All About Dentures For Your Smile
Teeth Help Us Eat and Smile
Did you know? 69% of adults lose at least one tooth by age 44. Dentures help fix this. They help you eat, talk, and smile again.
Dentures are fake teeth. They replace teeth you lost. Some dentures come out. Some stay in.
In this big guide, we will learn about:
- What dentures are
- The kinds of dentures
- How much they cost
- How to pick the best ones for you
Table of Contents
Types of Dentures You Can Get
Complete Dentures
Complete dentures replace all your teeth. They can go on top, bottom, or both.
- Good things about them:
- Not too costly
- No need for surgery
- Look like real teeth
- Not so good things:
- Need sticky stuff to stay in
- Might feel big in your mouth
- Can make your jaw bone get smaller over time
Best for: People who lost all their teeth
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures only replace some teeth. They clip to teeth you still have.
Types of partial dentures:
- Acrylic (plastic) partials – These are also called “flippers”
- Metal frame partials – These are stronger
- Good things about them:
- Keep your other teeth safe
- You can take them out
- Cost less than some other choices
- Not so good things:
- Metal clips may show when you smile
- Might hurt other teeth if not made right
Partials last 3-5 years if made of plastic, or 5-8+ years if made with metal.
Implant-Supported Dentures
Implant-supported dentures are held by metal posts in your jaw bone.
- Types:
- Fixed – Only a dentist can take out
- Snap-in – You can take out at home
- All-on-4® – Uses just 4 posts for a full row of teeth
- Good things about them:
- Stay in place when you eat and talk
- Feel more like real teeth
- Keep your jaw bone strong
- Not so good things:
- Cost more money
- Need surgery
- Take longer to get
Cost: $3,500–$30,000 for one row of teeth
Learn more about implant dentures here
Flexible Dentures
Flexible dentures are made of soft, bendy stuff. They don’t have metal parts.
- Good things about them:
- Feel soft in your mouth
- Look nice with no metal showing
- Fit well to your gums
- Good for people with sensitive gums
- Not so good things:
- May not last as long (2-4 years)
- Can be hard to fix if they break
See our flexible partial dentures for front teeth
Immediate vs. Conventional Dentures
Immediate dentures go in right after your teeth come out. Conventional dentures wait until your gums heal.
- Immediate dentures:
- You never go without teeth
- Need to be fixed as gums shrink
- Cost more
- Conventional dentures:
- Fit better at first
- You have no teeth while you wait
- May need fewer fixes
Overdentures
Overdentures sit on top of some of your teeth roots or on implants.
- Good things about them:
- Keep some roots to help your jaw stay strong
- Stay in better than regular dentures
- Cost less than full implant dentures
Economy vs. Premium Dentures
| Type | What They’re Made Of | How They Look | How Long They Last | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | Basic acrylic | Less real-looking | 3-5 years | $1,000-$1,500 |
| Premium | Better acrylic or porcelain | More real-looking | 5-10+ years | $2,000-$3,000+ |
What Dentures Are Made Of
Acrylic (Plastic)
Acrylic is used for most dentures. It’s pink for the base and white for the teeth.
- Good: Not too costly, can be fixed, light
- Not so good: Can stain, might break, gets tiny holes that can grow germs
Flexible Polymers
Flexible materials like Valplast bend a little.
- Good: No metal clips, comfy, look nice
- Not so good: Hard to fix, may not last as long
Learn about Valplast flexible dentures here
How Much Do Dentures Cost?
| Denture Type | Typical Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Dentures | $1,000–$3,000 per row | All teeth in top or bottom |
| Partial Dentures | $700–$1,800 | Some teeth, with clips |
| Flexible Partials | $1,000-$2,000 | No-metal partials |
| Implant Dentures | $3,500–$30,000 | Fixed teeth on posts |
Remember: Dentures need to be replaced. Metal frameworks last 5-8+ years while acrylic dentures may only last 3-5 years.
Insurance might help pay for basic dentures but not always for the fancy ones.
How to Pick the Right Dentures
Ask yourself these big questions:
- Do I want teeth I can take out or ones that stay in?
- Removable: Easier to clean, less costly
- Fixed: Feel more like real teeth, cost more
- Is my jaw bone strong enough for implants?
- Strong bone: Good for implants
- Weak bone: Might need bone added or different dentures
- How much do I care about how they look?
- Economy: Basic look, work for eating
- Premium: Look more real, more comfy
- Cu-sil dentures are good if you still have a few teeth left.
- How long do I want them to last?
- Short-term: Basic acrylic
- Long-term: Metal frame or implants
- Do I have gum problems?
- Sore gums: Soft liners or flexible dentures
- Healthy gums: Any type works
Taking Care of Your Dentures
Daily care:
- Brush your dentures with soft brush
- Soak them at night in special cleaner
- Brush your gums, tongue, and any teeth you still have
What to avoid:
- Hot water (can warp dentures)
- Hard brushes (can scratch)
- Toothpaste (too rough)
- Trying to fix them yourself
When to see your dentist:
- If they hurt
- If they feel loose
- Every 1-3 years for rebasing
- Every 5-7 years to think about new ones
Dentures help your face muscles stay strong and keep you looking young.
Common Questions About Dentures
Can I eat normally with dentures?
Start with soft foods like eggs and fish. Work up to harder foods. Cut food into small bits. Chew on both sides of your mouth.
Avoid: Sticky candy, gum, tough meat at first.
Are denture adhesives safe?
Yes, if used right. Too much glue might mean your dentures don’t fit well anymore.
Will dentures change how I talk?
You might have a small lisp at first. Practice by reading out loud. Your tongue will learn where to go.
How long before dentures feel normal?
2-4 weeks for most people. Full getting used to them may take up to 3 months.
Can I sleep with dentures in?
Better not to. Your gums need rest. Also, taking them out at night helps stop infections in your mouth.
Picking Between Dentures and Implants
| What Matters | Regular Dentures | Implant Dentures |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $1,000-$3,000 | $3,500-$30,000 |
| How Long They Last | 5-7 years | 20+ years |
| Surgery Needed | No | Yes |
| Feel in Mouth | Less like real teeth | More like real teeth |
| Bone Health | Can lose bone | Keeps bone strong |
| Eating Power | 25-50% of real teeth | 80-100% of real teeth |
Health fact: Dentures help you eat better foods, which helps keep you from getting sick from poor food choices.
Final Thoughts
Dentures give back your smile and help you eat. The best ones for you depend on:
- Your mouth health
- How much you can spend
- What you want them to look and feel like
Implant dentures last longest and work best but cost most. Economy dentures work for tight money times.
Talk to a tooth doctor (dentist) who knows a lot about dentures. They can help you pick the right kind.
Learn about partial dentures for front teeth
Find out about complete dentures
Words to Know
- Alveolar ridge – Bone where teeth sit
- Acrylic dentures – Plastic fake teeth
- Denture adhesives – Sticky stuff to hold dentures
- Denture relining – Fixing the fit of dentures
- Edentulism – Having no teeth
- Immediate dentures – Dentures you get right after teeth come out
- Implant-supported dentures – Dentures held by posts in your jaw
- Overdentures – Dentures that go over tooth roots or implants
- Partial dentures – Replace some teeth, not all
- Porcelain teeth – Teeth made of hard, glass-like stuff
- Prosthodontist – Dentist who makes dentures
- Rebasing – Making a new base for old dentures
- Soft liners – Soft stuff added to dentures for comfy fit
