Dentures

When you lose teeth as a child, it’s a milestone worth celebrating. When it happens as an adult, it’s something you don’t want anyone to know. The way you eat, speak, smile, and laugh are all affected by each missing tooth. Whether you’ve lost one tooth or many, the impact on your daily life is very real. Finding a solution that restores both function and confidence is one of the most important investments you can make in your health.

At Pine Glen Dental Group in Peoria, IL, patients find more than just a tooth replacement. They find a team that understands the full picture. Dr. Lori Rice, a Loma Linda University graduate who finished at the top of her class, joined the practice in 2002 and purchased Pine Glen Dental Group in 2012. Today she leads the team alongside Dr. Jacey Thelen, D.D.S., a UMKC graduate and Peoria-area native who joined as an associate dentist in 2026. As part of our restorative dentistry services, our team works closely with you to find a denture solution that fits your lifestyle, goals, and budget.

Understanding Your Denture Options

Not everyone who needs dentures needs the same kind. Modern dentistry offers a range of options depending on how many teeth are missing, the condition of your remaining teeth and gum tissue, and the level of stability you’re looking for. Understanding these options is the starting point to making an informed decision.

Full Dentures

Full dentures, also known as complete dentures, are designed for patients who have lost all their teeth in the upper or lower arch, or both. A full denture rests directly on the gum tissue and is custom-fabricated to fit your mouth’s unique contours. They restore the appearance of a full smile and allow you to eat and speak more comfortably than you can without teeth. Conventional full dentures are placed after the gum tissue has healed following extractions, typically several weeks after removal.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are used when one or more natural teeth still remain. They attach to the existing teeth with clasps or precision attachments, filling the gaps left by missing teeth. Beyond aesthetics, partial dentures play an important functional role by helping prevent your remaining natural teeth from drifting out of position over time, which can lead to bite misalignment and additional tooth loss.

Why Tooth Replacement Matters

The consequences of leaving missing teeth unaddressed go beyond appearance. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, complete tooth loss among adults ages 65 and older remains a significant public health concern, affecting quality of life, nutritional intake, and overall health outcomes. When teeth are missing, the jawbone in that area can begin to resorb over time, causing changes to the shape of your face and making future tooth replacement more complex. Early intervention is always the better way to handle missing teeth.

At Pine Glen Dental Group, our strategy in addressing tooth loss is thoughtful and thorough. Our dentists take the time to comprehensively evaluate your oral health, using digital impressions for precise fit and digital radiography to assess bone and tissue health before recommending the next steps. This attention to detail is what separates a well-fitting denture from one that causes long-term discomfort.

Implant-Supported Options for Greater Stability

For patients who want a more permanent and stable solution, dentures can be paired with dental implants. Implant-supported dentures are anchored to implants that are surgically placed into the jawbone by a trusted oral surgeon, offering a level of stability that traditional dentures can’t provide. Once your implants have healed and integrated with the bone, our dentists handle the restorative side, designing and fitting the prosthetic that completes your new smile. Implant-supported dentures eliminate movement and slippage that some patients experience with conventional dentures and help preserve the jawbone by providing stimulation similar to how natural tooth roots behave.

Pine Glen offers restorations for both All-on-4 and All-on-6 implant solutions for patients who qualify. These full-arch restorations use either four or six strategically placed implants to support a complete set of teeth, giving patients a result that looks, feels, and functions much like natural teeth. Your surgical provider will evaluate your bone density and overall health to determine candidacy for implant placement, and our dentists will work with you to determine which restorative option is the best fit.

What the Denture Process Looks Like

Getting dentures at Pine Glen Dental Group involves a series of appointments designed to ensure a precise and comfortable outcome. The process typically includes:

• An initial comprehensive exam and X-rays to evaluate your oral health
• Impressions and measurements to capture the exact dimensions of your mouth
• A trial fitting to assess the fit, bite, and appearance before the final denture is fabricated
• Final delivery and adjustments to ensure comfort and proper function
• Follow-up appointments to address any refinements needed as your mouth settles

Each step is guided by our dentists’ meticulous approach to restorative work, and our team is available to address any questions or concerns throughout the process.

Choose Pine Glen Dental Group for Dentures in Peoria

Choosing where to receive your dental care is an incredibly personal decision, and at Pine Glen Dental Group, that trust is taken seriously. With a 4.7-star Google rating, a BBB A+ accreditation dating back to 2008, and recognition as a Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite every year from 2018 through 2024, Pine Glen has built a reputation on doing things right, not fast. Dr. Lori Rice and Dr. Jacey Thelen bring the precision and patience that complex restorative work demands, and our team prioritizes providing individualized care over volume.

Whether you’re exploring dentures for the first time or looking for a more stable implant-supported alternative, Pine Glen Dental Group is here to help you feel confident about your choice. Schedule your appointment today and discover the difference that personalized, fee-for-service dental care makes.