Dentures for missing teeth

Dentures are removable dental appliances used to replace one, several or all missing teeth. They can restore the appearance of a smile and improve everyday functions such as eating and speaking, particularly when several teeth have been lost.

Modern dentures can be made from acrylic, metal frameworks, flexible materials or combinations of these materials. Some dentures are supported entirely by the gums and remaining teeth, while others can be retained by dental implants for additional stability.

Dentures are not automatically the best solution for every missing tooth. Depending on your teeth, gums, bone, budget and long-term priorities, alternatives may include a dental bridge, dental implants or, in selected cases, accepting or orthodontically closing a gap.

What Are Dentures?

Dentures, sometimes called false teeth, are custom-made removable prostheses designed to replace missing teeth and the surrounding lost tissues.

They generally fall into two broad categories:

• Complete dentures: replace all teeth in the upper jaw, lower jaw or both
• Partial dentures: replace one or more missing teeth while some natural teeth remain

A denture should be designed around your remaining teeth, gums, bite and the amount of available supporting tissue rather than simply filling the visible gaps.

What Are Complete Dentures?

A complete denture replaces all natural teeth within one dental arch.

An upper complete denture normally gains support from the gum and palate, while a lower complete denture rests on the lower ridge and is influenced considerably by movements of the tongue, cheeks and floor of the mouth.

Lower complete dentures are often more challenging to stabilise than upper dentures because there is less surface area available for support and no palate to help create retention.

If a lower denture remains difficult to stabilise, an implant-retained overdenture may provide a significant improvement for selected patients.

What Are Partial Dentures?

A partial denture replaces one or more missing teeth while retaining the patient’s remaining natural teeth.

Depending on the design, the appliance may gain support and retention from both the gums and selected natural teeth.

Partial dentures can be made from different materials, including:

• Acrylic
• Cobalt-chrome frameworks
• Flexible thermoplastic materials such as Valplast
• Combinations of rigid and aesthetic components

The most appropriate design depends on the number and location of missing teeth, periodontal health, bite and long-term treatment plan.

What Are Acrylic Dentures?

Acrylic dentures use a rigid plastic denture base supporting the replacement teeth.

They are widely used for complete dentures and can also be used for partial dentures.

Advantages include relatively straightforward laboratory manufacture and the ability to repair, add teeth or reline the denture more easily than some alternative materials.

However, acrylic partial dentures can be bulkier than metal-framework designs, particularly when a larger area of material is required for strength and support.

Acrylic dentures are particularly useful as temporary or transitional appliances after tooth extraction because they can often be modified as the mouth changes during healing.

What Are Chrome Dentures?

A cobalt-chrome partial denture uses a thin rigid metal framework to support the replacement teeth.

The framework can gain support from selected natural teeth as well as the gums. Because metal is stronger than acrylic at a smaller thickness, appropriately designed chrome dentures can often be less bulky.

They may also distribute chewing forces more effectively than a simple gum-supported acrylic partial denture.

Not every patient is suitable for a chrome denture. The remaining teeth need to be healthy enough to provide appropriate support, and more detailed planning and laboratory work are required.

What Are Flexible Dentures?

Flexible dentures use a thermoplastic material such as nylon rather than conventional rigid acrylic.

Products such as Valplast can use thin gum-coloured flexible extensions around natural teeth instead of visible metal clasps, which can provide an aesthetic advantage in selected cases.

However, flexible dentures are not automatically superior. They can be more difficult to adjust, repair and reline and may provide less rigidity than a well-designed metal framework.

Read our detailed guide to Valplast single-tooth dentures if you are considering a flexible removable appliance.

What Are Implant-Retained Dentures?

An implant-retained overdenture is a removable denture that attaches to dental implants placed in the jaw.

The implants provide additional retention, meaning the denture is less dependent on the shape of the gums alone to stay in place.

This can be particularly beneficial for patients who struggle with an unstable lower complete denture.

