Dentures (complete and partial)

What it is

A complete denture is a full set of teeth on a gum-colored base. An upper denture covers the roof of your mouth and is held mostly by suction. A lower denture rests on the ridge of your gums and tends to move more, because your tongue and cheeks press against it.

A partial denture replaces some teeth. It has a base, often with a thin metal frame, and small clasps that hold onto your natural teeth.

Who it helps

Complete dentures are for people who have lost all their teeth in one jaw, or whose remaining teeth can’t be saved. Partial dentures suit people who are missing some teeth but still have healthy ones to hold the partial in place. They can also make sense when implants or bridges don’t suit your health or budget.

If the dentures you have now are loose, cracked, or sore, a reline or repair may help, or it may be time for a new set.

What happens

Making dentures usually takes several visits over a few weeks.

1. Exam and planning. Your dentist checks your gums, any remaining teeth, and the bone that will support the denture. If teeth need to come out, you’ll talk about timing.
2. Impressions. We take molds of your gums and any remaining teeth. The putty feels cool and thick, and each tray stays in for a few minutes.
3. Bite and tooth choice. You bite on soft wax blocks so we can record how your jaws meet. Then you help choose the size, shape, and shade of your new teeth.
4. Try-in. You try on a wax model with the teeth set in place. It’s your chance to check how they look, feel, and sound while changes are still easy.
5. Fitting. Your dentist places the finished denture, checks for pressure spots, and shows you how to put it in, take it out, and clean it.
6. Adjustments. Most people need a few short visits in the first weeks to ease spots that rub. That’s a normal part of getting dentures, not a sign something went wrong.

If teeth are being removed, an immediate denture, made in advance, can often go in the same day, so you’re not without teeth while you heal. It will need adjustments as your gums shrink, and usually a reline a few months later.

Recovery and aftercare

New dentures take practice. At first they may feel bulky, and you may have extra saliva, sore spots, or trouble with some words. Most people adjust within a few weeks.

Start with soft foods cut into small pieces, and chew on both sides at once to keep the denture steady. Reading aloud helps your tongue and lips learn to work around it.

Brush the denture daily with a soft brush and a denture cleaner, not toothpaste, which can scratch it. When it’s out, keep it in water or a soaking solution so it doesn’t dry out. Brush your gums, tongue, and any natural teeth too.

Cost and insurance

The cost depends on whether you need a complete or partial denture, the materials, and whether teeth need to come out first. An immediate denture can add to the total.

Many dental plans cover part of the cost of dentures as major care, and most limit how often they’ll pay for a new set. Original Medicare doesn’t cover dentures, but some Medicare Advantage plans include dental benefits. Check your plan, and see insurance and financing for other ways to pay.

Alternatives

• Implant-supported dentures. A denture that snaps onto a few implants moves much less, especially on the lower jaw. It costs more and needs surgery and months of healing.
• A bridge or implants. If you’re missing only a few teeth, a bridge or single implants can replace them with nothing to take out.
• Keeping the teeth you have. If some teeth can be saved, that’s often worth doing. Natural teeth help hold a partial denture in place and help preserve your jawbone.
• Going without. Some people choose not to replace missing back teeth. Chewing may be harder, and the teeth that are left take more strain.