Dentures · At Yonge & Dundas
Complete and partial dentures, tried in wax first.
A denture replaces every tooth in an arch, or only the ones that have gone, designed around the teeth you still have and the bone and gums under them. For most designs the teeth are set in wax and tried in your mouth first, so you judge the position, the look and the speech before anything is finished.
- Cost
- Quoted at the exam
- Fitted
- Over several visits
- Tried in wax
- Before anything is final
- Insurance
- Checked before anything is made
09 · Denturesan upper arch, seen from above
What people tell us
“Teeth are missing.”
One tooth or a whole arch, gone last month or gone for years. The exam answers the same question either way: what is left to build on, and what would a denture rest against.
A tooth has gone, and the gap has changed how you chew
Several teeth are coming out and you want to know what replaces them before they do
The denture you have does not sit the way it did when it was new
Someone said “partial” and nobody explained what the choice actually is
Eating on one side has become the normal way you eat
The designs
Five designs for the same arch.
Same mouth in every drawing below — only the appliance changes. Pick one to see what it covers, what it rests on, and what it holds onto.
A complete denture, upper
A complete denture replaces all the teeth in a jaw. An upper one usually covers the upper arch and the palate, and how well it stays put depends on the shape of the gums and the palate, on saliva, on muscle control, and on the condition of the tissues underneath it.
A denture can also be a temporary one — used while the mouth heals, or while other treatment is being finished. That is a job rather than a design: it is not necessarily meant to be the final long-term restoration, and you are told which yours is before it is made.
Choosing one
No single design suits every patient.
Which one is right for you is not a preference and it is not a price bracket. Nine things are weighed, and most of them are facts about your mouth rather than choices anyone gets to make.
- How many teeth are missing, and where they are
- The condition of the teeth that remain
- Gum and bone support
- How the upper and lower jaws relate to each other
- Biting and chewing forces
- Appearance and speech
- Hand function, and how easily you can clean it
- How you got on with any denture you have worn before
- Whether this denture is temporary or long-term
Other options, such as a dental bridge, may also be discussed. Implants are not placed at this clinic, so they are not among the options offered here.
What happens
Six appointments, in the order they happen.
Nothing is made from a photograph and nothing is finished before you have had it in your mouth.
The examination, and the plan
The teeth that remain, the gums, the bone under them, the bite, the soft tissue and any denture you already wear are all examined, and x-rays are taken where they are needed. Decay, gum disease, infection or a tooth that may not last is dealt with before a final denture is made.
Impressions or scans
The shape of the mouth is recorded by impression, by digital scan, or by a combination of the two. More than one impression is often needed to capture the supporting tissue and the borders accurately, because those are what a denture rests on.
The bite, and choosing the teeth
How your upper and lower jaws meet is recorded. The size, shape, arrangement and shade of the replacement teeth are then chosen. What decides them is the space available, your facial proportions, how the denture has to work, and what you want it to look like.
The try-in, in wax
For many dentures the teeth are arranged temporarily in wax and tried in your mouth. Tooth position, appearance, facial support, speech and bite are assessed with you looking at them. Changes can be asked for, or recommended, before the denture is completed.
Delivery
At the fit appointment the denture is assessed for fit, bite, appearance and comfort. You are then shown how to put it in and take it out, how to clean it, what to expect while you adapt to it, and when to come back.
Adjustments and follow-up
New dentures often need one or more adjustments as the mouth adapts. Pressure areas, temporary changes in speech, more saliva and a different feel to chewing are all common early on. Do not adjust or repair it yourself — contact the office if it stays sore, feels unstable, or gets damaged.
Living with one
Taking it out at night, and bringing it back in.
Follow the instructions given for your own denture. They are written for the appliance you were given rather than for dentures in general, and the rest of this is the ordinary shape of it.
Every day
Take the denture out and clean it every day
Clean the gums, tongue, palate and any teeth you still have
Use a denture brush and a denture-cleaning product meant for the job
Keep it away from hot water — it can distort some materials
Take it out while you sleep, unless you have been told otherwise
Store it safely when it is not being worn
Keep coming to your regular dental examinations
Call the office if it cracks, loosens, or starts to cause soreness
Do not use household glue, and do not try to reshape a denture at home.
Still examined
Regular examinations still matter with no natural teeth left. The shape of a mouth changes over time, and that can change how a denture fits and how it works. At each visit:
The gums and the other soft tissues
How the denture fits, and the condition it is in
Changes in the bone supporting it
The jaw joints, and the bite
Anywhere that is being irritated
Whether an adjustment, a reline, a repair or a replacement is due
What it costs
The number comes out of the exam, in writing.
What a denture costs turns on which design your mouth needs: complete or partial, acrylic, flexible or cast metal, immediate or made after healing. There is no single figure to publish here, so the number comes out of the exam in writing, with your coverage checked at the same time.
- Dentures
- Quoted at the exam
- Insurance
- Checked before anything is made
- In writing
- Before the first impression
The denture services described on this page are provided by general dentists. A referral to a certified specialist, including a prosthodontist or another appropriate specialist, may be recommended depending on how complex the case is and what you need.
This page is general information. It does not replace an examination, a diagnosis, a consent discussion or a treatment recommendation made for you. Fit, comfort, adaptation, function, risks and longevity all vary between patients.
Asked at the desk
Questions about dentures
What is the difference between a complete and a partial denture?
A complete denture replaces all the teeth in an upper or lower arch. A partial denture replaces selected missing teeth while some natural teeth remain.
Which is better — acrylic, flexible or cast metal?
None of them is better in general. Each material and design has its own advantages, limitations and clinical uses. The recommendation depends on the teeth that remain, which teeth are missing, the bite, the support available, how the denture has to be cleaned, and the wider treatment plan.
Will new dentures feel like natural teeth?
Dentures are artificial replacements and may feel different from natural teeth. An adaptation period is usually required, particularly for speaking and chewing.
How long do dentures last?
Longevity varies, and no lifespan is promised. Changes in the gums, the bone, the bite, the remaining teeth and the denture materials themselves may eventually call for an adjustment, a reline, a repair or a replacement.
Can I sleep in my dentures?
Patients are commonly advised to take dentures out while sleeping so the tissues can rest. Follow the instructions given for your own denture and your own health needs.
Do you place dental implants?
No. Implants are not placed at this clinic. Where teeth are missing, the options discussed here are a denture or a bridge.
How much does a denture cost?
No figure is published yet. It is quoted at the exam, in writing, before the first impression is taken, and your coverage is checked at the same time.
Do I still need dental examinations if I have no natural teeth?
Yes. The gums and other oral tissues, the fit and condition of the denture, changes in the supporting bone, the jaw joints and the bite, and any areas of irritation are all examined. That is where the need for an adjustment, a reline, a repair or a replacement is found.
Can I repair a denture at home?
No. Do not use household glue and do not try to reshape it yourself. If the denture cracks, loosens, or causes persistent soreness, contact the office.
Book a visit
Book the exam and find out what would replace them.
It looks at what is left, what a denture would rest on, and which design suits your mouth, with the price in writing before anything is made.