Dentures in Turkey

Which kind of denture do you need?

A denture is a set of replacement teeth on a base that sits on the gums. Which design suits you depends on how many natural teeth you still have, their condition, and whether implants are an option.

• Full (complete) denture: replaces every tooth in one jaw. The upper one is held largely by suction against the palate; a lower full denture has far less to grip and is often the less stable of the two.
• Partial denture: fills gaps when some healthy teeth remain, clipping onto them. Bases can be acrylic, a thin cobalt-chrome metal framework, or flexible nylon-type material.
• Implant-retained (snap-on) denture: a removable denture that clicks onto two or more implants, so it no longer slides about.
• Fixed full-arch teeth: not really a denture at all, but often called "permanent dentures". These are bridges screwed onto implants and are covered on our All-on-4 page.

Removable, snap-on or fixed: a comparison

Many people with a lower full denture find two implants make the biggest single difference to their comfort. If you are healthy enough for minor surgery, it is worth asking about.

Your denture treatment, step by step

1. Before travelling: Send photos and any X-rays on WhatsApp. We suggest which denture types suit you and how long to stay.
2. Examination and impressions: Free examination and X-ray, the written plan and cost, then first impressions of your gums.
3. Bite and tooth selection: We record how your jaws meet and choose the shade, shape and size of the teeth with you.
4. Try-in: You see and approve the teeth set in wax before the denture is finished.
5. Fitting and adjustments: The denture is fitted, sore spots are eased at a follow-up visit, and you get care instructions before flying home.

Partial dentures: choosing the right base

When you still have some healthy teeth, a partial denture is often the simplest way to fill the gaps, and the base material makes a real difference to comfort.

• Acrylic partials are quick to make and easy to add a tooth to later, but they are thicker and rely more on the gums for support. They often serve as a transitional option.
• Cobalt-chrome partials use a thin cast-metal framework that rests on the natural teeth. They are less bulky, more stable and usually the better long-term choice, though small metal clasps may show.
• Flexible partials are made from a bendable resin with gum-coloured clasps, so no metal is visible. They can be harder to reline or extend.

Before any partial denture is made, the teeth that will support it are checked and treated, because a partial is only as reliable as the teeth it holds onto. Dt. Osman Cemal Binan, who has 33 years of experience in prosthetic and restorative dentistry, is one of the dentists who plans this kind of work.

Getting dentures in Turkey: how many visits?

Well-fitting dentures are not made in a single appointment. A conventional full or partial denture normally goes through these stages, each a separate visit:

1. examination, X-ray and first impressions;
2. detailed impressions of the gums;
3. recording how your jaws meet and choosing tooth shade and shape;
4. a wax try-in, where you see the teeth in your mouth before they are finished;
5. fitting, followed by at least one adjustment visit a few days later.

That is why we ask denture patients to plan a stay of several days to cover the stages and the first adjustments; your dentist confirms the number of days after the examination, as it depends on whether extractions are needed first. Snap-on dentures add a second trip: implants are placed, heal for typically three to six months, and the attachments are then fitted into the denture.

What if teeth need to come out first?

If you still have failing teeth, there are two routes. An immediate denture is made beforehand and fitted on the day the teeth are removed, so you are never without teeth. The catch is that the gums shrink noticeably over the following months, so an immediate denture loosens and needs a reline, or eventually a new denture, once healing is complete.

The alternative is to remove the teeth, let the gums heal and then make the denture, which gives a better long-term fit but means time without teeth. For travelling patients this is a real planning decision, and we talk it through before you book. A reline can often be done by a dentist near your home.

The adaptation period: what the first weeks feel like

New dentures feel bulky at first, even when they fit well. It helps to know what is normal:

• Speech: some words, especially those with "s" and "f", may sound different for a week or two. Reading aloud speeds this up.
• Saliva: your mouth may produce more saliva for a few days.
• Sore spots: small pressure points are common and are easily eased by adjusting the denture, which is why we see you again before you fly.
• Eating: start with soft food cut into small pieces and chew on both sides at once. Biting into an apple with front teeth takes practice.

Most people settle within a few weeks. Lower dentures usually take longer than upper ones. If a sore spot appears after you are home, contact us on WhatsApp; a local dentist can usually ease it quickly.

Dentures Turkey cost: what affects it

The cost of dentures in Turkey depends on the type and the work around it:

• full, partial or implant-retained;
• base material: acrylic, cobalt-chrome or flexible;
• the quality and layering of the denture teeth;
• extractions or treatment of remaining teeth;
• for snap-on dentures, the number of implants and attachments.

Patients often come to Turkey because treatment costs less than at home, but the cheapest denture is rarely the most comfortable. Send photos of your mouth and current denture on WhatsApp for a free preliminary plan; after a free examination you receive the plan and total cost in writing. For flights, transfers and accommodation help, read our guide to dental tourism in Turkey.

Dentures after "Turkey teeth"

We sometimes see people whose full sets of crowns, placed elsewhere, have failed, and who wonder whether dentures are the only way back. Not always. Some teeth under failed crowns can be treated and re-crowned; where they cannot, implants or dentures are options. The first step is an honest assessment of each tooth on X-ray. Our article on what "Turkey teeth" are explains how that problem arises.

Caring for dentures

Dentures last longest when they are treated gently and cleaned daily:

• take them out at night to rest your gums, unless your dentist advises otherwise;
• clean them with a soft brush and mild soap or denture cleaner, not toothpaste, which scratches acrylic;
• store them in water or a soaking solution so they do not dry out;
• clean your gums, tongue and any remaining teeth too;
• use adhesive only in small amounts. Needing more and more is a sign the denture needs relining.

The gums and bone continue to change, so most dentures need a reline or replacement every several years. Snap-on attachments also wear and are replaced from time to time.

Frequently asked questions

This page gives general information and is not a substitute for an examination. Whether a treatment is suitable for you, and how long it takes, is decided after your dentist has examined you and reviewed your X-rays.