Systematic reviews comparing conventional lower dentures with implant-retained overdentures generally report improvements in:

• Overall patient satisfaction
• Denture stability
• Comfort
• Chewing ability
• Oral-health-related quality of life

However, implants involve surgery, additional cost and ongoing maintenance, and not every patient has sufficient bone or medical suitability without additional treatment.

Glow Dental provides dental implant treatment in Battersea, including implant solutions for patients replacing multiple missing teeth.

Are Implant-Retained Dentures Fixed?

Not necessarily.

An implant-retained overdenture normally remains removable by the patient for cleaning, despite attaching securely to implants during the day.

Another option is a fixed full-arch implant restoration, which is attached to implants and is not removed by the patient in the same way as a conventional denture.

These are different treatments with different costs, maintenance requirements and implant needs.

What Are Immediate Dentures?

An immediate denture is made before teeth are extracted and fitted on or shortly after the day of extraction.

The main advantage is that you do not have to spend the initial healing period without replacement teeth.

However, gums and jawbone change considerably after teeth are removed. An immediate denture can therefore become loose as healing progresses and may require adjustments, relining or eventual replacement.

If you are considering removal of several teeth, Glow Dental can discuss the timing of replacement during your treatment planning. You can also read our guide to tooth extraction and associated costs.

What Are the Benefits of Dentures?

Replacing Several Missing Teeth

Dentures can replace multiple teeth within one appliance, which can make them particularly useful when many teeth are missing.

Improved Appearance

Missing front teeth can have a significant effect on appearance. Replacement teeth can restore visible dental contours and provide additional support to the lips and cheeks where tissues have been lost.

However, it is too strong to claim that dentures completely “prevent facial collapse”. Bone and soft tissues continue changing after tooth loss even when conventional dentures are worn.

Improved Chewing

Dentures can improve chewing compared with having multiple missing teeth, but they do not reproduce the chewing efficiency of healthy natural teeth.

Patients with conventional complete dentures often need to adapt how they bite and chew, particularly with a lower denture.

Implant-retained lower dentures can provide improved chewing performance and stability for suitable patients.

Improved Speech

Replacing missing teeth can help restore some sounds that depend on the relationship between the tongue, lips and teeth.

A new denture can itself temporarily affect speech while the tongue adapts to the appliance, particularly when an upper denture covers part of the palate.

Non-Surgical Tooth Replacement

A conventional denture normally does not require implant surgery and can therefore provide a tooth-replacement option for patients who cannot or do not want to undergo implant placement.

Replacing Multiple Teeth at a Lower Initial Cost

Where several teeth are missing, a removable denture will often have a lower initial cost than replacing each area with extensive fixed bridgework or implants.

However, dentures still require maintenance and may need relining, repair or replacement as the mouth changes.

What Are the Disadvantages of Dentures?

Dentures can work very well, but they have limitations.

Possible disadvantages include:

• They are removable rather than behaving exactly like natural teeth
• It takes time to adapt to eating and speaking
• Lower complete dentures can sometimes lack stability
• Food can collect underneath the appliance
• The gums and jawbone change over time, affecting fit
• Partial dentures can increase plaque-retentive areas around natural teeth
• They require daily removal and cleaning
• Repairs, relines or replacement may eventually be necessary

A denture should therefore be presented as one tooth-replacement option rather than as a permanent substitute that behaves identically to natural teeth.

Can Partial Dentures Damage Your Remaining Teeth?

A well-designed and properly maintained partial denture does not inevitably damage the remaining teeth.

Recent long-term research has found high survival rates for conventional cast-clasp removable partial dentures with relatively limited overall periodontal deterioration.

However, teeth supporting or contacting partial dentures can be more vulnerable to plaque accumulation and dental caries, particularly when oral hygiene is inadequate.

This is why partial-denture patients need careful cleaning around clasps, supporting teeth and the gumline.

Regular dental examinations and appropriate hygiene care help monitor the remaining natural teeth.

Can You Have Dentures if You Have Gum Disease?

It depends on the severity and stability of the periodontal condition.

Active periodontitis should normally be treated and stabilised before remaining teeth are relied upon to support a definitive partial denture.

