Complete and partial dentures, fit, cost and alternatives, answered by registered dental surgeons at AR 32 Signature Smiles.
Answered by Dr Avinash Bamane (A-18814) and Dr Rashmi Bamane (A-22726),
Maharashtra State Dental Council. General information, not a diagnosis — nothing here
replaces looking in your mouth.
Full answer · 635 words
how long do dentures take to make
A conventional complete or partial denture usually takes about three to five weeks from the first impressions to the day it is fitted, spread over four to six visits, because each stage is checked in your mouth before the lab moves on. If teeth have to be removed first, the gums normally need several weeks to a few months to settle before the final denture is made.
Answered by Dr Siddharth Swarup, MDS (Prosthodontics) · Approved by Dr Avinash Bamane (A-18814) · Last reviewed 23 October 2026
Full answer · 557 words
are dentures uncomfortable at first
Yes, most new dentures feel bulky and a little uncomfortable for the first two to four weeks. Extra saliva, a slight lisp, mild sore spots and a loose-feeling lower denture are all common while your mouth adapts. Sharp pain, an ulcer that keeps getting worse, or a denture you cannot bite on is not normal and needs an adjustment visit.
Answered by Dr Apurva Mahajan, MDS (Prosthodontics) · Approved by Dr Rashmi Bamane (A-22726) · Last reviewed 23 October 2026
Full answer · 532 words
what is the difference between complete and partial dentures
A complete denture replaces every tooth in the upper or lower jaw and rests on the gums and palate, held mainly by suction and muscle control. A partial denture replaces only some missing teeth and clips onto your remaining natural teeth for support. Which one you need depends on how many healthy teeth you still have and whether they are worth keeping.
Answered by Dr Pallavi Vaidya, MDS (Prosthodontics) · Approved by Dr Avinash Bamane (A-18814) · Last reviewed 23 October 2026
Full answer · 519 words
how much do dentures cost
At AR 32 our current published fees are ₹40,000 for a Valplast flexible partial denture and ₹80,000 for a complete denture, so dentures start from ₹40,000. Your final cost is confirmed after examination, because extractions, fillings or gum treatment may be needed before the denture is made. Plans from ₹60,000 can be paid monthly.
Answered by Dr Bhushan Bangar, MDS (Prosthodontics) · Approved by Dr Rashmi Bamane (A-22726) · Last reviewed 23 October 2026
Full answer · 523 words
are implants better than dentures
Implants usually chew better, feel more like natural teeth and help preserve the jawbone, but they are not automatically the better choice. They need surgery, months of healing, enough healthy bone and a larger budget. A well-made denture is quicker, cheaper and reversible, and for some people, especially those with poor general health, it is the more sensible option.
Answered by Dr Siddharth Swarup, MDS (Prosthodontics) · Approved by Dr Avinash Bamane (A-18814) · Last reviewed 23 October 2026
Full answer · 530 words
how do i clean my dentures
Rinse your dentures after every meal, and once a day brush them gently with a soft brush and mild soap or a denture cleanser, not regular toothpaste. Hold them over a basin of water so they do not break if dropped. Soak them overnight in plain water or a cleanser, never hot water, and clean your gums and tongue too.
Answered by Dr Apurva Mahajan, MDS (Prosthodontics) · Approved by Dr Rashmi Bamane (A-22726) · Last reviewed 23 October 2026
Full answer · 559 words
why do my dentures keep slipping
Dentures usually slip because the gum and bone under them have shrunk, so the fit is no longer snug. Other causes are a new denture you have not yet learned to control, a dry mouth, weight loss, worn or damaged teeth on the denture, or a design problem. A reline, a new denture or implant support can fix it; heavy adhesive only hides it.
Answered by Dr Pallavi Vaidya, MDS (Prosthodontics) · Approved by Dr Avinash Bamane (A-18814) · Last reviewed 23 October 2026
Full answer · 514 words
how often should dentures be replaced
Most dentures need replacing roughly every five to eight years, and many need a reline in between as the gums and bone shrink. The exact timing depends on how quickly your jaw changes, how worn the teeth are and how well the denture has been cared for. A yearly check is the best way to know when it is time.
