Dentures

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

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Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Dentures are false teeth made to replace teeth you have lost. Dentures can be complete or partial. Complete dentures cover your entire upper or lower jaw. Partials replace one or a few teeth.

Advances in dentistry have made many improvements in dentures. They are more natural looking and comfortable than they used to be. But they still may feel strange at first. In the beginning, your dentist may want to see you often to make sure the dentures fit. Over time, your mouth will change and your dentures may need to be adjusted or replaced. Be sure to let your dentist handle these adjustments.

Speaking and eating may feel different with dentures. Be careful when wearing dentures because they may make it harder for you to feel hot foods and liquids. Also, you may not notice biting on a bone from your food.

NIH: National Institute on Aging

Start Here

• Taking Care of Your Teeth and Mouth (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Panoramic Dental X-Ray (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Denture Adhesives (Food and Drug Administration)
• Denture Care: How Do I Clean Dentures? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Peri-Implant Diseases (American Academy of Periodontology)

Specifics

• Dental Implant Surgery (American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons)
• Dental Implant Surgery (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Dental Implants (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Dentures (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Short Dental Implants Retaining Two-Implant Mandibular Overdentures in Very Old,...
• Article: Satisfaction and Clinical Outcomes Among Patients with Immediately Loaded Mandibular...
• Article: Effect of a Calcium Phosphate Desensitizer on Pre- and Postcementation...
• Dentures -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Glossary of Dental Terms (Academy of General Dentistry)
• Oral Health Glossary (Academy of General Dentistry)

Find an Expert

• American Dental Association
• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Also in Spanish

Children

• What Are Dentures? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Denture problems (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish