Losing teeth is a significant experience, and the options available can feel bewildering when you first start looking into them. Partial dentures, full dentures, different materials, different price points. This is a clear, practical breakdown of what each option actually involves — without the jargon.
What Is the Fundamental Difference?
A partial denture replaces some missing teeth while your remaining natural teeth are still present. It is designed to fit around those existing teeth, using them to help anchor the appliance in place. A full denture — sometimes called a complete denture — replaces an entire arch of teeth and relies on the gum and jawbone for support.
The choice between them is often made for you by your clinical situation. If you still have healthy teeth remaining in an arch, a partial denture is the appropriate solution. If all teeth in an arch are lost or need removing, a full denture is the route forward.
What Materials Are Available?
For partial dentures, two main materials are used. Acrylic partial dentures are the most common entry-level option, using a pink acrylic base with replacement teeth attached. At Dream Smiles Dental, these start from £700. They are effective, lightweight, and relatively simple to adjust if your tooth situation changes.
Cobalt chrome partial dentures use a precision-cast metal framework that is significantly thinner and stronger than acrylic. They feel more rigid in the mouth, cover less palate, and are generally more comfortable for long-term wear. Cobalt chrome partials start from £1,200 at our practice.
For full dentures, acrylic is the most common material. Full acrylic dentures start from £1,000. We also offer CDT suction dentures, crafted by our clinical dental technician John Wibberley, which use advanced impression techniques to achieve superior suction and stability without implants — starting from £2,250.
How Are They Made?
Both types involve a series of appointments. Impressions of your mouth are taken, bite records are made, and a try-in stage allows you to see and assess the fit and appearance of your denture before it is finalised. This try-in stage is your opportunity to request adjustments to tooth colour, shape, or position before anything is set permanently.
What About Stability?
This is the question that concerns most new denture patients. Full dentures, particularly lower ones, can move more than patients expect. Partial dentures tend to be more stable because they have natural teeth to grip. If stability is a priority, implant-retained options can anchor dentures firmly in place for both full and partial cases, offering a significant improvement in confidence and function.
Do I Need to Do Anything Special to Look After Them?
Dentures need daily cleaning, just like natural teeth, but they should not be cleaned with regular toothpaste, which can be too abrasive. A soft brush and specific denture cleaner, along with soaking overnight, keeps them in good condition. Your natural teeth and gums still need brushing too, and regular check-ups are important even when teeth have been replaced. Dream Smiles Dental, named Best Dental Practice UK 2025 at the Private Dentistry Awards, offers ongoing aftercare and review appointments for all denture patients.
Come and Have a Conversation
If you are trying to work out which type of denture is right for your situation, the best place to start is a proper consultation. Book a free e-consultation at calendly.com/dreamsmilesdental-info/freeconsultation, visit dreamsmilesdental.co.uk, WhatsApp us at wa.me/+441204964678, or call 01204 964678. Your dream smile — comfortable, confident, and right for you — is what we are here to help you find.