Dentures
Short answer: Dentures replace several missing teeth at once, removably, without altering the teeth that remain. They are the least invasive and least expensive way to replace teeth. Because the jaw ridge keeps shrinking underneath them, a denture that fit well a few years ago often needs relining rather than remaking.
Full, partial, and implant-retained
A full denture replaces all the teeth in a jaw.
A partial denture fills several gaps while clipping around the teeth you still have — and unlike a bridge, it does not require cutting those teeth down.
An implant-retained denture clips onto two or more implants. For a lower denture that will not stay put, this is often transformative, and it needs far fewer implants than replacing each tooth individually.
If yours has become loose
Nothing has gone wrong with the denture — the jaw underneath it has changed. Bone resorbs steadily after teeth are removed, so a shape moulded five years ago no longer matches.
That usually calls for a reline, where new material is added to the fitting surface. It costs considerably less than remaking, and it is the usual answer to "it has gone loose".
On adhesives: fine as an aid to a denture that already fits, not a fix for one that does not. Needing steadily more is the signal to have the fit checked. More on this: are my dentures supposed to move?
Sore spots are not something to put up with
An ulcer that keeps returning in the same place needs looking at, and adjusting a denture is usually a short appointment. Never file it yourself — the sore spot is often not where you think, and it is very easy to ruin the fit.
Any sore area in the mouth that has not healed within two weeks should be examined. That is a general rule, not a denture rule.
Common questions
How long do dentures last?
The denture itself lasts years, but the jaw ridge underneath keeps changing shape, so relines are usually needed periodically before a remake becomes necessary.
Why has my denture become loose?
Because the bone ridge underneath has continued to shrink since it was made. It is usually solved with a reline rather than a new denture.
Can implants stop my denture moving?
Yes. Two or more implants with clips the denture snaps onto can transform a loose lower denture, and it requires far fewer implants than replacing teeth individually.
Do partial dentures damage the remaining teeth?
Not in the way a bridge does — a partial clips around your teeth rather than requiring them to be cut down. Keeping both the denture and those teeth clean matters, since the clasps can trap plaque.