Prosthodontics

Dentures

Dentures are removable appliances that replace some or all missing teeth, restoring the ability to chew and speak and supporting the shape of the face and lips.

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At a Glance

Several visits over a few weeks

Impressions, a bite registration, a wax try-in, and final delivery, usually spread across a few weeks. Extraction beforehand adds healing time.

No natural teeth are permanently altered

A denture rests on the gum or clips onto existing teeth with clasps or attachments, unlike a crown or bridge, which reshapes the tooth underneath.

No fixed lifespan

As the jawbone and gums reshape over the years, fit loosens, which can call for a reline or, eventually, a new denture. There's no set schedule.

Daily cleaning routine

Remove and clean with a denture-specific brush and cleanser, not regular toothpaste. Soak overnight in the solution recommended by the dentist.

What Dentures Are

Complete (full) dentures replace every tooth in an upper or lower arch. Partial dentures replace some missing teeth while the remaining natural teeth stay in place, held with metal clasps or, for a less visible option, precision attachments. Dentures tend to suit patients missing most or all of the teeth in an arch due to decay, gum disease, or past extractions; who prefer a removable option over a fixed implant-supported alternative; or who aren’t yet eligible for implants and want a functional interim or long-term solution.

Types of Denture

Complete dentures

Acrylic teeth set into a pink acrylic base shaped to resemble the gums, replacing every tooth in an arch and resting on the gum ridge.

Partial dentures

Fills the gaps while natural teeth remain, sometimes with a metal framework for extra rigidity and a thinner fit than an all-acrylic partial.

Implant-supported overdentures

Clips onto a small number of implants for significantly more stability than a conventional denture, while staying removable for cleaning — see the dental implants page.

Implant-supported fixed prostheses

A non-removable alternative permanently anchored to implants rather than resting on the gum — see prosthodontics for that option.

How Dentures Are Made

Examination and impressions

Impressions of the gums and jaw are taken to start the design process.

Bite registration

Records how the upper and lower jaws come together, so the denture teeth meet correctly.

Wax try-in

Fit, shade, and appearance are checked in wax before the final piece is processed.

Final delivery

The finished denture is fitted and adjusted, with follow-up visits to ease sore spots as the mouth adapts.

Before you decide

Not sure whether this applies to your teeth?

The only way to know is an examination. Ask a question first if you would rather understand the options before booking anything.

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When to Wait or Choose Something Else

A strong gag reflex can make adjusting to an upper full denture take longer. Significant bone loss in the jaw can make a stable, comfortable fit harder to achieve with a conventional, non-implant denture. Patients wanting a fixed, non-removable result should discuss implant-supported options instead. First-time denture wearers may need more adjustment visits early on than someone replacing an existing denture with a new one.

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