Partial & full dentures
Dentures That Feel Like Yours
Whether you're replacing a few teeth or a full arch, a well-made denture should look natural, fit comfortably and let you eat with confidence.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Sofia Monter, general dentist · Reviewed October 2026
At a Glance
- Types: partial dentures, full dentures and implant-supported dentures.
- Lower full dentures: often the hardest to keep stable; implants can help.
- At night: take them out.
- Over time: the gums keep changing, so dentures need relines and eventually replacing.
- Every day: clean the denture and your mouth.
Options We Provide
- Partial dentures. Replace some missing teeth while protecting the ones you have, designed so remaining teeth are not overloaded.
- Full (complete) dentures. Replace all upper and/or lower teeth, shaped for natural appearance, speech and chewing.
- Repairs, relines and adjustments. Comfort work on existing dentures, often same-week.
- Implant-supported options. Where suitable, implants can anchor a denture and make it far more stable.
Why Lower Dentures Are Harder, and What Helps
An upper denture has the whole palate to hold onto. A lower denture sits on a narrow ridge with the tongue moving beside it, so it is often the one that rocks or lifts.
An international consensus statement concluded that a lower denture held by two implants should be considered the first-choice standard of care for people with no lower teeth (McGill consensus statement, 2002). It is not right for everyone, because it involves minor surgery and extra cost, but for many people it changes how confidently they eat and speak. We will tell you honestly whether it suits you.
Your Gums Keep Changing
After teeth are removed, the bone underneath shrinks quickly at first and then slowly for years (Tan et al., 2012). A denture that fitted well can gradually loosen, rock or rub.
Signs it is time for a check include sore spots, food getting underneath, clicking, or needing more adhesive than before. Often a reline, which reshapes the fitting surface to your current gums, restores the fit without a new denture. Immediate dentures, fitted on the day teeth are removed, usually need relining within months as healing settles.
Take Them Out at Night
Your gums need time to rest, and a denture worn overnight collects more plaque and yeast. In a study of adults aged 85 and over, those who slept in their dentures had about twice the risk of pneumonia, along with more plaque and more yeast on the tongue and denture (Iinuma et al., 2015). That study shows a link rather than proof of cause, but taking dentures out at night is simple and sensible.
Brush your denture daily with a soft brush and a non-abrasive denture cleaner, rinse it after meals, keep it moist overnight, and clean your gums, tongue and any remaining teeth.
Partial Dentures That Protect Your Teeth
A partial denture should spread chewing forces fairly, so the teeth it rests on are not overloaded, and it should be easy to clean around. We check the gums and remaining teeth first, design clasps and rests to protect them, and review them at your regular visits so a partial denture keeps your natural teeth healthy for longer.
Good to know
Common Questions
How long do dentures last?
It depends on the denture and how your gums change. Many people need a reline every few years and eventually a new denture, because both the gums and the denture wear. We check the fit at your regular visits.
Will I be able to eat normally?
Most people adapt well with practice. Start with softer foods cut into small pieces and chew on both sides. Full dentures do not chew as efficiently as natural teeth, which is one reason implant-supported options exist.
Can my existing denture be relined instead of replaced?
Often, yes. If the teeth and base are in good condition, a reline can restore the fit for less than a new denture. We will tell you which makes more sense.
Should I sleep in my dentures?
No. Taking them out at night lets your gums rest and reduces plaque and yeast build-up. Research in older adults has linked sleeping in dentures with a higher risk of pneumonia.
Eat, Laugh and Speak With Confidence Again
The research behind this page
- Feine JS, et al. The McGill consensus statement on overdentures: mandibular two-implant overdentures as first choice standard of care for edentulous patients. Gerodontology, 2002.
- Tan WL, et al. A systematic review of post-extractional alveolar hard and soft tissue dimensional changes in humans. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2012.
- Iinuma T, et al. Denture wearing during sleep doubles the risk of pneumonia in the very elderly. Journal of Dental Research, 2015.
Inline Smiles Dental & Orthodontics. This page is general information only, not a diagnosis or a personal treatment recommendation. Research findings describe groups, and individual results vary; suitability for any treatment is assessed individually.