Dentures · Widney Dental, Knowle
Teeth to eat and smile with, made for you.
A denture replaces missing teeth with a plate you take out to clean: a full set when all the teeth have gone, a partial when some remain. At Widney Dental every denture is prescribed by your dentist and made to an impression of your own mouth by a laboratory technician, on the NHS as a Band 3 course of treatment or privately from £400 – £750.
★★★★★ 4.8 from 175 Google reviews · NHS and private
In short
What a denture is.
A removable set of false teeth on a plate that sits on your gums, and on your remaining teeth where you have them. Not everyone with missing teeth suits one: that is a clinical decision from your dentist’s examination of your mouth, and where a denture is not the right answer, a bridge or an implant may be, and the consultation sets them side by side.
Which denture
Full or partial, plastic or chrome.
Two decisions shape every denture: how many teeth it replaces, and what its base is made of. Your dentist knows the condition of your remaining teeth and gums and guides you to the one that will work in your mouth.
Full or partial
- A full denture replaces all the teeth in the upper or lower jaw, or both. An upper full denture covers most of the roof of the mouth, which is what holds it in place.
- A partial denture replaces some teeth where the rest remain, held by clasps around the teeth beside the gaps. Depending on where they sit, some clasps may show when you smile.
- Why replace a gap at all: the teeth either side lean into it, the bite changes, and food packs into the space, which is how decay and gum disease start there.
Plastic or chrome
- Acrylic (plastic) costs less to make, £400 – £750 for a partial here. Unless it is designed carefully it can wear against the teeth it fits around, which is why the design is the dentist’s, not the laboratory’s.
- Cobalt chrome (metal), £950 – £1,250, is stronger and lighter to wear, and is supported by your remaining teeth rather than resting on the gum. The base is metal; the gums and teeth on it are coloured and natural-looking.
- Held on implants, £4,500 – £6,500: for a lower denture that will not stay put, a denture that clips onto a small number of implants. The implants page sets it out.
How it runs
A few visits, and a denture made to you.
- 1
The examination
Your mouth, gums and remaining teeth examined, and the honest answer on whether a denture suits you, and which kind. Anything that needs treating first is treated first.
- 2
Impressions
Impressions of your mouth, and the measurements of your bite, go to the laboratory with your dentist’s written prescription for the denture.
- 3
The try-in
The teeth set in wax are tried in your mouth, so the shade, the shape and the bite are checked and changed before anything is finished.
- 4
The fit
The finished denture fitted, the bite checked, and how to put it in, take it out and clean it shown to you.
- 5
Adjustments
A new denture nearly always needs a sore spot or two eased in the first weeks. That is part of the treatment, not an extra.
What it is like
Strange for a week, then yours.
If you have never had a denture it feels quite strange for the first week or so, especially where there was a gap before. An upper denture that covers the roof of the mouth can dull taste a little, because there are a few small taste buds there; most taste is on the tongue, so it settles. Speaking and eating take practice: soft food cut small at first, and reading aloud for a few minutes a day brings the speech back quickly.
A denture is cleaned out of the mouth, over a basin of water in case it slips, with a brush and denture cleaner rather than toothpaste, and left out at night so the gum underneath rests. Over the years the gum beneath it changes shape, so a denture that has loosened is relined rather than remade, £175 in the chair or £225 in the laboratory.
What it costs
On the NHS, or privately.
Widney Dental treats NHS and private patients. On the NHS, dentures are a Band 3 course of treatment, £332.10, whatever the denture. Privately the figures below are the fee guide’s, and your own is written down before anything is made.
NHS figures are England’s band charges as nhs.uk publishes them; private figures are Widney Dental’s fee guide. One band charge covers the whole course of treatment.
Denture, bridge or implant
Three ways to replace a tooth, set side by side.
The same gap can be filled three ways. Which one depends on how many teeth are missing, the teeth either side, your bone, and what you want to pay now and later.
| What it is | Neighbouring teeth | How long it lasts | Price here | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denture | A removable plate carrying the missing tooth or teeth | Untouched; clasps rest on them | Years; relined as the gum changes | NHS Band 3, £332.10; privately from £400 – £750 | Several missing teeth, or the lowest cost now |
| Bridge | A false tooth carried by crowns on the teeth either side; fixed | Shaped to take crowns | Ten years, often longer | £500 – £550 a unit | One or two missing teeth whose neighbours would benefit from crowns |
| Implant | A titanium root in the jaw with its own crown; fixed | Untouched | Decades with care | £1,700 – £2,250 a tooth | A fixed tooth that stands on its own, with enough bone to hold it |
A lower full denture that will not stay still is one of the most common reasons people ask about implants; two or more implants under it hold it firm. The implants page says how.
