Full & Partial Dentures
What kind of Denture will I need?
1 or 2 teeth missing
Options are quite good. If you are in generally good dental health (dentist confirmation required) you could choose 3d printed metal denture, or flexible material options. Dental health not so great? Or on a budget? Maybe a standard plastic denture is the best option due to the ease of adding more teeth if required.
Lots of teeth missing
Depending on the arrangement of the missing teeth, and the overall health. Options in different materials may be limited. 3d printed metal, and standard plastic are usually the most popular options
All teeth missing or about to be extracted
Full Dentures. We have different options depending on whether you are replacing your old faithful ones. Or if you are getting them for the first time.
First time wearers will need to talk through whether they decided to have “immediate dentures” which are fitted as a bandage over the area where the teeth used to be. Less popular now days is delayed dentures, you will need to live gummy for a few months with this option taken.
We have multiple options we can discuss when you require this treatment.
Immediate Denture Treatment
An Immediate denture is your very first denture, the alternative is a ‘delayed’ denture when the natural teeth are removed, and you are without anything for 3-6 months.
Immediate means that the dentures are placed in the mouth at the same appointment as the tooth extractions by your friendly family dentist.
Immediate dentures at Denture South are one of our most common services, and we excel at this difficult time by scheduling regular follow-up visits.
Regular follow-ups are part of the immediate denture package costs, and not billed separately.
Gum change and underlying bone structures will alter dramatically over the first 2 years, we see you for the first year which usually accounts for most changes.
As the gum alters, your dentures stay the same.
We need to actively adjust and pack the dentures with special materials to get you through this active time.
The process is long and requires a very active check period with full commitment to achieve a good outcome.
Full Denture Treatment
Initial assessment is carried out in the initial consultation.
We check your existing dentures for wear and breakage, we look at the gum structures and pink gum health, and make sure that there is nothing of concern.
We most importantly talk about what you are wanting to do with the dentures. Then if you want new dentures, we talk about your dreams and expectations.
We will then talk through the most appropriate solution for your unique situation.
At Denture South we are most known for our prices, secondly, we are known for ways to make them look less like dentures. Andrew has taken years and years to refine the technique for giving the mouth the correct support in order to support the lips and reduce unusual looking plastic in the smile zone.
Design is a 2 person job, and you- the patient are heavily involved.
- Trial dentures are made and approvals are needed before they are completed.
- Denture fitting is achieved
- Follow-up care begins. We have the Christchurch’s most comprehensive aftercare service. We pride ourselves on the ease at which you can return. Sometimes a long time after you are enjoying your new smile.
- We know that the craftsmanship of dentures is a major factor to their success, Andrew has spent over 20 years refining this.
More Treatments Available
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on how many teeth you’ve lost and the condition of any teeth that remain. If you have one or several missing teeth and your remaining teeth are healthy, a partial denture (in plastic, 3D-printed metal, or flexible material) is usually the answer. If all your teeth are missing — or about to be extracted — you’ll need a full denture. A consultation with a clinical denturist will confirm the right option based on your gums, bite, and budget.
An immediate denture is a denture that’s fitted on the same day your natural teeth are extracted, so you never have to be without teeth. It acts a bit like a bandage over the extraction sites while your gums heal, with scheduled follow-ups to reline and refit it as the underlying bone and tissue settle. Denture South includes those follow-up visits in the immediate denture price rather than billing them separately.
With an immediate denture, you walk out of your extraction appointment with teeth in place. With a delayed denture, you have your teeth removed and then go without anything for three to six months while your gums heal, before the denture is made. Most patients today choose immediate dentures because the gummy gap is socially and practically difficult — but delayed can be cheaper since it skips the relining stage.
The most common options are traditional acrylic (plastic) dentures, 3D-printed or cast metal-framework dentures, and flexible thermoplastic partials such as Valplast. Each has trade-offs: acrylic is the most affordable and easy to add to, metal frames are stronger and thinner, and flexible materials are lighter and more discreet. A good denturist will walk through which suits your situation rather than defaulting to one option.
Most people adapt within four to six weeks, though immediate dentures can take longer because your gums are still healing underneath. Eating, speaking, and the simple sensation of having dentures in your mouth all take time to feel normal — regular follow-up adjustments through the first months make a significant difference to how quickly you settle in.
They can — modern denture techniques, combined with proper lip and cheek support, produce results that look very close to natural teeth. The trick is in the design phase: copying the shape and arrangement of your original teeth (from photos if available), getting the gum line right, and making sure the smile zone doesn’t show that telltale flat plastic. Denture South’s principal denturist Andrew has spent over 20 years refining this technique.