We're now open on Saturdays 09:00-13:00 (pre-booked appointments only)
Call us: 0115 647 9990
Mapperley Dental Studio · 870 Woodborough Road · 0115 647 9990
Removable, and the least invasive option
Replacing missing teeth without surgery and without cutting down the teeth that remain.
Dentures are custom made over a series of appointments so the fit, bite and appearance are checked at each stage. They are removable, which is both their main advantage and their main limitation.
DenturesFrom £495
Fully private practice, no long waiting list
Early, late and weekend appointments available
Booked in advance, subject to availability
Membership plans from £14.10 a month
The straight answer
Dentures are removable replacements for missing teeth and the surrounding tissue. A partial denture replaces some teeth and rests against those remaining; a complete denture replaces a full arch. They are custom made in stages so the fit, bite and appearance are checked and adjusted before the final version is finished.
Missing teeth affect chewing, speech and appearance, and the remaining teeth drift into the spaces. Where several teeth are missing, or where surgery or cost rule out implants, a denture restores function without altering the remaining teeth.
Impressions record the ridge and remaining teeth. The bite is registered, a trial denture in wax is tried in so appearance and speech can be assessed, and only then is the final denture processed and fitted.
Dentures take time to adapt to. They move more than natural teeth, particularly lower complete dentures. The ridge continues to shrink after teeth are lost, so the fit changes and periodic adjustment, relining or replacement is expected.
Why patients come to us
Where gaps are spread across the arch, replacing each individually with implants or bridges is a very large undertaking. A partial denture addresses them all in one appliance.
Practical outcome: chewing and appearance restored across the arch without surgery.
Insufficient bone, medical conditions, medication or smoking can all rule out implant treatment, and cost rules it out for many others.
Practical outcome: a functional, well-made removable option rather than no treatment.
The ridge shrinks continually after teeth are lost, so a denture that fitted well years ago will gradually loosen. Worn teeth on the denture also alter the bite.
Practical outcome: relining or remaking to fit the ridge as it is now rather than as it was.
What this treatment gives you, and the practicalities worth knowing before you book.
Suitability
Attend the examination and hygiene intervals your dentist recommends
Follow the home cleaning routine agreed with your dentist or hygienist
Tell us about medical conditions and medication, and about any changes
Your dentist will confirm whether this treatment is suitable after examining your teeth, gums, bite and wider oral health.
Step by step
The remaining teeth, gums, ridge and bite are assessed. Any decay or gum disease is treated first, and where extractions are needed, healing time is planned in.
Initial impressions record the shape of the ridge and remaining teeth, and are used to make custom trays for a more precise second impression.
A detailed impression is taken and your bite registered, so the denture teeth meet correctly against the opposing arch.
A trial denture set in wax is tried in so you can assess tooth position, shade, lip support and speech. Changes are far easier at this stage than after processing.
The finished denture is fitted and adjusted. Some soreness in the first days is usual and is relieved by easing specific points at a review appointment.
Review appointments ease pressure spots and refine the bite. Expect more than one, particularly with a first denture.
The fit is checked at routine examinations, and relining or replacement is planned as the ridge changes.
The first appointment is an examination and a discussion. No treatment is carried out without your agreement, and you leave with a written plan and costs.
Fees
Fees depend on what the examination finds, which is why the figures below are starting points rather than quotations.
One examination and one hygiene appointment a year, priority access and emergency support.
Two examinations and two hygiene appointments a year, priority access and emergency support.
Two examinations and four hygiene appointments a year, priority access and emergency support.
All three plans include priority appointment availability, a 10% discount on non-cosmetic treatment and eligibility for the Worldwide Dental Emergency Assistance Scheme.
Your personalised cost is confirmed in writing after your examination. The figures above are starting prices for guidance only. They are not a quotation and do not take account of your individual clinical needs. You will receive a written plan setting out the recommended treatment, sequence and cost. No treatment begins until you have agreed it.
Your dentist
Whether someone comes in for a check-up or a full cosmetic plan, the first appointment is the same: time to listen, a proper look, and a clear explanation of the options and what they cost. Everything else follows from that.
Dr Rupchhen Tamang, Principal Dentist
A general dental practitioner is not a specialist. The word "specialist" should not be used unless a clinician appears on the relevant GDC specialist list.
Comfort and aftercare
Making a denture involves impressions rather than drilling, so anaesthetic is not usually needed. Impressions can feel bulky briefly. Tell your dentist if you have a strong gag reflex so the technique can be adapted.
The wax try-in is the stage to speak up. If the tooth position, shade or lip support is not what you want, say so then, because changes after processing are much harder.
Expect sore spots in the first days, along with increased saliva and a lisp. This is normal. Wear the denture as instructed so problem areas can be identified and eased at your review, rather than leaving it out.
Start with soft food cut small and chew on both sides at once. Reading aloud helps speech settle. Come back for adjustment rather than persevering with a painful area or adjusting it yourself.
Common questions
Most people need a few weeks, and a first complete denture takes longer. Speech, saliva and the sensation of bulk settle first; confident eating takes longest. Wearing the denture consistently in the early weeks is what allows sore spots to be identified and eased, so leaving it out because it feels odd delays the process.
Chewing efficiency with a denture is lower than with natural teeth or implants, and that is an honest limitation rather than something that resolves with practice alone. Start with soft food cut small, chew on both sides at once rather than one, and reintroduce harder foods gradually. Most people manage a broad diet, though very hard or sticky items can remain difficult.
Several. Denture construction is staged: initial impressions, working impressions and bite registration, a wax try-in, the fit, and then review appointments for adjustment. Skipping the try-in stage to save time is a false economy, because it is the point at which appearance and tooth position can still be changed easily.
Usually yes, unless your dentist advises otherwise. Leaving the tissues uncovered overnight allows them to recover and reduces the risk of denture stomatitis, a fungal inflammation under the denture. Store it in water so it does not dry out and distort.
The ridge of bone that supported your teeth continues to shrink after they are lost, so a denture made years ago no longer matches the shape it sits on. This is expected rather than a fault. A reline can adapt the fitting surface, and where the teeth are also worn, remaking is the better option.
Yes. A small number of implants can be used to retain a denture, which improves stability considerably, particularly in the lower jaw where complete dentures are hardest to keep in place. It involves surgery and additional cost, and suitability depends on bone volume and general health. It is worth discussing if instability is your main problem.
Brush it over a basin of water or a folded towel so it does not break if dropped, using a denture brush with soap or a denture cleaner. Avoid ordinary toothpaste, which is abrasive and scratches the surface, and avoid very hot water, which distorts acrylic. Clean your remaining teeth and gums separately and thoroughly.
Still unsure about something? Call the practice on 0115 647 9990 and ask.
Finding us
| Monday | 9am to 5pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8am to 8pm |
| Wednesday | 8am to 8pm |
| Thursday | 9am to 5pm |
| Friday | 9am to 5pm |
| Saturday | Pre-booked appointments only |
| Sunday | Closed |
Patient feedback
Your first appointment is an assessment and a conversation. You leave with a written plan setting out what is recommended, in what order, and what it costs, and you decide what happens next.
