Dentures in Woonona, understand your options for eating and smiling

A full denture rests on your gums and replaces all the teeth on the upper or lower jaw, or both. A partial denture replaces some teeth and is held by metal clasps around your remaining teeth. An implant-retained denture is fitted onto implants in the jaw, and you can still remove it.

Which one suits you depends on how many natural teeth you have left and how healthy they and your gums are. The Dentures guide explains the designs. Tell the dentist what you most want to change, such as eating comfortably or feeling more confident to speak, so the options are weighed against your own goals.

Dentures are usually made of acrylic resin, or of plastic with a lightweight metal frame, and each set is made to fit your mouth. If you want to know how implants work, our dental implants page explains them. You can bring a list of worries to your visit and ask the dentist to go through them one by one.

It may, if you have gaps beside natural teeth. A partial denture is held in place by metal clasps around your remaining teeth, so the dentist needs to check that those teeth and your gums are healthy enough to carry it. Simply having a number of missing teeth does not settle the question.

Tell the dentist about bleeding gums, loose teeth or soreness. The Gum disease guide explains that gum disease can affect the tissues that support your teeth, and our gum disease treatment page describes how we approach it. Gum or tooth problems may need attention before a denture is made.

If you already wear a partial denture, say what you like about it and what bothers you, whether that is how it feels, how it looks or how food catches. If a partial denture is not the right choice, you can ask about a bridge or an implant. Our crowns and bridges page explains how a bridge works, so you can ask informed questions.

Making a denture takes several appointments, and each set is custom made for your mouth. Your dentist checks your gums and any remaining teeth, explains your options, and takes impressions. The denture is then fitted, and small adjustments afterwards are common.

If taking impressions makes you gag or the thought of treatment makes you anxious, tell the team before the visit. The Guide to dental anxiety suggests talking about what triggers you and agreeing on a signal to pause. The dentist can then work at a pace that suits you.

Say what matters to you about the result, for example keeping the look of your own teeth or having a more natural shape. The Dentures guide explains that dentures are made for an individual mouth. You can use our contact page to ask what to bring, and you can ask the dentist to explain the next step at the end of each visit.

At first, probably yes. Wearing dentures can feel strange, and most people take a few months to get used to them. Start slowly with soft foods and take your time, then build up to firmer foods as you feel comfortable.

You may notice more saliva than usual, and your speech may sound a little different while you adjust. The Dentures guide suggests eating slowly and cutting food into smaller pieces. Let the dentist know which foods you find hardest, so they can see whether the fit is part of the problem.

Dentures can cause irritation or soreness, and a denture that rubs should be looked at, not tolerated. Note where and when it rubs, for example during meals or with certain words, and book a follow-up so the dentist can adjust it. Our contact page has the details for making an appointment. If you are worried about speaking at work or eating with family, tell the dentist, because those concerns help them judge how your denture is working for you.

Making and fitting dentures often takes several appointments. If you are having teeth removed, an immediate denture may be an option. It is fitted on the day the teeth come out, so you are not without teeth, but it may need adjusting as your gums heal.

The other approach is to wait a few months after the teeth are removed so your gums can heal. You then need fewer adjustments once the dentures are in place, but you are without those teeth in the meantime. The Dentures guide describes both approaches. Tell the dentist how you feel about going without teeth for a while, so that is weighed in the choice.

If tooth removal is part of your plan, ask which teeth need to come out and why. Our restorative dentistry page sets out the wider treatment context. Mention work, travel or family commitments when you book, so appointments can be planned around them where possible. The dentist will give you the sequence for your own mouth.

Dentures can cause irritation, soreness and more saliva than normal. A denture that once fitted well can also become loose, because your gums change shape over time. A loose or sore denture can often be adjusted, so book a follow-up if something rubs.

The Dentures guide explains that a reline adds material to the base of an older denture, and that in some cases a new denture is needed. The dentist has to look at your mouth to say which applies to you. Bring the denture with you, and tell them if it has changed since it was made, so they can see what is happening.

If you use a denture adhesive, tell the dentist which one you use. See your dentist for bleeding gums, swelling or ulcers, as the Dentures guide advises. Describe when the problem started and whether it is getting worse. Our contact page has the details for booking, and you should say you wear a denture when you call so the team can give you the right appointment.

A denture is removable. A bridge is fixed in place and cannot be taken out, but it needs healthy teeth either side of the gap. A dental implant can support a crown, bridge or denture. An implant-retained denture is held by implants but you can still remove it.

Our crowns and bridges page explains how a bridge works, and our dental implants page explains implants. The Dental implant guide describes how an implant is placed and the risks to discuss with your dentist.

Which option suits you depends on your teeth, your gums, your health and what you want from the result. Think about what matters most to you, for example avoiding surgery, avoiding work on neighbouring teeth, or being able to take the appliance out. Tell the dentist, and ask them to explain the main drawbacks of each choice next to its benefits. You can also pause or decline a proposed treatment after you have talked through the options and risks.

Ask for the cost in writing before you start, with the work it covers listed. For current fees you can call the practice or read our fees, and our payment options page explains how you can pay. We do not list a price for dentures here because it depends on the type of denture and the work your mouth needs.

The Guide to the cost of dental care explains that most adult dental care is outside Medicare, and that dental clinics set their own fees. Health fund benefits vary with your policy and its annual limits. Dentures may fall under major dental cover, so ask your fund to check the item numbers before you start.

Ask whether adjustments after fitting are included and how a reline, repair or replacement would be quoted later. If tooth removal is part of the plan, ask how it appears in the estimate. Keep the estimate and your fund's reply together. If a cost or a term is unclear, ask the team to explain it in plain words before you decide.

Clean your dentures twice a day, in the morning and before you go to bed. Take them out and clean all surfaces with a soft toothbrush and mild soap and water, because toothpaste can scratch them. Leave them out overnight so your mouth can rest.

Clean them over a towel or a basin of water in case they slip. Avoid hot water, because the Dentures guide explains that it can change the shape of the denture. Ask your dentist whether your denture should be stored dry or in water overnight.

Even without natural teeth, brush your gums and tongue every day. This helps avoid inflamed gums and infections. To see your dentist at least yearly to check the fit, and a regular check-up and clean is a good time to do that. If arthritis or poor eyesight makes cleaning hard, tell the dentist which step is difficult, and ask them to show you an easier way.

Book a visit if your denture causes soreness, ulcers, bleeding gums or swelling, or if it becomes loose or stops fitting well. The Dentures guide lists these as reasons to see your dentist. You do not need to wait until the problem is severe.

If you also have toothache with fever, or swelling in your cheek or jaw, seek prompt dental advice. If swelling makes it hard to breathe or swallow, seek emergency medical care. The Toothache and gum swelling guide explains the warning signs, and our emergency dentist page covers urgent dental concerns.

For a fit problem that is not urgent, note what changed and when. If the denture has been dropped or cracked, say so when you call, and ask what to do with it until you are seen. Our contact page has the practice's details. Even when you are used to your denture, a yearly visit lets the dentist check that it still fits correctly, and you can raise anything you have noticed since your last visit.