Dentures Meaning: What Dentures Are and How They Work

A denture is a removable set of artificial teeth, usually mounted on a gum-coloured base. It is made from an impression of your mouth so that it fits your gums, and it can be taken out for cleaning. Dentures are one way of restoring chewing, speech and appearance after tooth loss. People also call them false teeth or a plate.

Do not confuse the word with dentition, which means the natural set of teeth. See our guide on dentition meaning.

Complete (full) dentures replace every tooth in the upper jaw, the lower jaw, or both, and are for people who are fully edentulous (see edentulous meaning). Partial dentures replace some teeth and sit alongside the natural ones that remain.

Both come in more than one material and design, for example acrylic or metal frameworks and flexible bases. Our guide on types of dentures explains the differences.

A complete upper denture holds mostly by suction against the palate. A lower one has less to grip, because the tongue takes up room, so lower dentures tend to move more. Partial dentures use small clasps that hook around natural teeth. Some people use a denture adhesive, as directed on the label, for extra hold.

The jaw bone slowly shrinks after teeth are lost, so a denture that fitted well can loosen over the years and need relining or replacing. For a firmer hold, dentures can be fixed to implants, as in implant-supported dentures. Our guide on dental implant vs bridge covers the fixed alternative to a partial denture.

Dentures feel strange at first, and speech and eating take a few weeks to settle. Sore spots are common early on, and a dentist can adjust the fit. Dentures are cleaned daily and taken out at night, as covered in our guide on denture cleaning.

To compare dentures with implants see dental implants vs dentures, and for implant aftercare see how to look after dental implants. The overall picture is on our dental implants page, and typical market price ranges are on the dentures cost page.