Dentures remain one of the most common ways to replace missing teeth — and modern dentures look and function considerably better than the ill-fitting sets many people picture. Whether you're missing a few teeth or all of them, there's a denture option built around your specific situation, not a one-size-fits-all appliance.
Below, our Sudbury team explains the different types of dentures, what the fitting process actually involves, the adjustment period most patients go through, and an honest comparison to implants and bridges.
1 What Are Dentures?
Dentures are removable dental appliances that replace missing teeth and the surrounding gum tissue. They're custom-fabricated from an impression of your mouth, designed to match your bite and, as closely as possible, the appearance of natural teeth. Unlike a bridge or implant, dentures are taken out for cleaning and, in most cases, overnight.
A full denture replaces an entire arch of teeth — upper, lower, or both — while a partial denture replaces some missing teeth while the rest of your natural teeth remain in place. Both rely on a base, typically acrylic, that sits directly on the gums, with an artificial tooth set built into it.
2 Who Needs Dentures?
Dentures tend to be the right fit in a few common situations:
- ✓ Most or all teeth in an arch are missing or beyond saving — a full denture is often the most practical way to restore an entire arch at once.
- ✓ Several teeth are missing in different areas of the mouth — a removable partial denture can replace multiple gaps without needing a bridge or implant at every site.
- ✓ A non-surgical option is a priority, whether for health reasons, cost, or simply personal preference.
- ✓ Insufficient bone density for implants, and bone grafting isn't something the patient wants to pursue.
Dentures are also frequently used as an interim solution — for example, immediately after multiple extractions, while a longer-term plan involving implants is still being worked toward.
3 Types of Dentures
"Dentures" isn't a single product — the right type depends on how many teeth remain, your timeline, and your budget.
Full (Complete) Dentures
Replace an entire arch of teeth, held in place by suction and the natural contours of the gums.
Partial Dentures
Fill in several gaps using a metal or acrylic framework that clips onto your remaining natural teeth.
Immediate Dentures
Placed the same day as extractions, so you're never without teeth — but need frequent adjustment as gums heal.
A fourth option, the implant-supported denture (overdenture), snaps onto a small number of dental implants — usually four to six — for dramatically more stability and chewing confidence than a conventional denture resting on the gums alone. We cover implants in more detail in our dental implants guide.
4 The Process, Step by Step
The path to a denture looks a little different depending on whether any teeth still need to come out first.
- ✓ Conventional dentures: after any remaining teeth are extracted, the gums need roughly six to eight weeks to heal before impressions are taken for a precisely fitted denture — the wait pays off in a more stable, comfortable final fit.
- ✓ Immediate dentures: impressions and measurements are taken before extractions, so a denture is ready to place the same day teeth are removed — meaning you're never without teeth, though this denture will need relines as your gums heal and change shape.
- ✓ Partial dentures: since remaining teeth aren't being extracted, the process is more straightforward — impressions of your existing teeth and gums are used to design a framework that clips securely around them.
Many patients start with an immediate denture after extractions, then transition to a conventional denture once the gums have fully healed and stabilized — usually a few months later.
5 The Adjustment Period — What's Normal
"New denture wearers almost always ask me if what they're feeling is normal. In the first few weeks, yes — some soreness, extra saliva, and a change in how certain sounds come out are typical. What isn't normal is pain that doesn't ease up, or sores that don't heal. That's when we adjust the fit."
Dr. Derek Lewis, DDS — Long Lake Family DentistryIt's genuinely common for new dentures to take weeks, and sometimes a couple of months, to feel fully natural. A few things to expect early on:
Speech Changes
Certain sounds — especially "s" and "th" — may feel different at first. Reading aloud helps speed up adjustment.
Eating Takes Practice
Start with soft foods cut into small pieces, and chew evenly on both sides to keep the denture stable.
Extra Saliva
Your mouth may produce more saliva than usual for the first week or two — this settles down on its own.
