Dentures guide

What dentures are and the main types

Cleveland Clinic describes dentures as removable oral appliances that replace missing teeth, with an average lifespan of seven to 10 years with proper care. It lists types.

• Full: replaces an entire arch and rests on the gums.
• Partial: replaces several or most teeth in one or both jaws, with clasps that hook onto remaining natural teeth for stability.
• Immediate: worn right after tooth extractions, sometimes temporarily until healing is complete.
• Implant-retained: removable dentures that snap onto dental implants.
• Implant-supported: non-removable, also called permanent or hybrid dentures, which only a dentist can take out.

What do partial dentures look like?

ADA MouthHealthy describes partial dentures as removable replacement teeth set on plastic bases that are pink or gum-colored. Some have a metal framework, while others use connectors that look more natural. Clasps are metal pieces that grip your natural teeth, and precision attachments connect the denture to natural teeth and are generally more esthetic than clasps, often requiring crowns. Cleveland Clinic describes artificial teeth on a gum-colored base with metal or similar clasps.

How do dentures stay in?

Cleveland Clinic says full and partial dentures rely on gums and bone, full dentures may need denture adhesive, and implant-retained dentures snap onto implants and need no glue. Partial dentures stay in using clasps or attachments that connect to natural teeth. The sources we read do not describe suction in detail. A single-tooth denture is a partial denture, and the sources do not describe how a single-tooth version stays in, so ask your dentist what is planned.

Are dentures uncomfortable?

At first, often. Cleveland Clinic says getting used to dentures can take weeks or months, that several adjustments in the first couple of weeks are common, and that fitting usually takes multiple office visits because the mouth's soft tissues need time to adapt. It says dentures that hurt or pinch the gums warrant a dental appointment, and that dentists check fittings for areas of excess pressure and adjust them. Healthline says mouth sores may mean the dentures no longer fit well.

How to care for dentures

Cleveland Clinic says to remove dentures daily and take them out for at least eight hours, clean them with a denture brush and paste, soak them overnight in denture solution, and brush gums, tongue, cheeks, palate and any remaining teeth twice daily. Healthline says to brush at least once a day with a soft brush, skip toothpaste on the denture because it can scratch, use denture cleanser or mild soap, soak overnight in lukewarm water or solution and keep them moist, avoid hot water and not sleep in them. ADA MouthHealthy's partial denture advice is similar, with the addition of using a denture cleaner with the ADA Seal and cleaning over a towel or water in case it is dropped.

Adhesive and fit

Healthline says to use the amount of adhesive the manufacturer recommends and to remove leftover adhesive every night with a soft brush, mild soap and water. ADA MouthHealthy says aging can change your gums and bone, affecting fit, and to have your dentist adjust a loose or poorly fitting denture promptly, since poor fit can cause sores or infections, and not to use do-it-yourself kits or over-the-counter glues. Cleveland Clinic says a reline every one to two years, or whenever the fit changes, adds material for a better fit.

What dentist does dentures?

Cleveland Clinic says a dentist takes impressions and checks the fit, and a dental laboratory technician fabricates the denture from a stone model. The page does not mention prosthodontists, the specialists in replacing teeth, so ask your dentist whether they make dentures themselves or refer. The sources we read do not cover specific dental chains or brands, including whether a particular provider offers dentures.

When to replace dentures

Cleveland Clinic says to consider replacement if dentures feel loose, hurt the gums, click when speaking, are damaged or discolored, or are more than 10 years old. Healthline suggests checkups about every six months. Our dentures cost guide explains what a quote includes.

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