Which Type of Denture Is Right For You?

A full denture replaces every tooth in an arch and rests on the gums (and palate, in the upper arch). A partial denture replaces some missing teeth in an arch and clips onto remaining natural teeth via metal clasps or precision attachments. The choice is dictated by how many natural teeth remain and whether they are healthy enough to anchor a partial.

For full-arch wearers who struggle with stability, chewing power, or lower-denture suction, implant-supported overdentures are often considered worth the investment: chewing force can multiply 4 to 5 times versus a conventional lower denture, adhesive becomes unnecessary, and bone loss in the jaw is slowed. The cost step from conventional to implant-supported is meaningful but the daily-life difference is large.

Conventional dentures last 5 to 8 years on average before the fit changes due to bone resorption in the underlying ridge. Relines (refitting the inside surface) extend the working life by 1 to 2 years at a time. Implant-supported overdentures last 10 to 15 years with periodic component changes (snap caps, locator attachments). The implants themselves typically outlast the denture above them.

Yes, with an immediate denture. It is fabricated before the extraction and delivered the same day, so you are never without teeth. Immediate dentures are functional but considered transitional: bone and gum tissue remodel for 3 to 6 months after extractions, after which a permanent denture is made or the immediate is relined to fit the settled tissue.

When two denture types options score within a few percent of each other, the recommender presents both rather than forcing a false single answer. That usually means the choice between them comes down to a personal preference the questions cannot capture. Read the rationale for each, weigh which denture types trade-off you would prefer to live with, and pick from there.

Healthy bone volume, controlled medical conditions, and non-smoking status are the strongest signals.

For a restorable tooth in a position that matters to the bite or appearance, saving the natural tooth with a root canal and crown is usually the better long-term outcome.

A general dentist is the right starting point for almost everyone: routine cleanings, exams, fillings, and a baseline diagnosis.

An in-house membership plan is a direct-to-patient subscription that bundles a year of preventive care (typically two cleanings, an exam, X-rays) plus a discount on other services, for an annual fee paid directly to the practice.

Jaw clicking or popping, episodes of locking, pain on chewing, tension headaches around the temples, morning jaw soreness from clenching, and ear fullness or ringing without an ear infection are the most commonly reported symptoms.