Several follow-up visits in the first few weeks are normal and expected — small adjustments to pressure points make a real difference, and we'd rather see you back a few extra times than have you push through ongoing discomfort.
6 Advantages of Dentures
- ✓ Non-surgical — no implant placement, and generally suitable even for patients who aren't candidates for implant surgery.
- ✓ Typically the most budget-friendly way to replace many or all missing teeth at once.
- ✓ Faster to obtain than implants — even a conventional full denture is usually completed in a few months, rather than the multi-month implant timeline.
- ✓ Restores facial support — a full denture can noticeably improve the fullness of the cheeks and lips that's often lost along with teeth.
- ✓ Removable for cleaning — some patients find this genuinely easier to manage than fixed restorations built around cleaning aids.
7 Disadvantages & Limitations
Dentures involve real trade-offs compared to fixed options, and it's worth going in with clear expectations.
✅ Where Dentures Win
- No surgery required
- Most budget-friendly full-arch option
- Faster overall timeline
- Restores facial fullness and support
⚠️ Real Trade-Offs
- Less stable than a fixed bridge or implant
- Doesn't prevent ongoing jawbone loss
- Adjustment period for speech and eating
- Requires nightly removal and cleaning routine
That second point matters over the long run: because a denture sits on top of the gums rather than replacing a tooth root, the jawbone underneath continues to gradually reshape and shrink over time — which is exactly why dentures need periodic relining, and why the fit that felt perfect in year one can feel looser by year five.
8 Caring for Your Dentures
- ✓ Remove and rinse your dentures after eating to clear away food debris.
- ✓ Brush them daily with a denture-specific brush and cleanser — regular toothpaste can be too abrasive and leave micro-scratches where bacteria collect.
- ✓ Soak them overnight in water or a denture-soaking solution — letting them dry out can cause the material to warp and lose its fit.
- ✓ Handle them over a folded towel or a basin of water — dropped dentures on a hard bathroom floor are a common cause of cracks.
- ✓ Keep up with regular dental checkups even with a full denture — we still check your gum tissue, jaw joints, and screen for oral cancer.
9 How Long Do Dentures Last?
Most full dentures last around seven to ten years before they need replacing, though your dentist should examine the fit every five to seven years even if nothing feels wrong — since the jawbone's shape gradually changes underneath, sometimes before you notice it in daily use. A denture reline, which adjusts the fit of the base without replacing the whole appliance, is typically recommended every one to two years.
Conventional Denture
~7–10 years before full replacement is typically needed.
Partial Denture
~5–8 years, often shorter than a full denture's lifespan.
Immediate Denture
Shortest lifespan — typically 3 months to 2 years, as a bridge to a conventional denture.
10 Dentures vs. Implants vs. Bridges
There's no universal "best" option — the right choice comes down to how many teeth are missing, your bone health, your timeline, and your budget.
- ✓ Choose dentures when several or all teeth need replacing and a non-surgical, more budget-friendly option is the priority.
- ✓ Choose an implant when you want the longest-lasting, most stable, most tooth-like replacement.
- ✓ Choose a bridge when a small number of teeth are missing in a row and you want a fixed, non-removable option.
We cover implants and bridges in their own dedicated guides, linked above, if you're weighing more than one option before your consultation.
Many patients also combine options — for example, a partial denture on one arch and an implant-supported bridge on the other. There's no reason the same solution has to apply everywhere.
Book a Consultation →11 Quick Checklist
Dentures are worth discussing with us if:
- ✓ You're missing most or all of the teeth in an arch, or several teeth in different areas
- ✓ You'd prefer a non-surgical option, or aren't a candidate for implant surgery
- ✓ Cost and treatment timeline are important factors in your decision
- ✓ You're comfortable with a removable appliance and a nightly cleaning routine
- ✓ You're prepared for an adjustment period of several weeks, and periodic relines over time
An exam will confirm which type of denture — or whether a combination with implants or a bridge — fits your specific situation best.