A denture fitted around teeth with uncontrolled periodontal disease may become unsuitable if those teeth subsequently move or are lost.

Glow Dental can coordinate denture planning with specialist periodontal care where required.

How Are Dentures Made?

Producing a good denture normally takes several appointments because the dentist and laboratory need to reproduce the shape of your mouth, establish an appropriate bite and position the replacement teeth.

1. Examination and Treatment Planning

The dentist assesses your remaining teeth, gums, supporting bone and bite and discusses whether a denture is the most appropriate option.

2. Impressions or Digital Records

Records of the mouth are taken so the dental laboratory can create accurate models.

3. Bite Registration

The relationship between the upper and lower jaws is recorded, particularly when many or all teeth are being replaced.

4. Trial Denture

For many complete and larger partial dentures, the replacement teeth are initially positioned in wax so that appearance, bite and tooth position can be reviewed before the final appliance is made.

5. Final Denture

The laboratory manufactures the completed denture in the selected materials.

6. Fitting and Adjustment

The dentist checks the fit, retention, bite and comfort. Follow-up adjustments are common as you adapt to wearing the new appliance.

How Long Does It Take to Get Used to Dentures?

New dentures often feel unfamiliar at first.

During the adaptation period you may notice:

• Increased saliva
• A feeling of fullness in the mouth
• Temporary speech changes
• Difficulty chewing particular foods
• Minor pressure spots
• Greater awareness of the tongue or cheeks

These problems often improve as oral muscles and speech patterns adapt.

Persistent pain, repeated ulcers, gagging or substantial denture movement should be reviewed rather than simply tolerated.

Can You Eat Normally With Dentures?

Dentures can significantly improve eating compared with having extensive tooth loss, but it takes practice to become comfortable with them.

When a new denture is fitted, start with manageable foods cut into smaller pieces and gradually increase the range and texture of foods as you adapt.

Chewing on both sides simultaneously can help stabilise a complete denture.

If your denture continually lifts or moves during ordinary meals, arrange a review because the fit or bite may need adjustment.

Can Dentures Affect Your Speech?

Yes, temporarily.

The tongue must adapt to the shape and thickness of a new appliance, particularly with an upper denture that covers part of the palate.

Reading aloud and normal conversation can help adaptation. Persistent clicking or significant speech difficulty may indicate that the appliance needs reviewing.

Should You Sleep With Dentures In?

Dentures should generally be removed overnight unless your dentist has specifically told you otherwise.

Continuous overnight denture wear is associated with problems including denture-related inflammation and fungal overgrowth.

Removing the appliance overnight gives the tissues a period without continuous denture coverage and allows both your mouth and denture to be thoroughly cleaned.

How Should You Clean Dentures?

Dentures need daily cleaning because plaque, food debris and microorganisms accumulate on them just as they do on natural teeth.

NHS advice includes:

• Remove and clean your dentures every morning and evening
• Brush them gently with soft soap or washing-up liquid
• Avoid ordinary toothpaste because it can be abrasive to denture materials
• Rinse dentures with cool water after meals
• Clean them over a sink filled with water or over a towel to reduce the chance of fracture if dropped
• Store them appropriately overnight according to the material and your dentist’s instructions

Continue brushing your gums, tongue and any remaining natural teeth with fluoride toothpaste separately.

Should Dentures Be Kept in Water Overnight?

Many acrylic dentures should be kept moist when they are not being worn because allowing the material to dry excessively can affect it.

NHS guidance suggests water, an appropriate denture bath or suitable overnight cleaning solution depending on the appliance.

Different denture materials have different care requirements, so follow the instructions supplied for your specific denture.

Can You Clean Dentures With Toothpaste?

Ordinary toothpaste is generally not recommended for cleaning dentures because many toothpastes contain abrasive particles that can scratch the denture surface.

Microscopic roughness can make staining and microbial accumulation easier.

Use an appropriate denture brush and cleaner rather than treating a denture exactly like a natural tooth.

Can Denture Adhesive Fix a Loose Denture?

