Dentures at Smile Solutions Melbourne - Types, Costs and Specialist Fitting by Board-Registered Prosthodontists product guide

Smile Solutions Dentures: Full & Partial Denture Options in Melbourne

A denture is a removable prosthetic device that replaces missing teeth and the surrounding gum tissue. Depending on your situation, that might mean replacing a few teeth — partial dentures — or all the teeth in one or both jaws, which are full dentures. It's one of dentistry's most established approaches to tooth replacement, and at Smile Solutions, treatment is delivered by a team that includes specialist prosthodontists and experienced general dentists, so the level of clinical expertise matches what your situation actually requires.

Types of dentures available at Smile Solutions

Partial dentures

A partial denture replaces one or more missing teeth while your remaining natural teeth stay in place. Several materials are available, each with different characteristics, and your treating clinician will help you work out which suits your clinical needs, lifestyle, and goals.

Acrylic partial dentures are made from a rigid resin with a pink gum-coloured base and tooth-coloured artificial teeth, held in place with metal clasps that rest against your adjacent natural teeth. They're a practical, cost-effective option for replacing multiple missing teeth. Depending on where the missing teeth are, the clasps may be partially visible when you smile — something your clinician will walk you through during treatment planning.

Cobalt-chrome partial dentures use a precision-fitted metal framework supporting a pink acrylic gum section and natural-looking artificial teeth. Compared to acrylic, they're thinner, more precisely fitted, and noticeably more comfortable to wear day to day. They also support your remaining teeth well and hold up better over time. The upfront cost is higher, but for patients wearing their prosthesis every day, the longevity and comfort tend to justify it.

Flexible resin partial dentures are made from a bendable, translucent resin that makes insertion and removal easy. Aesthetically, they work well — the material can be closely matched to your gum tissue, which minimises visible clasps. That said, flexible resin dentures don't last as long as acrylic or metal options, so they're generally recommended as a shorter-term solution or in specific clinical situations where they offer a clear advantage.

Full dentures

A full (complete) denture replaces all the teeth in one jaw — upper (maxillary) or lower (mandibular) — or both jaws at once. Full dentures are made from pink acrylic and rest on your gum tissue, so achieving a good fit is a central focus of treatment.

For some patients, particularly with lower jaw dentures, adhesive can help secure the prosthesis. An adjustment period while you adapt your speaking and eating is completely normal. Your clinical team will guide you through it.

Your full denture can be designed to reflect an idealised natural dentition, or crafted to closely replicate your original teeth in shape, size, and arrangement — whichever feels right for you.

Pricing at Smile Solutions:

• Complete upper (maxillary) denture: $3,850 AUD
• Complete lower (mandibular) denture: $3,850 AUD
• Dual arch (upper and lower) full dentures: $7,400 AUD

Over-dentures

An over-denture is a removable prosthesis that fits over existing teeth, retained tooth roots, or dental implants. Having natural teeth or implant fixtures underneath provides significantly better stability and retention than a conventional full denture resting on the gums alone, and most patients notice a real difference in day-to-day confidence and comfort.

Tooth-retained over-dentures preserve your remaining tooth roots as anchors for the prosthesis. This also helps maintain bone density in your jaw — a meaningful clinical benefit, since bone loss typically accelerates after tooth extraction.

Implant-retained over-dentures use two or more dental implants as secure attachment points. The denture clicks firmly onto the implants and can be removed for cleaning, but stays far more stable than a conventional denture. For patients who've found conventional lower dentures unstable or frustrating, this can be a genuine turning point in terms of chewing function, comfort, and confidence.

Immediate dentures

An immediate denture is made before any extraction takes place and fitted on the same day as your extractions, so you're never without teeth — which matters a lot if you're having visible front teeth removed.

Because the denture is made to the estimated post-extraction dimensions of your gums rather than the actual healed dimensions, it will gradually become looser as your gums and bone remodel. A reline can improve the fit in the short term, but most patients who start with an immediate denture will benefit from a new permanent denture made several months later, once healing is complete. Your clinical team will plan this with you from the start.

Partial acrylic denture: $1,400 AUD Cobalt-chrome partial denture: $4,200–$4,800 AUD Hard or soft reline: $1,300 AUD

The prosthodontic advantage

For patients with more complex requirements — full mouth rehabilitation, implant-supported prosthetics, or situations where previous dentures haven't worked well — Smile Solutions' specialist prosthodontists bring an additional level of clinical precision to treatment planning and care.

Prosthodontic cases are managed by Dr Jamie Foong (BDSc, DClinDent, University of Melbourne) and Dr Simon Hinckfuss (BDSc, DCD Prosthodontics, Cert Perio MS University of Minnesota). General dentists Dr Jacques Theron and Dr Minka Roux also provide high-quality denture treatment for patients whose needs are well served in a general dental setting.

Specialist involvement is particularly valuable when you're seeking full mouth rehabilitation involving dentures alongside other restorations, when you've been unsatisfied with previous dentures in terms of fit, function, or appearance, when you're considering the move from conventional dentures to implant-supported prosthetics, or when you're presenting with complex bone or soft tissue situations following extractions or jaw surgery.

Whatever your situation, the right level of expertise is available to you at Smile Solutions.

Comparing dentures with dental implants

Dental implants are the fixed, permanent alternative to dentures and have been in clinical use since the mid-1960s. They integrate with your jawbone and support crowns or bridges that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. Unlike dentures, they don't need to be removed for cleaning and don't rely on the gum ridge for support.

At Smile Solutions, you'll receive an honest, evidence-based comparison of your denture and implant options, taking into account your clinical situation, budget, and preferences. Implants aren't right for every patient — bone volume, overall health, and financial considerations all factor in. But for eligible patients, the long-term functional benefits are significant.

Full-arch implant solutions at Smile Solutions start from $31,000 AUD for an All-on-4 implant-supported arch. All-on-4 delivers a complete fixed arch of teeth on just four implants — a permanent solution that removes the maintenance, instability, and ongoing adjustments that come with conventional full dentures.

The in-house Smile Lab advantage

Every denture at Smile Solutions is made in our in-house Smile Lab, a dedicated laboratory that works exclusively for Smile Solutions patients and doesn't service external businesses. This means the technicians making your denture are directly accessible to your treating clinician throughout the process — enabling a level of communication and quality control that isn't possible when work is sent to a remote commercial lab.

For complex or precision cases, your prosthodontist and the lab team can work together directly on fit adjustments, aesthetic decisions, and material choices, producing a result that's genuinely tailored to you.

Book your complimentary consultation

Your first step toward new dentures at Smile Solutions is a complimentary consultation with one of our experienced registered dentists. It's an unhurried conversation about your options and goals — no clinical examination, X-rays, or scans. A $50 AUD refundable deposit is required to secure your appointment.

To book, call 13 13 96. Smile Solutions is at 220 Collins Street, Melbourne, in the Manchester Unity Building. Payment plans are available through Payright, Humm, and MyDentaPlan.

With 937 Google reviews at 4.9 stars, our team brings genuine care and clinical expertise to every step of your treatment. We'd love to help you find the right solution.