Dentures

Complete denture

Made when no teeth are left in a jaw, or when the remaining teeth need to be taken out. The denture rests on the gum and the bone beneath it. An upper denture also covers the roof of the mouth. A lower denture sits on a narrower area and can move more easily.

Partial denture

Made when some teeth are missing but there are healthy teeth in the mouth as well. The denture holds on to the remaining teeth with small hooks (clasps) or with special crowns made on those teeth (telescopic crowns). So the teeth that will support it, and the gums, need to be healthy. There are also small dentures that replace a single tooth.

Denture fitted straight after extraction

If impressions are taken before the teeth are extracted, the denture can be fitted on the day of the extraction. This means you are not left without teeth. But the gum and bone change shape as they heal. So these dentures often need adjusting or replacing within about a year². Your dentist will tell you when to take this denture out and clean it for the first time. In this period, follow the aftercare instructions for the extraction.

Implant-retained denture

The denture is attached to implants placed in the jaw, with parts such as press-stud attachments or a bar, and can still be taken out. It is used mostly for lower dentures, which move about the most. According to a consensus report, for a lower denture, two implants gave better patient-reported outcomes than one. More than two implants did not improve these outcomes further³. These were outcomes reported by patients. How many implants a plan uses also depends on your jaw and the type of implant. With mini implants, a review found that fewer implants were lost when four held the denture than when two did⁴. This comparison was made across separate studies, not within one trial. Where there is little bone in the lower jaw, thinner (narrow-diameter) implants are described as an option⁵.

When another option is considered

• If you do not want to wear a removable denture. A bridge or an implant may be considered.
• If the teeth that would support it are loose or have very large fillings. These teeth need to be examined and treated first. Sometimes a different plan is more suitable.
• If you cannot have, or do not want, surgery. A conventional complete or partial denture remains an option.
• If you are happy with your upper denture and your tissues are healthy. According to an international consensus guideline, in this case no further treatment beyond regular maintenance is suggested⁶. Your dentist will still explain the long-term effects and the implant options.

• Doing nothing. If a single back tooth is missing, leaving the gap is also an option. One study followed 116 untreated back-tooth gaps with X-rays. In the first year, the average change in the gap was less than 1 millimetre⁷. Later movement was mostly slow and small. A review looked at adults who had lost back teeth (molars) but kept their front teeth and premolars. Managing without a partial denture looked promising⁸ in terms of chewing and satisfaction. Whether this suits you depends on your remaining teeth. On the other hand, tooth loss has been linked with lower oral health-related quality of life⁹. This is an association; it has not been shown to be the cause. If you leave the gap, have it monitored at your regular check-ups.
• Partial denture. No surgery is needed. With clasps, the supporting teeth usually need little or no trimming. With telescopic crowns, the supporting teeth are trimmed and crowned. Better quality of life and satisfaction among partial denture wearers have not been reported consistently in studies¹⁰. How long it lasts is covered below.
• Bridge. It is fixed and does not come out. In a conventional bridge, the teeth on either side are trimmed and crowned, and that tooth tissue does not grow back. In a review published in 2004, of every 100 conventional bridges in long-term studies, about 89 were still in the mouth after ten years¹¹. A later review, published in 2007, found that the most common problems were decay and loss of nerve vitality¹² in the teeth carrying the bridge.
• Implant. An implant is placed in the jawbone in place of the missing tooth, and a crown is made on top. This is a surgical procedure, and there is a wait while the bone heals. A review pooled 46 studies of implants carrying a single crown. Of every 100 implants, about 97 were in the mouth after five years and 95 after ten¹³. The crown on the implant is a separate part. In the same review, of every 100 crowns, about 96 were in use after five years and 89 after ten¹³. Staying in the mouth does not mean trouble-free use. A 2007 review found no study¹⁴ comparing a single implant directly with a bridge. So these rates do not show which is better for you. More detail is on the dental implants page.
• Complete denture or implant-retained denture. In a jaw with no teeth, a conventional complete denture is a less costly treatment, needs no surgery and takes less time⁶. An implant-retained denture needs surgery and more maintenance: replacing the retaining parts, relining and repairs. Randomised trials studied people with no teeth in the lower jaw. On average, a lower denture attached to implants was found more satisfactory than a conventional denture¹⁵. But the size of the benefit is uncertain. No evidence was found¹⁵ that it improves general health. The evidence on its effect on nutrition is weak and inconsistent¹⁶. For the upper jaw, the evidence is thinner and less consistent. But more recent studies suggest that an implant-retained denture can increase satisfaction in the upper jaw too⁶.
• Fixed full-arch implant teeth. All the teeth in a jaw can also be replaced with fixed teeth attached to implants. See the All-on-4 and full-mouth implants pages.