Denture adhesive can improve retention for some appropriately fitting dentures, but it should not be used to compensate indefinitely for an appliance that has become significantly loose.

If increasing amounts of adhesive are required, the gums or underlying ridge may have changed and the denture may need adjustment, relining or replacement.

See a dentist if your denture begins slipping, clicking, rocking or causing repeated sore areas.

Why Do Dentures Become Loose?

The gums and jawbone continue changing after teeth are lost.

Because a conventional denture rests on these tissues, changes in the underlying ridge can gradually reduce its fit and retention.

Weight changes, ageing, tooth loss and changes to remaining teeth can also alter the way a partial denture fits.

This does not necessarily mean the denture was originally made incorrectly—it is one reason dentures need ongoing review.

Do Dentures Stop Jawbone Loss?

Conventional removable dentures do not stop the biological remodelling of the jawbone that follows tooth loss.

The jaw ridge can gradually reduce in volume over time even when a denture is worn.

Dental implants transfer functional loading into the surrounding bone and can help preserve bone locally around the implant sites, but even implant treatment should not be described as completely preventing every age-related or post-extraction change in jawbone.

How Long Do Dentures Last?

There is no fixed lifespan.

A denture may continue functioning for several years, but the mouth changes over time and the appliance itself can wear.

Factors affecting lifespan include:

• Changes in the gums and jawbone
• Wear of the denture teeth
• Fracture or damage
• Loss of additional natural teeth
• Changes in the bite
• Changes in facial tissues
• How the appliance is cleaned and maintained

NHS guidance recommends continuing regular dental reviews because dentures can gradually become loose, worn or damaged.

What Is a Denture Reline?

A reline modifies the tissue-fitting surface of a denture to improve its adaptation to gums that have changed since the appliance was originally made.

A reline may be useful when the denture teeth and overall design remain satisfactory but the fit against the gums has deteriorated.

A severely worn, damaged or badly positioned denture may instead need replacing.

Can Broken Dentures Be Repaired?

Many acrylic dentures can be repaired by a dental laboratory, depending on the type and extent of the damage.

Do not attempt to repair a broken denture with household glue. Some adhesives are unsuitable for oral use and can make professional repair more difficult.

Bring all broken pieces to your dentist so the appliance can be assessed.

Dentures vs Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is fixed in the mouth rather than removed daily.

Bridges are particularly useful for replacing smaller numbers of missing teeth where the surrounding teeth and bite make fixed treatment suitable.

Depending on the bridge design, neighbouring teeth may need preparation. Resin-bonded bridges can sometimes replace a missing tooth with much less tooth preparation.

A denture may be more practical when several teeth are missing in different parts of the mouth or where fixed bridgework would be unsuitable.

Dentures vs Dental Implants

Dental implants are artificial replacements for tooth roots placed into the jawbone. They can support individual crowns, bridges or dentures.

Compared with conventional removable dentures, implant-supported restorations can provide greater stability and chewing function in suitable patients.

Implants require surgery, adequate healthy bone, appropriate oral hygiene and a greater financial investment.

Glow Dental currently lists a single dental implant including its crown from £3,450. More extensive implant treatment requires an individual treatment plan.

Which Is Better: Dentures or Implants?

There is no universally better option.

A conventional denture may be preferable if:

• You want a non-surgical solution
• Several teeth need replacing economically
• Medical or anatomical factors make implants inappropriate
• You need a transitional appliance while healing

Implant treatment may be more attractive if:

• You want a fixed replacement where possible
• A conventional lower denture is unstable
• You want greater retention and chewing efficiency
• You have sufficient bone or are suitable for grafting
• You accept the surgical treatment and higher cost involved

A consultation allows these options to be compared according to your priorities rather than assuming one solution is best for everybody.

Do All Missing Teeth Need to Be Replaced?

Not necessarily.

Whether a gap needs replacement depends on which tooth is missing, its effect on appearance and function, the position of neighbouring teeth and your overall bite.

In selected situations, accepting a gap may be reasonable. In others, replacement may improve appearance or function or form part of a wider restorative plan.

