Oral Health›Dental visits and treatments

Dentures: Types, Getting Used to Them and Daily Care

Dentures are removable false teeth that replace some or all of your natural teeth. Here is how the main types differ, what to expect when they are new, how to clean and store them, and which problems need a dentist.

Updated September 2026·By the OHA editorial team·7 min read·How we write
Key takeaways
  • The main types are complete (full) dentures, partial dentures, immediate dentures fitted the day teeth are taken out, and dentures that clip onto implants.
  • New dentures often feel strange, loose or sore at first. Start with soft food, and go back for adjustments rather than putting up with pain.
  • Clean dentures morning and night with soap or a mild cleanser, not toothpaste, and take them out overnight unless your dentist advises otherwise.
  • Health bodies differ on storing dentures dry or in water overnight. Ask your dentist or dental prosthetist which suits yours.
  • Your mouth changes shape over time, so have dentures checked at least yearly. They may need relining or replacing.

A denture is a removable set of false teeth that fits over your gums; some types also clip onto your remaining teeth (NHS). The Better Health Channel (Victoria) says dentures are usually more affordable than other ways of replacing teeth. For a comparison with bridges and implants, see replacing missing teeth.

What types of denture are there?

  • Complete (full) dentures replace all the teeth in the upper or lower jaw, or both, and rest on the gums (healthdirect, Australian Dental Association).
  • Partial dentures replace one or more teeth and are usually held by small metal clasps around your natural teeth (healthdirect, Oral Health Foundation). They can be plastic, metal or both, and the Better Health Channel says your remaining teeth and gums need to be healthy to support them.
  • Immediate dentures are made before teeth are taken out and put in on the same day, so you are not without teeth while you heal (Australian Dental Association, American Dental Association).
  • Implant-retained dentures (overdentures) clip onto dental implants in the jaw but can still be taken out (healthdirect, Australian Dental Association).

The Better Health Channel says dentures can be made by a dentist, a dental prosthetist (healthdirect calls them a denture specialist) or a prosthodontist (a specialist dentist).

How are dentures made and fitted?

Your dentist takes a mould or scan of your mouth and fits the dentures a few weeks later (NHS), often over several appointments (healthdirect).

If teeth need to come out first, the Better Health Channel says measurements usually start two to three months later, once the gums and bone have healed. Immediate dentures avoid that gap, but the NHS says they often need adjusting or replacing up to a year later, as the mouth changes shape while it heals. See having a tooth out.

Getting used to new dentures

Sources give different timescales. The NHS and the American Dental Association say it can take a few weeks; healthdirect says most people take a few months.

At first, dentures may feel loose while your cheek and tongue muscles learn to hold them, cause minor soreness, and make more saliva than usual (American Dental Association, healthdirect). The American Dental Association says these should settle, and that follow-up visits to adjust the fit are generally needed.

Eating. The Better Health Channel and the Oral Health Foundation suggest starting with soft foods cut into small pieces, chewing slowly, and bringing harder foods back gradually. The Better Health Channel says you may not be able to eat all the same foods as before.

Speaking. The Better Health Channel says you may sound slightly different or hear a click at first. See your dental practitioner if problems do not improve after a few weeks.

Cleaning your dentures every day

The NHS, the Australian Dental Association, healthdirect and the Better Health Channel broadly agree:

  1. Take your dentures out to clean them every morning and night. The NHS also suggests rinsing them in cold water after meals.
  2. Clean them over a bowl of water or a towel, so they do not break if dropped.
  3. Brush all surfaces with a soft brush and soap: the NHS says soft soap or washing-up liquid, the Australian Dental Association liquid hand soap.
  4. Do not use toothpaste, which the NHS, the Australian Dental Association and healthdirect say can scratch or damage dentures.
  5. Never use hot water. The Better Health Channel says it can change the shape and fit of the denture.

Clean your mouth too. Brush your gums, tongue and any remaining teeth with fluoride toothpaste morning and night (NHS). The American Dental Association adds the roof of your mouth.

Soaking. The Australian Dental Association says a denture cleaning solution helps remove bacteria, and that for hard deposits (tartar) dentures can be soaked overnight in white vinegar diluted 1:4. The Alzheimer's Society warns that cleaning tablets can be very harmful if mistaken for something to eat (see caring for someone else's teeth).

Should I take my dentures out at night?

Yes, unless your dentist advises otherwise. The NHS says trapped food raises the risk of gum infections and decay, and you could choke on them while asleep. The Better Health Channel says a night without dentures lets your mouth rest and helps prevent fungal infections.

Dry or in water overnight?

