The main types, and what each is for
The names are used loosely in everyday conversation. These distinctions change the treatment, the cost and the timeline.
- Complete denture
- A complete denture replaces all the teeth in one jaw. An upper denture gains genuine suction from the palate. A lower denture is a horseshoe shape that has to work around the tongue, which makes it the harder of the two to keep stable.
- Partial denture
- A partial denture fills the gaps while the remaining teeth stay in place. A cast metal framework is thinner and stronger than an all-acrylic one and loads the teeth through small rests rather than through the gum. Clasps hold it in, and the visibility of those clasps is the compromise.
- Immediate or conventional
- An immediate denture is fitted the day the last teeth are removed, so you are not left without teeth, though it is made before the shape of the healed gum can be known and it needs frequent adjustment. A conventional denture is made months later and fits the healed ridge.
- Implant-retained overdenture
- A complete denture that attaches to two or more implants. It still rests partly on the gum, and it is held down firmly, which is the usual solution for a lower denture that moves.
How a denture is made
A denture is made over several appointments, each one recording something the next stage needs.
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Impressions and bite records
A final impression in a custom tray records the ridge and the way the cheeks, lips and tongue move around it, which accounts for much of what holds a denture in place. Wax rims then record the jaw relationship and the lip support, which together determine how the face is supported.
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Wax try-in
The teeth are set in wax and tried in, so that you can approve the shade, the shape and how much shows when you smile before anything is finalized.
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Fitting and adjustments
The bite is checked and any pressure points are relieved. Adjustment visits over the following weeks are a normal part of the process and are planned for from the start, and an immediate denture usually needs more of them.
What the first few weeks are like
A new denture feels large at first, because the tongue and cheeks have to learn where it is. The unfamiliar feeling usually fades over the first few weeks, and most things feel settled after a couple of months. Sounds made with the tongue against the palate are affected first, so s and f and th can be awkward for a week or two, and reading aloud for a few minutes a day helps. Saliva often increases at the start and then settles down.
Sore spots should be brought in rather than tolerated. A new denture often rubs somewhere at first, and a rubbed area can become an ulcer within a day or two. Usually all that is needed is a small adjustment, which takes a few minutes in the chair. Adjusting a denture at home changes the fitting surface in ways that often cannot be corrected, so leave adjustments to the office. Eating takes the longest to return to normal: soft food cut small, food on both sides at once so that the denture is not tipped, and cutting rather than biting with the front teeth.
A conventional lower denture compared with an implant-retained overdenture
This comparison concerns the lower jaw, where a conventional denture is hardest to keep stable.
| Consideration | Conventional lower denture | Overdenture on two or more implants |
|---|---|---|
| What holds it in | Gravity, the shape of the ridge and muscle control. Adhesive can help, though it does not change the fit. | Attachments that connect to the implants, so it is held down mechanically. |
| Eating and talking | It can lift or shift on a flat ridge, which narrows the foods you are willing to attempt. | It stays seated, so a wider range of foods becomes realistic again. |
| Surgery, time and cost | No surgery, weeks from start to finish, lower cost, then relines as the ridge resorbs. | Implant treatment plus months of healing, higher cost, and attachment inserts that wear and are replaced as routine maintenance. |
Daily care, relines and repairs
Dentures collect plaque and stain much as teeth do, and the tissue underneath needs as much attention as the appliance itself.
- Brush it daily over a folded towel or a basin of water, using a denture brush and mild soap or a denture cleaner. Toothpaste is abrasive and leaves scratches that hold stain. Dropped onto a hard floor, a denture can crack.
- Take it out overnight and soak it in water or a cleaning solution. Tissue that is covered around the clock tends to become inflamed, and denture stomatitis can be more common in people who sleep in their dentures. Hot water warps acrylic and bleach corrodes clasps.
- Expect relines, and bring repairs to the office. The ridge resorbs over time, so a denture that fitted well stops matching the shape it rests on, and a reline adds material to the fitting surface. Needing more adhesive than before is usually a sign that the fit has changed. Household glues are not safe to use on a denture and they ruin the fracture surface, so bring a broken denture in as it is.
Continue regular visits even with no natural teeth, because ridges change and an oral cancer screening is part of a routine dental examination. See preventive dentistry or contact the office.
Denture questions
How long does it take to get used to dentures?
The unfamiliar feeling usually fades over the first few weeks, and most things feel settled after a couple of months, with eating the last function to return to normal. A first denture generally takes longer to adjust to than a replacement.
Will people be able to tell?
A well made denture, with teeth chosen to suit your face, is not obvious. The visible element on a partial is a clasp, and clasps can often be positioned behind the smile line. Precision attachments avoid visible clasps at a higher cost.
My lower denture will not stay in. Is that normal?
This is a common problem, and it is largely a matter of anatomy. A lower ridge that has resorbed offers little for a denture to hold on to. A reline helps when the fit has drifted, and where the ridge is flat, two implants with attachments are the usual solution.
What do dentures cost, and how often are they replaced?
It depends on whether the denture is complete or partial, on whether a metal framework is used, and on whether extractions or implants are involved. We will review the fee with you before treatment begins. Replacement after several years is normal. See insurance.