Dentures in Leeds
Dentures replace missing teeth with a removable appliance that restores your bite, your speech and the support of your lips and cheeks. Twilight Dental provides full and partial dentures, repairs and implant-retained options at our clinic in Woodhouse, Leeds, with evening appointments seven days a week.
Types of denture
- Full dentures replace all the teeth in one arch, upper or lower.
- Partial dentures fill the gaps where some natural teeth remain, in acrylic or a slimmer cobalt-chrome framework.
- Immediate dentures are fitted at the same visit as extractions so you are never without teeth.
- Implant-retained dentures clip onto implants and do not move when you eat.
- Several fitting visits are normal — the stages are what produce a denture that fits.
- Repairs and relines for dentures that have cracked or become loose.
How a denture is made
- Assessment. Examination of the remaining teeth, gums and ridges, with X-rays where needed.
- Impressions, first preliminary and then a precise working impression in a custom tray.
- Bite registration to record how your jaws meet.
- Try-in. The teeth are set in wax so you can see and approve the look and the bite before the denture is finished.
- Fitting, followed by adjustment appointments to settle any sore spots.
Settling in
- New dentures feel bulky for the first week or two. This is normal and it passes.
- Start with soft food cut small, and chew on both sides at once for stability.
- Reading aloud helps speech adapt more quickly.
- Sore spots are expected and easily adjusted — do not struggle on, and do not adjust them yourself.
- Take them out at night unless told otherwise, and store them in water or a denture solution.
- Clean them over a bowl of water with a denture brush and soap or a denture cleaner, not toothpaste, which is abrasive.
When a denture stops fitting
The jaw ridge shrinks steadily after teeth are lost, particularly in the first year, so a denture that fitted well can become loose over time. A reline refits the base to the changed shape and is far cheaper than a new denture. Persistent looseness in a lower full denture is very common and is the situation where two implants can transform how you eat. Never use long-term denture fixative to compensate for a denture that no longer fits — have it assessed.
Alternatives worth considering
A partial denture is not the only way to replace missing teeth. A bridge or an implant is fixed in place, feels more like your own teeth, and does not need taking out. Each has different costs and requirements, and we will go through the options at the consultation. Fees for all three are listed on our price list.
Dentures — your questions answered
How long does it take to get dentures?
Usually several appointments over a few weeks. Immediate dentures are the exception and are fitted on the day teeth are removed.
Will people be able to tell?
Modern denture teeth are made in a range of shades and shapes and are chosen with you at the try-in stage, before anything is finalised.
Can I eat normally?
Most people manage well after an adjustment period. Lower full dentures are the hardest to stabilise, which is why implant retention makes such a difference there.
Do dentures need to come out at night?
Usually yes. Leaving them in continuously increases the risk of gum inflammation and fungal infection.
My denture is broken. Can you repair it?
In many cases yes, and often quickly. Bring the pieces and do not try to glue them yourself.
Can I have a denture the same day my teeth are taken out?
Yes, that is an immediate denture. It will need relining or replacing later as the gum heals and shrinks.
Talk to us about replacing missing teeth
Book a £24 consultation for an assessment and a written plan covering dentures, bridges and implants. Call 0113 819 7865.
