Losing all your teeth affects how you eat, how you speak, and how you feel about your smile. Full dentures are one way to get your smile and your chewing back. They have real advantages and real limitations, and it helps to know both before you decide. Here is what they are, who they suit, and how to look after them so they last.
What full dentures are
A full denture, or complete denture, is a removable set of teeth on an acrylic or flexible base, shaped to fit your gum ridge. It is used when no natural teeth are left in the upper jaw, the lower jaw, or both.
An upper denture gets extra grip from the palate, so it usually feels more secure. A lower denture rests on the ridge and is held by the muscles of the tongue and cheeks, so it often feels a little looser at first.
If a few natural teeth remain, we examine them first to see whether they can be kept. Loose or badly decayed teeth may need an extraction, and the gum needs to heal before the denture is made.
Advantages of full dentures
- Affordable. Compared with dental implants or bridges, a full denture costs far less.
- No surgery. Nothing is placed in the bone, which suits people who would rather avoid surgery or whose health makes it unwise.
- Quick to get. From examination and impressions to try-in and delivery takes only a few visits.
- Supports your face. A denture fills out the lips and cheeks, lets you smile again, and makes eating and speaking easier than having no teeth at all.
- Adjustable. If it loosens or your gums change shape, we can reline it, adjust it, or make a new one.
Disadvantages of full dentures
- Not as secure as natural teeth. A denture can shift or slip, especially when you talk or chew. Lower dentures do this more than upper ones.
- An adjustment period. At first it may feel bulky, make you salivate more, blur your speech, or rub sore spots on the gum. Most of this settles after a few adjustments and some practice.
- A limited lifespan. The gum ridge and jawbone change over time, so a denture that fitted well slowly loosens and needs relining or remaking.
- Extra daily care. A denture has to be cleaned and stored properly every day, or plaque and bacteria build up and cause sore gums and bad breath.
How to care for full dentures
- Clean them every day. Brush the denture with a soft brush and a denture cleaner or mild soap. Do not use ordinary toothpaste; its abrasives scratch the surface and make it stain faster.
- Soak them when they are out. A denture that dries out can warp. Keep it in clean water or a denture soaking solution, never hot water.
- Take them out at night. Your gums need a rest, and it reduces bacterial buildup. Brush your gums, tongue, and palate gently with a soft brush before bed.
- Avoid very hard or sticky foods. Ice, hard nuts, or bones can crack a denture. In the first weeks start with soft food, cut it small, and chew on both sides at once.
- Clean them over a towel or a basin of water, so a dropped denture does not break.
- See us regularly. Come in every six months so we can check the fit, relieve any sore spots, and look at the tissues under the denture.
Who full dentures suit
Full dentures suit people who have lost all their teeth and do not want implants, people whose jawbone has shrunk too much to support implants easily, people whose general health makes surgery unwise, and anyone who wants their teeth back on a modest budget.
If a loose lower denture worries you, another option is to anchor the denture on two to four implants so it clips firmly in place. We assess at your visit which approach suits your case.
Prices
- Full denture, one arch: 20,000–22,000 baht
- Full dentures, upper and lower: 36,000–40,000 baht
These are starting prices. We confirm the exact fee after examining your mouth. See the price list.
Book a consultation
If you are unsure whether a removable denture, implants, or a combination is right for you, come in and let us take a look. We check your gums and bone, then walk you through the options and the cost before you decide.
- LINE
- Phone: 098 831 0246
- Open daily 10:00–20:00 (closed Tuesdays)
- Tooth Boutique Dental Clinic, Venice Di Iris, Vacharapol Road, Bang Khen, Bangkok. Parking available.