Answered by Dr Siddharth Swarup, MDS (Prosthodontics) · Approved by Dr Avinash Bamane (A-18814) · Last reviewed 23 October 2026
Full answer · 464 words
can i eat normally with dentures
Most people can eat a normal, varied diet with dentures once they have adapted, usually after a few weeks of practice. Chewing is never quite as strong as with natural teeth, so very hard, sticky or tough foods such as chikki, corn on the cob and hard nuts stay tricky. Starting soft, cutting food small and chewing on both sides helps.
Answered by Dr Pallavi Vaidya, MDS (Prosthodontics) · Approved by Dr Avinash Bamane (A-18814) · Last reviewed 23 October 2026
Full answer · 500 words
what is an implant supported denture
An implant-supported denture is a denture held in place by dental implants, which are titanium posts placed in the jawbone. Most commonly, two to four implants let a removable denture snap firmly into place, so it no longer slips; with more implants, a fixed full-arch bridge can be made. It needs surgery, healing time and enough healthy bone.
Answered by Dr Siddharth Swarup, MDS (Prosthodontics) · Approved by Dr Avinash Bamane (A-18814) · Last reviewed 23 October 2026
Full answer · 552 words
why do my gums hurt under my dentures
Gums usually hurt under dentures because the denture is pressing too hard in one spot, rubbing as it moves, or trapping food. Infection from germs living on the denture, often from wearing it at night, is another common cause. Take it out, rinse with warm salt water and see your dentist. Any ulcer that has not healed in two weeks must be checked.
Answered by Dr Bhushan Bangar, MDS (Prosthodontics) · Approved by Dr Rashmi Bamane (A-22726) · Last reviewed 23 October 2026
can i sleep with my dentures in
Usually no. Most dentists advise taking dentures out at night for six to eight hours so your gums can rest and breathe. Sleeping in them raises the risk of fungal infection under the denture, sore gums and bad breath, and in older adults has been linked with chest infections. Your dentist may ask you to keep a new immediate denture in on the first night.
For most people, the night is the best time to give the gums a break. A denture presses on the gums all day, and the tissue under it needs time without pressure to recover.
Why taking them out matters
Fungal infection: the warm, moist space under a denture worn day and night is ideal for yeast to grow, causing red, sore gums known as denture stomatitis.
Sore and swollen gums from constant pressure, and faster shrinking of the bone underneath.
Bad breath and staining, because the denture is never properly cleaned or soaked.
Chest infections: in elderly people, sleeping in dentures has been linked with a higher risk of pneumonia, likely because germs on the denture are breathed in.
The exceptions
After teeth are removed and an immediate denture is fitted, your dentist may ask you to keep it in for the first night to control swelling. Occasionally someone is advised to wear a denture at night for a specific jaw or bite reason. Follow the advice you are given.
When the denture is out, keep it in a covered glass of water or denture cleanser so it does not dry and warp. More on daily care is in the dentures questions hub, and on our denture sore mouth page.
Answered by Dr Bhushan Bangar, MDS (Prosthodontics) · Approved by Dr Rashmi Bamane (A-22726) · Last reviewed 23 October 2026
will dentures change how i speak
For the first few days to weeks, yes, a little. Many people notice a slight lisp on sounds like s, z and th, a whistle, or a clicking noise, because the tongue has to learn to work around the denture. Practice usually fixes this within two to four weeks. Speech problems that last longer often mean the denture needs adjusting.
Speech depends on your tongue touching your teeth and palate (the roof of your mouth) in precise places. A new denture changes those landmarks slightly, so the tongue needs time to learn new positions.
What you may notice
A lisp or a whistling sound on "s", "sh", "z" and "th".
Difficulty with "f" and "v" if the front teeth sit in a slightly different position.
Clicking while speaking, which usually means the denture is moving or the teeth meet too soon.
Extra saliva in the first days, which can make speech sound wet.
How to speed up adjustment
Read aloud from a newspaper or book for ten minutes a day, in whichever language you speak most.
Repeat difficult words slowly, then at normal speed. Counting aloud from sixty to seventy is a classic exercise for "s" sounds.
Bite gently and swallow before you start speaking, so the denture settles into place.
If speech is still unclear after about a month, or the denture clicks constantly, see your dentist. The position of the front teeth, the thickness of the palate or the face height can be checked and adjusted. A well-made denture should eventually let you speak normally. More answers are in the dentures questions hub, and our MDS Prosthodontics department handles complex cases.
