Dentures (false teeth)

Because a complete set of teeth is about more than your smile.

Do I need dentures?

If you’re missing a few teeth you can’t fail to notice the effect they have on your appearance. For some people, the effect can damage self-confidence. For others, it can change the way you talk and eat. As your remaining teeth grow at different angles to fill the gaps, you could find the problems you have now get worse.

That’s why dentures (partial or full) can make such a difference. They sit snugly over your gum, filling the gaps left by missing teeth and making smiling, talking and eating an altogether more comfortable experience.

Partial dentures

A partial denture is usually a number of false teeth fixed to a plastic or metal plate. These fill the gaps left by missing teeth and clip onto the teeth either side to keep them secure. You can easily unclip and remove them at night and for cleaning.

Visit us at our Bristol dental practice and we’ll discuss your partial denture with you, and take measurements that will help us create a perfect replacement for your missing teeth.

Full dentures

If all your teeth need to be removed, or you need a replacement set of full dentures, we’ll take impressions of your mouth so that your dentures are a perfect match for your gums. Initially we’ll create a trial denture to check the fit, and adjust the colour and shape as required for the final set.

Do I need denture adhesive?

Your dentures should be such a snug fit that you really shouldn’t need additional adhesive, but some people – especially those new to wearing dentures – appreciate the added security the adhesive can bring.

Taking your teeth for a test drive

You’ll need to get used to eating with your new dentures. Start with soft, bite-size pieces of food and chew slowly, using both sides of your mouth. Initially, 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?

The problems associated with not cleaning your teeth properly also apply to not cleaning your dentures. A good, regular cleaning regime can protect you against bad breath, gum disease and oral thrush.
You can clean them by:

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. Because they’re a permanent fixture you clean them as you would natural teeth too. If you’d like to know more about dental implants, talk to your Bristol dentist.

Make your appointment

If you’d like to discuss dentures, make an appointment at our dental surgery in Bristol now. You can do that using the form on the right, or call us on 0117 958 68 78.