Frequently Asked Questions

Modern dentures are designed to look as natural as possible. We carefully select the size, shape, and colour of your teeth to suit your facial features and preferences.

Some patients notice a slight lisp when they first receive dentures. This is temporary and usually improves quickly as your tongue adapts.

Most patients return to eating a wide variety of foods once they have adapted to their dentures. Initially, softer foods, and foods cust into smaller, more managable sized pieces is recommended while you become accustomed to chewing with your new teeth.

You’ll have to adapt to biting food with the canines instead of your front teeth and chewing evenly on both sides of your back molars simultaneously to prevent the denture from tipping.

There may be some foods that you won’t be able to eat in the same manner you used to. For example biting into an apple with dentures would cause them to disloge, however if you cut the apple into wedges you should have no trouble.

In the first few weeks of new dentures, particularly with immediate dentures, a certain amount of soreness and irritation is to be expected whist adjusting to new dentures. It is a big adjustment for your mouth and particularly if your gums need to heal in that time too.

The discomfort will ease with time and once your dentures are relined (6 months after having immediate dentures fitted) this problem should be corrected all together. If fitted correctly, you should not experience ongoing soreness throughout the life of your dentures. If that is the case, they are not fitting correctly and may require a minor adjustment.

Most full dentures require between four  and six appointments over a period of approximately six weeks. Refer to our Full Dentures page for more inforation about the steps involved.

A partial denture replaces one or more missing teeth while fitting around your remaining natural teeth. In addition to restoring your smile and chewing ability, a partial denture can help prevent neighbouring teeth from drifting or moving out of position.

Full immediate dentures are made prior to having all your teeth extracted and are inserted by you Dentist at the time of your extractions, allowing you to leave with a full smile on the day of your treatment.

Delayed dentures are made 3 or more months after having your teeth extracted. This gives you a better result as it allows time for your gums and jawbone to shrink back before having dentures fitted.

This approach just means you will have to go gappy or toothless for a period of 3 or more months, which doesn’t suit everyone.

If you still have natural teeth and require a partial denture, or even a partial denture reline, New Zealand regulations require you to obtain either an Oral Health Certificate or a referral from your dentist before treatment can begin.

Think of it as a Warrant of Fitness for your mouth. It confirms that your remaining teeth and gums are healthy enough to support a denture successfully.

Oral Health Certificates are generally valid for three months.

If you no longer have any natural teeth, or already wear full dentures, you can book directly with us and no referral is required.

With proper care and maintenance, most dentures will last approximately 8–10 years.

As your gums naturally change shape over time, we generally recommend relining dentures every few years to help maintain a comfortable and secure fit.

Yes. We recommend removing your dentures before going to bed to allow your gums to rest and recover. Dentures should be stored in water or a denture-cleaning solution overnight to prevent them from drying out.

Dentures should be cleaned daily, just as you would care for your natural teeth. Regular cleaning helps prevent staining, odours, plaque build-up, and irritation of the gums.

Use a denture-cleaning solution or denture paste together with a soft denture brush.

Don’t use regular toothpaste on your denture as it is too abrasive and can scratch the denture surface over time, leading to more staining.

When cleaning your dentures, always do so over a sink filled with water, to cushion any accidental drops which would help prevent breakages.

If you have full dentures, while you soak your dentures you could gently brush your gums with some toothpaste to provide a fresh mouth-feel. Mouthwash would also help with a fresh mouth-feel.

In most cases, yes. We offer same-day repair services for many cracks, breaks, and missing teeth. In many cases, repairs can be completed within a few hours.

Loose dentures are often a sign that your gums have changed shape. You should have them relined to restore a proper fit once more.

While you wait for your reline appointment, if required you could use a  small pea sized amount of a denture adhesive such as polygrip in the centre of the denture to help secure your denture in your mouth and stop it from dropping down or moving around. This is just a temporary band-aid solution though. Denture adhesive is sticky, messy stuff. It’s not someething you should be relying on for daily comfort. If your denture it too loose for comfort, it likely needs to be relined.

A reline involves taking a new impression of your gums and adding new material to the surface of your denture where it sits against your gums, helping to restore a comfortable fit once more, and improve retention and stability.

If you are eligible for financial assistance, Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) may be able to help with the cost of denture treatment. We are happy to provide quotes to support your application but we aren’t able to lodge any applications for you.

If you have an ACC claim pertaining to a dental injury, sometimes a portion of your denture cost can be claimed through ACC but you would need your Dentist to facilitate the claim process.

Even if your dentures feel comfortable, it can be a good idea to have periodic reviews to ensure they continue to fit correctly and to identify any issues before they become larger problems.