Answered by Dr Apurva Mahajan, MDS (Prosthodontics) · Approved by Dr Rashmi Bamane (A-22726) · Last reviewed 23 October 2026
what is a flexible denture
A flexible denture is a removable partial denture made from a thin, slightly bendable nylon-type plastic instead of rigid acrylic and metal. Its clasps are gum-coloured, so they blend in rather than showing as metal hooks. It suits a few missing teeth, especially at the front, but is harder to repair or reline than a conventional denture.
Flexible dentures are made from thermoplastic materials such as Valplast, which are heated and injected into a mould. The result is a light, thin partial denture that grips your natural teeth with gum-coloured extensions instead of metal clasps.
Advantages
Appearance: no visible metal, which matters most when front teeth are missing.
Comfort: thin and light, and less likely to break if dropped.
No metal: useful for the rare person with a metal allergy.
Limitations
Harder to reline, repair or add a tooth to, so it may need replacing sooner when the mouth changes.
Can stain and roughen over time, and needs a cleanser suitable for flexible dentures.
Less suitable when many teeth are missing, or where the denture needs firm support from rests on the teeth. A cast metal partial may be better then.
It still relies on healthy neighbouring teeth, which must be brushed carefully.
Cost at AR 32
Our current published fee for a Valplast removable partial denture is ₹40,000, listed in our online store. The final cost is confirmed after examination, as fillings or gum treatment may be needed first. See our dentures treatment page to compare types.
Answered by Dr Bhushan Bangar, MDS (Prosthodontics) · Approved by Dr Rashmi Bamane (A-22726) · Last reviewed 23 October 2026
do dentures affect the shape of my face
Yes, dentures affect the shape of your face, mostly for the better. A well-made denture supports your lips and cheeks and restores the height of your lower face, so you look less sunken than without teeth. Over the years, though, the jawbone shrinks and denture teeth wear, so an old denture can let the face collapse again until it is relined or replaced.
Your teeth and the bone around them hold up your lips and cheeks and keep your nose and chin a certain distance apart. When teeth are lost, the face can look hollow, the lips thin, and the chin moves closer to the nose.
How a good denture helps
The artificial teeth and pink base support the lips and cheeks from inside.
The denture restores the correct face height, which softens deep lines around the mouth.
During the wax try-in, the dentist checks lip support and tooth position with you. Speak up if your face looks too full or too sunken at that stage.
Why the face can change again over time
The jawbone slowly shrinks without tooth roots, so the denture sits lower.
Acrylic teeth wear flat, reducing face height. Folds at the corners of the mouth can deepen and become cracked and sore, a condition called angular cheilitis.
Relining or replacing a worn denture usually restores much of the lost support. Implant-supported dentures may help slow bone loss. A denture cannot work like a facelift, but it should make you look like yourself. More in our dentures questions hub.
Answered by Dr Apurva Mahajan, MDS (Prosthodontics) · Approved by Dr Rashmi Bamane (A-22726) · Last reviewed 23 October 2026
can dentures be repaired if they break
Yes, most broken acrylic dentures can be repaired, whether the base has cracked, a tooth has come off or a clasp has snapped. Bring every broken piece and do not glue it yourself, because household glue can misalign the parts and irritate your gums. Some repairs are quick, while others need the lab. A denture that keeps breaking may need relining or replacing.
Dentures usually break in one of two ways: they are dropped onto a hard floor or sink, or they crack slowly because they no longer fit well and flex every time you bite.
What can usually be repaired
A crack or a clean break across the acrylic base.
An artificial tooth that has come off or chipped.
A broken or loose clasp on a partial denture.
Adding a tooth to a partial denture after a natural tooth is removed.
What to do
Keep all the pieces in a clean container or wrapped in a damp cloth.
Do not use superglue or any household adhesive. It is not safe for the mouth, and even a small misalignment makes a proper repair harder.
Do not wear a cracked denture; sharp edges can cut your gums and tongue.
Contact your dentist for an appointment. A repair often needs lab time, so ask how long you will be without the denture.
When repair is not the answer
If the denture broke because it is loose or the bite is uneven, it may break again. Your dentist may recommend relining it at the same time, or making a new one. Flexible dentures are harder to repair than acrylic ones. See our dentures treatment page and the dentures questions hub.
Answered by Dr Pallavi Vaidya, MDS (Prosthodontics) · Approved by Dr Avinash Bamane (A-18814) · Last reviewed 23 October 2026
Still not sure?
A question answered online is general. An examination is specific to your tooth.
Kharadi runs late, and reception will tell you honestly if you do not need to come in yet.