The steps below are for a conventional complete or partial denture. Your dentist will plan how many appointments are needed, and how much time passes between them, after the examination. How the appointments fit a trip is covered in "If you are coming from abroad".

For an implant-retained denture, the implants are placed first and there is a wait while the bone heals. The denture is attached to the implants afterwards. This process is described on the dental implants page.

Risks and disadvantages

• Loosening over time. After teeth are taken out, the jawbone shrinks markedly, especially in the first 3-12 months, and then continues more slowly for life¹⁷. So even a well-fitting denture can become loose over time.
• Rubbing and sores. A new or loose denture can cause sores on the gum. A denture that hurts, slips or no longer fits is a reason to see a dentist².
• Inflammation under the denture. The tissue under a denture can become inflamed (denture stomatitis). To reduce this, one guideline recommends taking the denture out at night unless your dentist advises otherwise¹⁷.
• Supporting teeth with a partial denture. The teeth a denture holds on to have been found to have a higher risk of being extracted¹⁸ over time. The risk is clearly higher in teeth whose nerve has died. On average, looseness of the remaining teeth and gum pocket depth did not change, and a measure of gum inflammation showed a slight increase¹⁸. These are associations; they do not show that the denture itself caused the extractions.
• Breakage. A denture can crack if it is dropped or as it wears over time. In a large review, 76 of 1,026 dentures on mini implants were counted as failures, 69 of them because the denture broke⁴.
• Extra risks with an implant-retained denture. The risks of implant surgery are added; these are covered on the dental implants page. The figures below are for mini implants, a thinner type than standard implants; they do not describe standard implants. A review pooled 39 studies of mini implants (less than 3 millimetres wide) holding dentures. Over an average follow-up of two to three years, about 5 in every 100 implants were lost⁴. Most of the losses happened in the first year. Results in the upper jaw are clearly worse. An analysis pooled upper-jaw studies with an average follow-up of less than two years. At the end of these studies, about 77 in every 100 implants were still in place¹⁹. Studies comparing mini and standard implants are few and short; for a lower denture, which is better in the long term is uncertain²⁰.

Benefits

• It helps with the difficulty in eating and speaking² that missing teeth cause.
• A conventional denture needs no surgery. A clasp-retained partial denture usually needs little or no reshaping of the supporting teeth.
• The denture can be taken out and cleaned outside the mouth. When it is taken out at night, the tissues of the mouth get a rest.

Eating and speaking

Getting used to a new denture takes time. In the first days the denture may feel big in your mouth, and some sounds may come out differently. Eating may feel different too. Start with soft foods and cut food into small pieces. Avoid biting hard foods with your front teeth for a while. If the denture rubs, causes a sore or moves about, do not try to fix it yourself; book an adjustment appointment.

Cleaning every day

• Clean the denture outside your mouth every day. Brush it with a soft brush and a non-abrasive denture cleaner. Soak it in a cleaning solution as the product instructions say, and rinse it well before putting it back in. In a review of 44 clinical studies, brushing combined with a chemical cleaner was found more effective than either on its own²¹.
• When cleaning the denture, fill the basin with water or put a folded towel in it. This lowers the risk of it breaking if you drop it.
• Cleaning tablets and solutions are used only while the denture is out of the mouth¹.
• Do not put the denture in hot or boiling water. Do not use household bleach or household cleaning powders. If you use a denture cleaner that contains sodium hypochlorite, do not leave the denture in it for longer than 10 minutes¹⁷. If your denture has metal parts or a soft lining, ask your dentist before using a chemical cleaner.
• Ask your dentist whether to use toothpaste when brushing your denture; mild soap or a non-abrasive denture cleaner is a safe choice.
• Clean your gums, tongue and remaining teeth every day as well. Brush your remaining teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and clean between them. With a partial denture, take particular care with the teeth the clasps hold on to.