Who makes them
Prescribed here, made by a technician.
Every clinical stage and decision is your dentist’s: the examination, the design, the impressions, the try-in and the fit. From the written prescription and the impressions, a laboratory technician makes the denture. Restorative dentistry is Dr Hayley Freedman’s interest; implant-retained dentures are planned with Dr Mohammed Binamin, who holds a master’s degree in dental implantology.
- Dr Hayley FreedmanAssociate dentist · restorative dentistryGDC 252053
- Dr Mohammed BinaminPrincipal dental surgeon · implantsGDC 71019
What patients say
In their own words.
Great support for nervous patients★★★★★I have recently completed treatment for an implant at Widney Dental Care and although nervous at first and some initial discomfort at the beginning the whole process has been managed efficiently and professionally at all times. The care and attention to detail is second to none and the support during and after the treatment is reassuring. I am delighted with my implant.
For the whole family★★★★★My family and I have been receiving treatment at Widney Dental Care for a number of years. I am grateful for the level of care I have received at this practice.
Quality care worth travelling for★★★★★I find this a first-rate practice in every respect. Efficiently run including first-class patient care and treatment. Having moved out of the area several years ago and having full confidence in my dental care and treatment I still remain a patient being more than happy to travel some distance for my dental care.
Google review★★★★★Adam takes great pride in his work, treating the fillings like a work of art.
Questions
Asked before people decide.
How much do dentures cost?
On the NHS at Widney Dental, a denture is a Band 3 course of treatment, £332.10. Privately, a partial acrylic denture is £400 – £750, full upper and lower acrylic dentures £600 – £1,200, and a cobalt chrome denture £950 – £1,250; the figure for yours is written down at the examination.
Can I get dentures on the NHS?
Yes, as a Band 3 course of treatment, where you are an NHS patient of the practice and the denture is clinically necessary. NHS places are limited everywhere in England; ring and ask reception what is available for you.
Is everyone with missing teeth suitable for dentures?
No. It is a clinical decision from your dentist’s assessment of your mouth; each case is different, and where a denture is not right, a bridge or an implant may be. The consultation sets the options side by side.
Plastic or metal?
Plastic (acrylic) costs less and is the usual choice for a full denture. Cobalt chrome is stronger, lighter and supported by your remaining teeth, so for a partial denture it is often the better long-term wear; it costs more. Your dentist knows the condition of your remaining teeth and guides you.
What do dentures feel like?
Strange for the first week or so, especially where there was a gap. A full upper denture covers the roof of the mouth and can dull taste a little; most taste is on the tongue, so this settles. Eating and speaking come back with practice.
How long do dentures take to make?
Several visits a week or two apart: the examination, impressions, the try-in in wax, the fit, and the adjustments afterwards. Your dentist gives you the timeline at the first visit.
My denture has broken. Can you repair it?
Yes, and usually quickly. A simple repair is £69, a complex one £89, and a tooth added when another is lost from £79. Do not glue it yourself; household glue ruins the acrylic for the repair.
My denture has become loose. Do I need a new one?
Usually not. The gum under a denture changes shape over the years, and a reline refits the denture to it: £175 in the chair or £225 in the laboratory. A lower denture that will not stay still is the case for implants under it.
How do I look after a denture?
Clean it out of the mouth, over a basin of water in case it slips, with a brush and a denture cleaner rather than toothpaste. Leave it out at night so the gum underneath rests, and keep your check-ups: the gums and any remaining teeth still need looking at.
Where are you, and how do I book?
76 Widney Road, Knowle, Solihull B93 9AW. Open Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 6pm and Friday 8.30am to 5pm. Call 01564 773080, or request a call-back.
Missing teeth, replaced.
An examination that says which denture suits you, or whether a bridge or an implant would serve you better, and the figure in writing before anything is made.
Knowle, Solihull
B93 9AW
Friday 8.30am to 5pm