentary post-fitting tweaks.
How many appointments does it take to get dentures?
One clinical guide says most conventional dentures are built across four to six visits. In a 2026 trial the conventional protocol took five clinical visits and the digital workflow took three.
Our journey has four stages: consultation, bite and shade, wax try-in, then fitting and care. How many visits you need depends on your case, for example whether teeth are being removed first, and we will tell you what to expect at your free consultation.
If teeth need to be removed first, the guide notes that waiting for the extraction sites to heal can add months before impressions begin.
Why does the try-in matter?
The try-in is when you wear the denture with its teeth set in wax, so you can check the fit, bite, speech and appearance while changes are still easy. We do a try-in before any denture is finished.
The clinical overview describes the same point: this is the stage where you can ask for adjustments before the denture is made permanent.
At the try-in you wear the denture with its teeth set in wax and look in the mirror. We check how it looks, how your teeth meet and how you speak, and any change you want is made then, before the denture is finished in our own laboratory, Because the person who makes the denture is the person in the room, you can tell the maker directly what you want.
What happens in the laboratory between appointments?
Between visits, models of your mouth are made, the teeth are set in wax, and later the wax is replaced with cured acrylic that is trimmed and polished, At Preston Dentures that work happens in our own laboratory on High Street, by the dental prosthetist you see.
That is the main difference from a clinic that sends its work away: if something needs changing, the person who made the denture is in the building.
How is a digital denture made differently?
A digital denture is designed on a computer from an accurate model of your mouth, then milled from a solid block of acrylic or 3D-printed from dental resin, instead of being set in wax and processed by hand. We keep the design file, so a replacement can be made without new impressions.
Our digital dentures page goes through the steps, and a longer comparison of the two making methods is coming on this blog.
What are dentures made of?
Most full dentures have a gum-coloured acrylic base with denture teeth set into it, while flexible partials such as Valplast are made from a thermoplastic nylon. Digital dentures are milled from a block of pre-cured acrylic or printed from dental resin.
The material matters for how the denture feels and for how it can be repaired later, We choose it with you at the consultation.
Next step. Your first consultation is free, and it's the best place to ask what each step will involve for you, Book your free consultation or call (03) 9041 6443.
Key Takeaway
Conventional dentures are made from an examination, impressions, a bite record, a wax try-in, processing in acrylic and a final fitting. Digital dentures follow the same path but are designed on screen and then milled or 3D-printed. At Preston Dentures the laboratory is in the same building as the clinic, and the dental prosthetist you consult with makes your denture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Next step
Your first consultation is free, and it's the best place to ask what each step will involve for you.
324 High Street, Preston VIC 3072 · Mon–Thu 10am–5pm · Fri 10am–2pm · Sat by appointment · All visits by appointment
About the author
Dragan Flajnik is a dental prosthetist with over 20 years of experience. He makes dentures in the on-site laboratory at Preston Dentures, 324 High Street, Preston VIC 3072.
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