Health bodies disagree. The NHS says water, a polythene bag with damp cotton wool, or a denture-cleaning solution. The Oral Health Foundation and the American Dental Association say water, to stop them drying out or warping. The Australian Dental Association and the Better Health Channel say a dry, clean container. healthdirect says either, and to ask your dentist or dental prosthetist which is best for your dentures. Our guide to oral health in older age records the same disagreement.

Relines, repairs and replacement

The NHS says dentures can last for years with care, but may loosen as your gums and jawbone change shape; the Oral Health Foundation says they often need replacing every five to eight years. A reline adds material to the base of a denture so it fits securely again. The Australian Dental Association says older dentures can sometimes be relined, and sometimes need replacing. The Better Health Channel says immediate dentures may need relining within a few months. If a denture breaks, the NHS says to bring the broken pieces to your dentist to see whether it can be repaired.

Keep having check-ups even if you have no natural teeth.

Sore spots and ulcers. The Better Health Channel says dentures can press on the gums while you eat, causing a sore spot, and advises going back for an adjustment as soon as possible. It says to see a dental practitioner about any ulcer lasting more than two weeks. See mouth ulcers.

Denture stomatitis. The Oral Health Foundation describes this as redness and inflammation of the skin under a denture, usually linked to an overgrowth of a yeast called Candida. It says it most often affects the roof of the mouth, is not always painful and is not contagious, and is more likely if you wear dentures overnight, do not clean them regularly, have diabetes, use steroid tablets or inhalers, or have a weakened immune system. Better cleaning and leaving dentures out at night is sometimes enough; otherwise your dental team may prescribe antifungal medicine. See oral thrush.

Sore, cracked corners of the mouth. NHS Scotland's palliative care guidelines describe angular cheilitis as soreness, redness and cracks at the corners of the mouth, and list wearing dentures among the risk factors. The Better Health Channel lists soreness or cracks in the corners of the mouth among denture problems that need a dental practitioner. See angular cheilitis.

What do dentures cost?

England. The NHS lists dentures under Band 3, and relining or adding a tooth under Band 2. It says repairs are free, but if a denture cannot be repaired you pay for a new one.

Australia. healthdirect says "major dental" private health insurance cover may include dentures, and that adults with a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card can use public dental services, although waits can be a year or more.

US. Medicare.gov says Medicare does not usually cover dentures.

See dental costs and help.

When to see a dentist
  • Your dentures click when you talk, slip, feel loose, cause pain, or are worn or damaged (NHS).
  • Your mouth is sore, bleeding or swollen, or you have ulcers (healthdirect), or an ulcer lasting more than two weeks (Better Health Channel).
  • The skin under your denture is red or sore, or the corners of your mouth are cracked or sore (Oral Health Foundation, Better Health Channel).
  • Your gums are very red or bleed, or you have bad breath, which the NHS says can be signs of gum disease, a fungal infection or decay.
Get help urgently
  • For a dental infection, the NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E if you are finding it hard to breathe, speak or swallow, have a lot of swelling in your mouth, or are finding it hard to open your mouth. Elsewhere, call your local emergency number. See dental emergencies.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sleep in my dentures?

Not unless your dentist advises it. The NHS says sleeping in them raises the risk of gum infections, decay and choking.

How long does it take to get used to new dentures?

The NHS says a few weeks, and healthdirect says most people take a few months. Go back to your dentist or dental prosthetist if soreness or other problems do not settle.

Do I still need check-ups if I have no natural teeth?

Yes. healthdirect advises a check at least yearly to make sure your dentures still fit, and the Australian Dental Association says your dentist also looks for signs of oral cancer and denture-related problems. See mouth cancer.

Sources

  1. Dentures (false teeth), NHS, accessed September 2026
  2. How much NHS dental treatment costs, NHS, accessed September 2026
  3. Dental abscess, NHS, accessed September 2026
  4. Mouth care, Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines, NHS Scotland, accessed September 2026
  5. Dentures, Oral Health Foundation, accessed September 2026
  6. Understanding denture stomatitis, Oral Health Foundation, accessed September 2026
  7. Dentures and dementia, Alzheimer's Society, accessed September 2026
  8. Dentures, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  9. Cost of dental care, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  10. Dentures, Better Health Channel (Victoria), accessed September 2026
  11. Dentures, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  12. Dentures, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
  13. Dental services, Medicare.gov (US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), accessed September 2026

This article is general information about oral health. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a dentist or doctor who knows your situation. If you have pain, swelling, bleeding that does not settle, or a problem that is getting worse, see a dental professional. In an emergency, contact your local emergency service.

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