Dentures: partial, flexible and cobalt chrome dentures, explained

Dentures remain one of the most practical ways to replace missing teeth, and there is no snobbery here about choosing them. At Dental & Wellness London we make removable partial dentures, from a single-tooth flexible denture to a cobalt chrome framework, for patients who want a non-surgical, lower-cost route, or who are not suited to implants. This page explains what each type of denture is, who it suits, how it compares with a bridge or an implant, what it costs and how to look after it.

What dentures are, and how a partial denture works

A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth. A partial denture replaces one or several teeth when some natural teeth remain; a complete denture replaces all the teeth in an arch. Most of the dentures we make are partials.

A partial denture has two parts: the replacement teeth, made to match the colour and shape of your own, and a base that holds them. The base rests on the gum and is kept in place by small clasps or rests that grip neighbouring natural teeth. Because nothing is fixed permanently, the denture comes out for cleaning and, usually, at night.

The honest framing is about stability. A denture moves more than a fixed option and takes a few weeks to get used to. Like a bridge, it leaves the bone beneath the gap unloaded, so that bone continues to shrink slowly over time. Understanding that trade-off at the start is better than discovering it later. What a denture does well is close the gap, restore chewing and stop neighbouring teeth drifting.

Types of partial denture compared

Flexible denture (including the one tooth denture)

A flexible denture is made from a thin, slightly bendable nylon-based material. The clasps are gum-coloured rather than metal, so they are much less visible, and the denture tends to feel lighter and more comfortable than an older acrylic plate. A one tooth denture made this way is a common answer when a single front or side tooth has been lost and an implant is not right for now. A flexible single-tooth denture is from £750, and the fitting can be completed in one appointment once the records are ready. Our article on flexible dentures, their benefits and costs covers the material in more detail.

Cobalt chrome denture

A cobalt chrome denture is built on a thin, strong metal framework that is cast to fit your teeth precisely. Because metal is stronger than plastic, the framework is slimmer, covers less of the gum and spreads biting forces well. For patients replacing several teeth, or who want a long-term removable solution, a cobalt chrome framework is usually the most stable and hygienic option. Cobalt chrome partial dentures are from £1,600.

Acrylic partial denture and the "dental flipper"

An acrylic plate is the simplest form of denture and is often used as a temporary replacement, for example while gums heal after an extraction or while an implant integrates. A very small acrylic denture replacing one tooth is sometimes called a dental flipper. It is a sensible short-term measure, but it covers more gum and is less durable than a flexible or cobalt chrome design. Our article on the dental flipper and how it compares explains when it is useful. Fees for temporary dentures are quoted in writing after assessment.

Dentures, bridges or implants: the options compared

Most people have three realistic choices, and sometimes the best plan mixes them across different gaps.

• Partial denture: removable, no surgery, the lowest cost and the quickest to provide. It moves a little, needs taking out to clean, and does not preserve the bone beneath the gap.
• Bridge: fixed in place by crowning the teeth either side of the gap. It feels like natural teeth but means preparing those neighbours, which is a real cost if they are healthy and unfilled. See our dental bridges Islington page; bridge fees are quoted in writing after assessment.
• Dental implant: a titanium fixture placed in the bone with a crown on top. It is the closest to a natural tooth and helps preserve the bone, but it needs surgery, several months of healing and enough healthy bone. Implants with us are from £2,200, including the crown, and are assessed and placed by Dr Rishil Patel; see dental implants in London.

Where cost or bone rules out an implant, or several teeth are missing across the arch, a denture is often the most sensible answer. Our page on tooth replacement options sets out the wider picture, and our article on alternatives to dental implants covers the trade-offs in more depth.

Who dentures suit, and who they may not

Partial dentures usually suit

• People missing several teeth across one arch, where a fixed option for each gap would be impractical or unaffordable.
• Patients who prefer to avoid surgery, or for whom implants are not advised for medical reasons or because of limited bone.
• Anyone who needs an interim replacement while planning implants elsewhere or while a bone graft matures; see bone grafting for dental implants.

Another route may be better when

• A single tooth is missing between healthy, untouched neighbours, where an implant often serves better long term.
• You want the most stable, fixed feel and the budget and bone allow an implant or bridge.
• Remaining teeth or gums are unhealthy. Clasps need sound teeth to grip, so gum disease or decay should be treated first.
• All the teeth in an arch are failing, in which case a full-arch implant solution such as All-on-4 dental implants may be worth discussing alongside a complete denture.

How we make dentures, step by step

1. Examination and plan. We start with a dental examination (£65, 30 minutes, including a full risk assessment), or a dental problem assessment (£75) if a tooth has recently been lost or broken. We check the remaining teeth, gums and bite, take X-rays where needed, and talk through denture, bridge and implant options with written fees.
2. Preparing the mouth. Any decay or gum inflammation is treated first. Sometimes a tooth needs a small rest seat shaped into it, or an old filling replaced, so the denture sits securely.
3. Records. We take accurate impressions or a digital scan and record your bite. You choose the tooth shade and shape with us, so the replacement teeth blend with your own.
4. Try-in. For cobalt chrome and larger dentures, we try in the framework and the teeth set in wax before the denture is finished, so fit, bite and appearance can be adjusted while it is still easy to change.
5. Fitting. We fit the denture, check the bite, adjust any pressure points and show you how to put it in, take it out and clean it. A simple flexible single-tooth denture can be fitted in one appointment once the laboratory work is complete.
6. Review. We see you again after a week or two to ease any sore spots. Small adjustments in the first weeks are normal and part of the service.