A dental examination allows the advantages and disadvantages of replacement to be discussed before treatment begins.

How Much Do Dentures Cost?

Private denture fees vary considerably according to:

• Whether the denture is complete or partial
• The number of teeth being replaced
• The material used
• Whether a metal framework is required
• Laboratory complexity
• Whether teeth need extracting first
• Whether implants are being used for retention

Glow Dental does not currently publish a single fixed private denture price on its online fee guide, so the practice can provide an individual quotation after examining your mouth and discussing the proposed design.

For NHS dental care in England, clinically necessary dentures are currently included within Band 3 treatment, which is £332.10 as of September 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dentures

Are dentures comfortable?

Well-designed dentures can be comfortable once you have adapted to them, but comfort varies. New dentures often feel unfamiliar initially, and pressure areas may occasionally need adjustment.

Do dentures look natural?

Modern denture teeth are available in different shapes, sizes and shades, and the gum-coloured base can also be customised. A well-planned denture can look very natural, although results depend on the individual anatomy and design.

Can dentures fall out while talking?

A well-fitting denture should normally remain sufficiently stable during speech. If it repeatedly slips, clicks or moves, arrange an assessment.

Can you eat steak with dentures?

Many experienced denture wearers can eat a broad diet, but very tough foods may remain more challenging than with natural teeth or a stable implant-supported restoration. Cutting food into smaller pieces and chewing evenly can help.

Do dentures change your face?

Replacing missing teeth can restore some dental and lip support and therefore alter facial appearance positively. Conventional dentures do not, however, completely prevent the underlying gum and jawbone from changing after tooth loss.

Should dentures be removed every night?

Generally, yes. NHS guidance recommends removing dentures at night unless your dentist specifically tells you otherwise.

Can you brush dentures with toothpaste?

Ordinary toothpaste is generally too abrasive for denture materials. NHS guidance recommends cleaning removable dentures with a suitable brush and soft soap or washing-up liquid.

Can dentures cause bad breath?

Plaque and food debris can accumulate on poorly cleaned dentures and contribute to unpleasant odour. The tongue, gums and any remaining teeth also need daily cleaning.

Why does my denture hurt?

Pressure areas, changes in fit, a damaged appliance, oral infection or another dental problem can cause soreness. Persistent discomfort should be assessed rather than relying indefinitely on denture adhesive.

Can I get implants if I already wear dentures?

Possibly. Existing denture wear does not automatically prevent implant treatment. The dentist needs to assess the available bone, general health, gum health and proposed restoration.

Dentures at Glow Dental

Glow Dental provides dentures in Battersea for patients who need to replace some or all missing teeth.

Treatment begins with assessment of your remaining teeth, gums, bite and treatment goals so that the advantages of different denture designs can be compared.

Where a removable denture is not the preferred solution, Glow Dental also provides dental bridges and dental implants. Patients with gum disease can access specialist periodontal care before definitive tooth replacement where necessary.

Patients wearing partial dentures can also benefit from appropriate dental hygiene care to help protect the remaining natural teeth and gums.

If you are nervous about dental treatment, find out more about Glow Dental’s approach to nervous patients. New patients can learn more about joining Glow Dental, view our current dental fees or contact the practice to arrange an assessment.

Conclusion: Are Dentures a Good Way to Replace Missing Teeth?

Dentures remain an established and useful way to replace missing teeth, particularly when several teeth need replacing or a removable, non-surgical option is preferred. Complete dentures can restore an entire dental arch, while partial dentures can replace selected missing teeth using acrylic, metal or flexible designs.

Dentures can improve appearance, speech and eating, but they do not behave exactly like natural teeth and require an adaptation period, daily cleaning and long-term maintenance. Conventional dentures can also become looser as the gums and jawbone change over time.

For patients struggling with an unstable complete denture—particularly in the lower jaw—implant retention can provide considerably greater stability and patient satisfaction. A dental assessment at Glow Dental can help you compare conventional dentures with bridges, dental implants and other appropriate tooth-replacement options.