Dentures (false teeth)

Dentures can make a huge difference to the way you look, eat, talk and feel.

What are dentures?

Dentures are partial or full sets of ‘false’ teeth that fit snugly over your gum. Dentures are more than a way of filling in gaps. For many people who are missing a tooth or teeth, there can be noticeable effects on the way they look, eat and talk. Missing teeth can damage confidence. And as remaining teeth grow and shift to fill the gaps, those problems can be compounded.

That’s why dentures (partial or full) can make such a difference. They can make smiling, talking and eating an altogether more comfortable experience.

Partial dentures

A partial denture is designed to fill gaps between your remaining teeth. The false teeth are fixed to a plastic or metal plate which clips onto the natural teeth either side to keep them secure. You can easily unclip and remove them at night and for cleaning.

Visit our Winchester dental practice to discuss your partial denture. We’ll then take measurements that will help us create a perfect replacement for your missing teeth.

Full dentures

As the name suggests, full dentures are used if all your teeth need to be removed. At our Winchester dental surgery we’ll take impressions of your mouth so that your dentures are a perfect match for your gums. You’ll trial a set of dentures to check the fit, and then we’ll adjust the colour and shape for the final set.

Do I need denture adhesive?

Modern dentures achieve such a snug fit that adhesive shouldn’t be necessary, but some people – especially those new to wearing dentures – appreciate the added security the adhesive can bring.

Taking your teeth for a test drive

It can take a little while to get used to eating with dentures. The trick is to gradually build up the types of food you eat. Start with soft, bite-size pieces of food and chew slowly, using both sides of your mouth. Whilst you’re getting used to your dentures, avoid sticky, hard, sharp-edged or spiky foods (toffees, apples and foods containing bones, for example) but in time you should find it easy to return to your regular diet.

How do I look after my dentures?

Whilst there’s a little more flexibility involved in cleaning your dentures (you can’t take natural teeth out and rinse them under the tap) you still need to maintain a regular cleaning regime to protect against bad breath, gum disease and oral thrush.
You can clean your dentures by:

1. i) Cleaning with soap and water to remove food particles
   ii) Soaking them using an off the shelf denture cleaner to remove stains (always follow the manufacturer’s instructions); and
   iii) Careful brushing (as you would with normal teeth)

Are there alternatives to dentures?

Yes. Dental implants fix securely to your jawbone and look, feel and function like natural teeth. They’re a permanent fixture, and you clean them exactly as you would natural teeth. If you’d like to know more about dental implants, talk to your Winchester dentist.

Make your appointment

If you’d like to discuss dentures, make an appointment at our dental surgery in Winchester now. You can do that using the form on the right, or call us on 01962 877 877.