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. They can be complete or partial. Complete dentures cover your entire upper or lower jaw. Partials replace one or a few teeth.

Dentures may feel strange at first. Speaking and eating may feel different. 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.

In the beginning, your dentist may want to see you often to make sure the dentures fit. Over time, your mouth will change and you may need to have your dentures adjusted or replaced. Be sure to let your dentist handle these adjustments.

If your dentures move too much in your mouth, denture adhesive may help. In some cases, your dentist may suggest that you switch to dental implants. They are permanent, and they replace both the roots and teeth.

Keep your dentures clean and free from food that can cause stains, bad breath, or swollen gums. Brush them every day with a denture care product. Take your dentures out of your mouth at night, and put them in water or a denture-cleansing liquid.

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: The Randomized Shortened Dental Arch Study: Tooth Loss Over 10...
• Article: Guidelines for Crowns, Fixed Bridges and Implants.
• Article: The Use of All-Ceramic Resin-Bonded Bridges in the Anterior Aesthetic...
• 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