At night

Unless your dentist advises otherwise, take the denture out at night and clean it before storing it. Cleaning it before storage reduces Candida (a yeast) settling on the denture²². Whether to store it in water or dry depends on the material. One guideline recommends storing it in water to stop it losing its shape¹⁷. A review, on the other hand, reports that storing it in water alone can increase yeast growth²². Ask your dentist which suits your denture.

Denture adhesive

Reviews of studies in people with complete dentures show that adhesive can improve how well the denture stays in place, biting and chewing²³. But the size of the benefit varies from person to person. Depending on the review, confidence in these results ranges from moderate²⁴ to very low²⁵. Almost all the studies were done with complete dentures. With a partial or implant-retained denture, ask your dentist before using adhesive.

Follow the amount and method in the product instructions; use the smallest amount that holds. For cream adhesives, one guideline recommends three or four pea-sized dots per denture¹⁷. If adhesive oozes out from the edge of the denture, too much has been used. Clean the adhesive off the denture and out of your mouth completely every day. As a precaution, the same guideline recommends avoiding adhesives that contain zinc¹⁷. Zinc-free adhesives are available. Because ingredients are not always listed²⁶, choose a product that states it is zinc-free. In people who used very large amounts of zinc-containing adhesive over a long time, copper deficiency and related nerve and blood problems have been reported²⁷. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), however, states that it found no conclusive evidence²⁶ that these problems arise when adhesive is used as directed.

The rates below are from published studies, not from our own records. They describe the denture staying in use and do not mean there were no problems during that time.

• Partial denture. A review of 46 studies looked at partial dentures. Of every 100 with cast clasps, about 95 were still in use after five years, and about 92 of every 100 with telescopic crowns¹⁸. The difference between the two types was not significant. The rates are per denture and do not predict the outcome for any one person.
• Complete denture. For conventional complete dentures, published estimates of how long they last cannot be compared directly with the partial-denture figures above. When to replace one is decided at an examination, based on its fit, its wear and the tissues of your mouth.
• Implant-retained denture. The lifespan of the implants and of the denture are measured separately; implant losses are given above, under risks. With these dentures, replacing the retaining parts, relining and repairs are needed again and again⁶. In a review of dentures on mini implants, wear and replacement of the attachment parts and relining of the denture were also common⁴.

Relining, repairs and replacement

When a denture becomes loose, new material can be added to its fitting surface so that it fits the gum again. This is called relining. A cracked denture, or a tooth that has come off, is repaired by a dentist; sometimes the denture needs replacing. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, there is no evidence²⁸ that sets how often dentures should be relined or replaced. The same organisation recommends that a denture in use for more than five years be assessed for replacement. This is not a rule to replace it every five years; the decision is made after an examination.

One guideline on complete dentures recommends that wearers have a check-up once a year¹⁷. For a partial or implant-retained denture, your dentist may set a different interval. Even if you are happy with your denture, take it with you to your check-ups. These check-ups are likely to be with a dentist where you live.

See your dentist if any of the following happens:

• The denture moves, slips, clicks or no longer fits
• The denture causes pain or sores; a sore does not heal
• The denture has cracked or broken, or a tooth has come off (do not glue it yourself)
• The gums under the denture are red or bleed; you have bad breath
• You need more and more adhesive for the same hold, you apply adhesive more than once a day, or you cannot eat without it
• A tooth that a partial denture holds on to hurts, is sensitive or is loose
• A sore does not go away even after the denture has been adjusted, or you notice a new patch or swelling in your mouth

The first four items are among the reasons to see a dentist² given in patient information on dentures. Where adhesive is concerned, one guideline recommends having the fit of the denture assessed¹⁷, and a professional body recommends assessing whether the denture needs replacing²⁸.

If you get numbness or tingling in your hands or feet while using adhesive, stop using the adhesive and see a doctor²⁶.

Emergencies. In these cases, do not wait for a dental appointment or for the clinic's reply. Go to an emergency department wherever you are if:

• You think you have swallowed or breathed in the denture or a piece of it
• You have difficulty breathing or swallowing
• There is swelling in your face or neck that is spreading quickly

In an emergency, call the emergency number of the country you are in; in Turkey it is 112.

