Full dentures installation in Turkey: what it involves
Full dentures installation means making and fitting a complete set of removable false teeth for an upper jaw, a lower jaw or both. A full denture has a pink acrylic base that rests on the gum and bone and holds a row of artificial teeth. The upper denture is held mainly by suction against the palate; the lower denture has less surface and sits around the tongue, so it is held by the shape of the ridge, the muscles of the cheeks and tongue and, sometimes, a denture adhesive. Dental clinics in Turkey usually make the denture in their own laboratory, which allows the stages to be completed in a few days instead of several weeks.
This guide explains how the visits work, what the choices of denture are, how the first weeks feel, what it costs compared with the UK, US and Germany and how to check a clinic. For the wider family of dentures see our guide to the denture and our overview of dental treatments in Turkey.
How are full dentures made, step by step?
The process normally has five stages. First the dentist examines your mouth, takes X-rays and decides whether any remaining teeth must be removed. Second come preliminary impressions, from which custom trays are made. Third, accurate final impressions of the gums are taken and the jaw relationship is recorded, which tells the laboratory how high and how far forward your teeth should be. Fourth, a wax try-in lets you and the dentist check the position, colour and shape of the teeth, and you can ask for changes. