what is the difference between complete and partial dentures

Both are removable dentures, and both are made of a gum-coloured base carrying artificial teeth. The difference is what holds them in place, and that changes how they feel, how they are cared for and what can go wrong.

Complete denture

A complete denture is used when all the teeth in one jaw are missing, or the remaining ones cannot be saved. It sits directly on the gums and the bone ridge underneath.

• Grip: an upper complete denture covers the palate (the roof of the mouth), which gives a large area for suction, so it is often quite stable. A lower complete denture has much less surface and the tongue pushes against it, so it is usually looser and takes longer to master.
• Feel: the plate over the palate can affect how you sense temperature and texture of food.
• Over time: without tooth roots, the jawbone slowly shrinks. The denture gradually loosens and will need relining (adding a new fitting layer) or remaking over the years.

Partial denture

A partial denture fills gaps when some natural teeth remain. It rests partly on the gums and partly on the neighbouring teeth, using clasps (small clips) or rests that sit on those teeth.

• Types: an acrylic (plastic) partial, often used as a simple or temporary option; a cast metal partial with a thin, strong frame; and a flexible partial made of nylon-type material with gum-coloured clasps instead of metal.
• Grip: because it hooks onto real teeth, a partial denture is usually more stable than a complete one.
• The catch: the teeth holding it must be healthy. Food and plaque collect around clasps, so decay and gum disease on those teeth are the main way partial dentures fail. Brushing those teeth carefully is not optional.

Which one suits you

Your dentist will look at the remaining teeth before recommending either. Some questions that shape the decision:

• Are the remaining teeth firm, with healthy gums, or are they loose from advanced gum disease?
• Would keeping a few strong teeth (sometimes with root canal treatment) make a partial denture work better than taking them all out for a complete denture?
• Are only one or two teeth missing in a row? A bridge or an implant may be more comfortable than any removable denture. Our page on missing tooth replacement compares these.
• Is the gap at the front, where metal clasps would show? A flexible partial may look better.

As a rule, keeping healthy natural teeth is worth it. Even a few teeth under a partial denture help preserve the bone and give better chewing than a complete denture. Removing sound teeth just to make a complete denture is rarely a good idea.

Cost at our clinic

Our current published fee is ₹40,000 for a Valplast (flexible) removable partial denture and ₹80,000 for a complete denture, both listed in our online store. Other partial designs are quoted after examination. The final cost is confirmed after your dentist has examined you and written up a plan, which will also show any extractions, fillings or gum treatment needed first. Denture cases are planned with our MDS Prosthodontics department, and our dentures treatment page explains more about each type.