Complete Dentures in Dubai
- Replaces all teeth in the upper jaw, the lower jaw, or both.
- Conventional and immediate options are available.
- Made in our in-house dental laboratory and fitted by our dentists.
- Treatment is planned from your first examination, including extractions if needed.
- A consultation tells you which option, and which alternatives, suit your case.
What Are Complete Dentures?
Complete dentures are removable replacements for all the natural teeth in an arch. They have a gum-coloured acrylic base that rests on your gums and a full set of artificial teeth set into it. An upper complete denture covers the gums and the roof of your mouth, while a lower complete denture is horseshoe-shaped to leave room for your tongue. You can wear a single denture on one jaw or a pair for both, depending on how many teeth you have lost.
Complete Dentures vs Full Dentures
Who Needs Complete Dentures?
• Have lost all of your upper or lower teeth through decay, gum disease, injury or age.
• Have remaining teeth that are too damaged, loose or infected to save and will need to be removed.
• Want a removable replacement for a whole arch rather than a surgical solution.
• Find that your existing dentures no longer fit and need to be replaced.
Conventional vs Immediate Complete Dentures
Complete dentures come in two main types. The difference is timing: when the denture is made and when you receive it.
| Feature | Conventional complete denture | Immediate complete denture |
|---|---|---|
| When it is fitted | After your teeth are removed and the gums have healed, which can take several weeks | On the day your remaining teeth are removed |
| Time without teeth | You wait without teeth while the gums heal, unless a temporary denture is made | You leave the appointment with teeth in place |
| Fit | Made on healed gums, so the fit is usually more precise from the start | Made in advance, so it needs adjustment as the gums heal and shrink |
| Follow-up | Routine fitting and review visits | More frequent adjustments, and often a reline or a remake later |
| Best suited to | Patients who have already lost their teeth, or who can wait for healing | Patients who need teeth extracted and do not want to be without teeth |
Your dentist will recommend one after your examination. Some patients wear an immediate denture while their gums heal and then move to a conventional one for the long term.
Upper vs Lower Complete Dentures
Upper complete denture
Lower complete denture
Held by implants
Materials and Teeth for Complete Dentures
A complete denture is made of a gum-coloured acrylic base with artificial teeth set into it. Your teeth are chosen in a shade and shape that suit your face and match your preferences, so the result looks natural, and the gum-coloured base blends with your own tissue.
Because we make dentures in our own in-house dental laboratory, our dentists and technicians work together on the fit, the bite and the look of your teeth, and adjustments are handled in one place.
How Complete Dentures Are Made: Step by Step
- Examination and X-rays. We check your gums, jaw and any remaining teeth, review your medical history, and take X-rays to plan your treatment.
- Extractions, if needed. If teeth must be removed, we plan this with you first and can carry it out at the clinic. For an immediate denture, the teeth are removed and the denture is placed in the same visit.
- Impressions. We take detailed impressions of your gums and jaw. A first impression is used to make a custom tray, and a second, more exact one is taken in that tray.
- Bite and jaw position. Your dentist records how your jaws meet and how much space there is between them, so the finished dentures support your face and bite correctly.
- Try-in. You try a version of the dentures with teeth set in wax. We check the look, the shade, the bite and your comfort, and make changes before the final dentures are made.
- Making your dentures. The final dentures are made in our in-house dental laboratory.
- Fitting. Your dentist fits the dentures, checks the bite, adjusts any pressure points, and shows you how to insert, remove and clean them.
- Review visits. We see you again after you have worn them for a short time, because the first weeks are when small adjustments matter most.
Getting Used to Wearing Dentures
- Pressure or sore spots. Your gums need time to get used to the denture. Your dentist can relieve pressure points, so book a review rather than adjusting the denture yourself.
- Extra saliva. Your mouth may produce more saliva at first, which settles down as it adapts.
- Speech changes. Some words, especially those with “s” and “th”, can sound different. Reading aloud helps your tongue and lips adapt.
- Eating. Start with soft foods cut into small pieces, chew slowly on both sides at once, and add firmer foods as you feel confident.
- Gag reflex. The upper denture can trigger a gag reflex at first. This usually eases as you wear it.
- Feeling loose. A new lower denture often feels less secure than an upper one. If it keeps moving, tell us, as there are ways to improve the fit.
How Long Do Complete Dentures Last?
With good care, complete dentures commonly last around five to seven years. Your gums and jawbone keep changing shape slowly after teeth are removed, so a denture that fitted well at first can loosen. A check-up at least once a year lets your dentist assess the fit, check your gums and tell you when an adjustment, a reline or a replacement is needed. If a denture cracks or no longer fits, see our denture repair and relining service rather than trying to fix it yourself.
Caring for Your Complete Dentures
- Take your dentures out after eating and rinse them to remove food.
- Clean them daily with a soft denture brush and a non-abrasive cleaner. Avoid hot water, bleach and harsh toothpaste.
- Brush your gums, tongue and the roof of your mouth gently with a soft brush every day.
- Soak the dentures overnight in water or a denture-cleaning solution, as your dentist advises, to rest your gums.
- Handle them over a basin of water or a towel so they do not break if dropped.
- Keep your regular check-ups, even though you have no natural teeth.
Alternatives to Complete Dentures
Complete dentures are a good solution for many patients, but they are not the only one. If you want a firmer hold, a lower denture can be secured with a few dental implants, which we cover on our page about implant-supported dentures. For fixed teeth that do not come out, you can read about All-on-4 and full mouth dental implants on our dental implants in Dubai page. Your dentist will explain which option fits your gums, bone and goals.
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Complete Dentures FAQs
Are full dentures and complete dentures the same thing?
Yes. Both names describe dentures that replace every tooth in an upper or lower jaw. The word "complete" is the more clinical term, and "full" is the one most patients use.
Will I be without teeth while I wait for my dentures?
Not necessarily. With an immediate denture, your teeth are removed and the denture is placed in the same visit, so you leave with teeth. With a conventional denture, there is a healing period before the final denture is made, and your dentist will explain your options for that time.
Should I sleep with my dentures in?
Most dentists advise taking them out at night to rest your gums and let your mouth recover. Keep them in water or a denture-cleaning solution overnight. Your dentist will give advice that suits your case, especially in the first days after an immediate denture.
What foods should I avoid at first?
Start with soft foods cut into small pieces, and avoid very hard, sticky or chewy foods such as nuts, toffee and tough meat until you are confident. Chew slowly on both sides at the same time to keep the denture steady.
Why does my lower denture feel looser than my upper?
The upper denture is held by suction against the roof of your mouth, while the lower sits on a smaller area and moves with your tongue and cheeks. This is normal, and your dentist can adjust the fit. If it still feels unstable, implants can be used to hold a lower denture firmly in place.
Will complete dentures change how my face looks?
Well-made dentures support your lips and cheeks and usually improve how your face looks when teeth are missing. We plan the tooth position, size and shade with you at the try-in stage so you can see and approve the look before the final dentures are made.
How do I know when my dentures need to be replaced?
Common signs are a loose fit, repeated sore spots, cracks or chips, worn teeth, or difficulty chewing. Your gums change over time, so book a review if anything feels different. Your dentist can tell you whether a reline, an adjustment or a replacement is the right answer.
Are complete dentures or dental implants better for me?
It depends on your gums, your bone, your budget and how you want your teeth to feel. Complete dentures are removable and lower in cost, while implants are fixed in the jaw and help preserve bone. We explain the trade-offs in our guide to dental implants vs dentures vs bridges.