Before you fly home

Make sure the denture has been adjusted after fitting and that you can put it in, take it out and clean it. Have written care instructions and a way to reach the clinic. Take the written record of your treatment with you for your dentist at home.

Once you are home

Sore spots can appear after you have gone home. If the denture rubs or moves, see a dentist where you live; do not file it yourself. If a problem comes up that is not urgent, you can also write to the clinic and send photographs. Photographs do not replace an examination, so see your dentist at home as well. In the emergencies above, do not wait for a reply.

A conventional denture is usually made over several appointments, with laboratory stages between them: impressions, recording the bite, a try-in and the fitting. After the fitting, sore spots are corrected at review appointments. How many days you need in Antalya depends on the type of denture: complete, partial or implant-retained. It also depends on whether teeth need extracting or treating first. Other treatment planned in the same trip changes it too. Ask for the plan to leave time for an adjustment appointment after the fitting, before you fly home.

Before you book, you receive a written preliminary plan with the appointments and how many days they need. It is based on your photographs and any X-rays you send. The examination confirms or changes it, and with it the days and the cost. If it changes, you receive the revised plan in writing before treatment starts. You can say no, or ask to stop, at any stage. Once a tooth has been extracted or trimmed, that step cannot be undone.

If teeth are taken out. A denture fitted on the day of the extraction often needs adjusting or replacing within about a year², as the gum and bone heal. This relining or replacement is likely to be done near your home, or on a return trip; agree which before treatment starts.

Implant-retained denture. The implants are placed first and there is a wait while the bone heals, so the treatment may not fit into one trip. Your plan states how many trips it needs and what is done on each. The retaining parts need replacing again and again⁶ over the years. So ask for a record of the implant system placed, with its diameter and length, and of the attachment type. A dentist at home needs it to look after them. More on implant treatment and trips is on the dental implants page.

Flying. A 2023 review of flying after dental treatment gives no interval for fitting a denture. Its earliest times are 24 to 48 hours after a simple extraction and 72 hours after a surgical extraction or an uncomplicated implant placement²⁹. They apply only if there is no pain, swelling or bleeding where the treatment was done. After a sinus lift or more complex surgery, the review suggests waiting longer. The authors note that the research is limited and comes mainly from military aviation. Treat it as a starting point for your dentist's advice, not as a rule.

Your dentist at home. Talk to your own dentist before you go. They need to know the plan in case problems come up later. If you do not have a dentist where you live, it helps to find one before you travel. Ask for a written record of the treatment to take back to them. It should show the type of denture and its materials, any teeth taken out or treated, and copies of your X-rays. In Turkey, the health tourism regulation entitles international patients to an itemised bill. On request, they also get free copies of the records of the materials used, the tests and the imaging³⁰. If you still have some of your own teeth, check-ups matter for them too. UK guidance (NICE) says the interval between check-ups should be set for each person according to their risk³¹; agree it with your dentist at home. Before you travel, check the rules of the health service or your insurer in the country where you live about care after treatment abroad.

Questions to ask before you commit. Before you agree to treatment abroad, ask:

1. Who will carry out my treatment, and what are their qualifications?
2. Are you regulated by a professional body and registered with it?
3. Is the work guaranteed, are the terms in writing, and for how long do they apply?
4. What aftercare do you provide, and who can I contact after the treatment?
5. If there are complications, who pays for further treatment, extra flights and the hotel?
6. Do you have a complaints system, and can I see a copy?

A longer list, with our answer to each question, is on our page about dental treatment abroad.

This page carries no prices. The treatment plan is prepared for you after an examination. The main factors are:

• A complete or a partial denture, and the type of partial denture (acrylic, with a cast metal framework, or with telescopic crowns)
• Teeth that need extraction, fillings, root canal treatment or gum treatment before the denture
• Whether a temporary denture is needed straight after extraction
• For an implant-retained denture, the number of implants, a bone graft if needed, and the attachment parts
• Later adjustments, relining, repairs and replacement parts
• The number of trips the appointments need

Ask for a written plan that shows what is included. Ask too whether the adjustment appointments after fitting, and relining, are included in the plan. And ask who pays for further treatment and extra travel if there is a complication.