Results, longevity and aftercare

Most people adapt to a partial denture within two to four weeks. Speech can feel a little different for the first few days, and eating is easiest if you start with softer foods cut into small pieces and chew on both sides. Results vary, and a well-made denture should feel secure and comfortable once you have adapted.

With good care, a flexible denture typically lasts several years and a cobalt chrome denture often longer. The mouth changes over time as the bone beneath the gap remodels, so a denture may need relining or replacing eventually. Looking after it is simple:

• Take the denture out after meals to rinse it, and clean it once a day with a soft brush and non-abrasive denture cleaner, not toothpaste.
• Take it out at night unless we advise otherwise, and keep it in water. Never use hot water.
• Brush and clean your natural teeth carefully, especially those the clasps grip. Regular visits to our dental hygienist (30 minutes, £85) help protect them.

Risks, and how we reduce them

Dentures are a low-risk treatment, but there are trade-offs worth knowing:

• Sore spots and ulcers in the first weeks. We review early and adjust the base until it sits evenly.
• Extra load on the clasped teeth, and a higher risk of decay or gum disease around them if plaque builds up. We design clasps and rests to spread forces, and we keep a close eye on those teeth at check-ups.
• Bone shrinkage beneath the gap, which can loosen the fit over the years. Relining restores the fit; for some patients an implant later is the better long-term answer.

Dentures cost in Islington and London

Our fees for dentures at our Islington clinic are:

• Flexible partial denture, single tooth: from £750, fitted in one appointment once the records are complete.
• Cobalt chrome partial denture: from £1,600.
• Larger flexible dentures, temporary acrylic dentures and complete dentures: quoted in writing after assessment.
• For comparison: a bridge is quoted in writing after assessment, and a single implant is from £2,200, including the crown.

Your plan starts with a dental examination (£65). Every fee is confirmed in writing before treatment begins, and 0% APR finance over 12 months via Tabeo is available, subject to status. We are a private practice and do not provide NHS treatment.

Why choose Dental & Wellness London for dentures

Dentures are planned and fitted by Dr Vishal Patel, BDS (Liverpool), MSc Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry (Manchester), GDC 103127, an AACD member with around 20 years in dentistry and over 15,000 cases. Restorative training matters here: a good partial denture depends on reading the bite, choosing where clasps and rests sit, and matching tooth shade and shape so the result looks like you.

Where an implant may be the better answer, you can see our implant dentist, Dr Rishil Patel, BDS (Hons), MClinDent Implantology, MJDF, GDC 154292, before deciding. The practice has been on Essex Road since 2010 and is rated 4.7 stars from 300+ Google reviews.

Questions patients ask about dentures

How much do partial dentures cost in London?

At our Islington clinic, a flexible single-tooth partial denture is from £750 and a cobalt chrome partial denture is from £1,600. Larger or complete dentures are quoted in writing after assessment, because the cost depends on how many teeth are replaced and the design. 0% APR finance over 12 months via Tabeo is available, subject to status.

Can I get a one tooth denture?

Yes. A one tooth denture is a common way to replace a single missing tooth without surgery or drilling neighbouring teeth. We usually recommend a flexible design with gum-coloured clasps, from £750, which can be fitted in one appointment once the records are complete. We will also explain whether an implant or bridge would serve you better long term.

Are flexible dentures better than cobalt chrome?

Neither is better for everyone. Flexible dentures are light, comfortable and have discreet gum-coloured clasps, which suits single teeth and small gaps. Cobalt chrome dentures are thinner, stronger and more stable, and rest on the teeth in a way that spreads biting forces, which suits several missing teeth. We recommend the design that fits your gaps and bite.

How long does it take to get used to a partial denture?

Most people adapt within two to four weeks. At first the denture may feel bulky, speech may sound slightly different and you may produce more saliva. Starting with softer foods, reading aloud and wearing the denture through the day helps. Sore spots are common early on and are easily adjusted at a review visit.

Can I have a denture now and an implant later?

Yes, and many patients do. A partial denture is a sound interim step while you plan or save for implants, or while a bone graft heals. When the time comes, our implant dentist assesses the bone and gums, and the denture can often be adapted or kept as a spare while the implant integrates.

See the dental treatments hub for our wider care.

Getting here

We are at 222 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 3AP, in the same building since the practice was founded in 2010. We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm (Tuesday from 9am), by appointment only; we are closed at weekends and do not take walk-ins.

• By train: Essex Road station (Great Northern) is about two minutes on foot. Highbury & Islington is one stop north, and Old Street and Moorgate are a short ride south.
• By bus: the 38, 56, 73, 341 and 476 all stop on Essex Road close to the door.
• On foot from Angel: allow 15–20 minutes' walk from Angel station along Essex Road. Our Angel page has the route.
• By bike: many patients cycle or use Lime and Forest e-bikes. From Dalston it is about ten minutes by bike; see also our Highbury and Canonbury pages.
• By car: street parking on Essex Road is metered and controlled during the day. For most visits, the train, bus or bike is simpler.