Dentures

Restoring your Natural Smile when you have lost your teeth

If tooth loss is causing you embarrassment or difficulty, custom-made dentures could be the solution.

What are dentures?

Dentures are a partial or full set of artificial teeth. They have been around for many decades as a method for replacing lost teeth – you may remember your parents or grandparents keeping their “false teeth” in a glass of water overnight! Modern dentures have come a long way since then, and while there are more advanced ways to restore someone’s smile, like implants or bridges, not every patient is a candidate for those treatments. At Natural Smile, we mostly use dentures for full-mouth replacement. Your dentures will be made of acrylic resin, sometimes incorporating metal and porcelain, and shaped to fit your mouth snugly.

What do I need to know about dentures?

A good set of dentures will provide you with many years of better appearance, confidence, function, and oral health. Getting dentures takes several appointments. You might need some teeth removed first, and we need to take images of your mouth and jaw so that your dentures fit properly and look as natural as possible. Dentures will take a little getting used to once you get them. They might feel a bit strange or loose in your mouth at the start, and you could experience a small amount of gum irritation or increased saliva production. These issues will resolve once you adjust to wearing them.

What other treatments are available?

Depending on your situation, some of the following treatment options might be recommended to transform your smile.

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An attractive woman smiles confidently, showing her healthy and strong teeth after a visit to dentist, Dr Dave Richards, of Natural Smile Dental St Heliers, Auckland.
The luxurious, clean, quality Natural Smile Dental clinic in St Heliers, Auckland provides dental and cosmetic services using advanced technology for a stress-free dentist visit.

Common questions about dentures

  • At Natural Smile, we do everything we can to ensure your dental treatments are painless and stress free. It is normal for you to experience some discomfort and swelling when we remove teeth, during the healing process, and as you adjust to your fitted dentures. We’ll help you manage any pain so that you are as comfortable as possible throughout the process.

  • Yes, you do, but it’s not quite the same as brushing your natural teeth. Cleaning your dentures involves soaking them in a special solution first, then using a soft brush to remove any food or plaque. Finally, you need to rinse them thoroughly in clean water.

  • It will take three to four weeks to get used to your new dentures. During this time, you should eat soft food. When you are ready for harder or chewier food, start slowly by cutting it into small pieces. Once you get used to your dentures, you should be able to eat almost anything, but be careful with food that is very hard, sticky, or tough.

  • Full dentures use natural suction to stay in place – the saliva on your gums creates a vacuum between your dentures and your mouth surfaces. Partial dentures can be secured to your remaining natural teeth to keep them in place. You can also choose to get implants as anchor points to keep your dentures extra secure.

  • Yes, you can replace missing teeth with dental implants and bridges. Dental implants are considered the best option because they give you a more natural and comfortable result. Bridges are most suitable for situations where you cannot have an implant and are only missing one tooth, as they need to be anchored to adjacent natural teeth.

  • The cost of your dentures will depend on a range of factors, including whether you need teeth extracted and what materials your dentures are made of. We recommend you book an appointment (link to contact page) with one of our dentists so they can assess how much work is required and give you an accurate quote.