What are dentures?

People wear dentures to replace lost or missing teeth so they can enjoy a healthy, balanced diet, smile with confidence and to help with their speech. Dentures fit snugly over the gums and can be made of acrylic (plastic), metal or parts of both. A ‘complete’ or ‘full’ denture replaces all the lost natural teeth in the upper or lower jaw. Whilst a ‘partial’ denture replaces just one or a few missing teeth and can be secured to your existing teeth with metal clasps. Gaps created by missing teeth can cause teeth either side to drift or tilt at an angle into the gap which can give a ‘crooked’ appearance and can make cleaning more difficult. Partial dentures are able to sit into the areas where there are gaps and prevent these problems.

How dentures are fitted

Full and partial dentures can be fitted straight after your teeth have been removed, these are called ‘immediate dentures’. They require a few appointments with the dental team before the teeth are removed to take impressions and measurements, but ultimately this means that you will not have any gaps once the teeth are removed. Initially these dentures fit well, but as time goes by, the gum heals and shrinks from where the teeth used to be and you may notice that the dentures may not fit as well as they did. If this happens, your immediate denture may need relining, adjusting, or remaking after around six months when the gums have become more stable. It is also perfectly acceptable to allow the gums to heal and shrink following tooth removal, and then look at having a denture fitted once everything is more stable after six months. The dental team will be able to give advice on this. Having a denture made typically takes between four to five appointments. Over this time, we take impressions and look at how you bite together to allow your future denture to work in harmony when you chew. The appointment before the final denture fit will be a ‘try-in’ stage where we can assess the fit of the denture, and you can also assess the appearance to ensure you are happy with the shade and shape of the teeth used on the denture. These features can be adjusted before the final denture is made so we can hopefully get the result you’re hoping for!

How long will my dentures last?

If you take good care of your dentures, they should last several years. Over time, your gums and jawbone will eventually shrink meaning the dentures may feel loose. When this happens, the denture may need to be relined or a new one made. Another reason a new denture may be necessary is if the denture teeth are worn away which can happen over time. When ill-fitting or worn dentures aren’t replaced, they can become uncomfortable and lead to infections, mouth ulcers, and difficulty speaking and eating.

References and for further information:

1. Oral Health Foundation [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2023 Dec 3]. Dentures. Available from: https://www.dentalhealth.org/dentures

2. nhs.uk [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2023 Dec 3]. Dentures (false teeth). Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dentures/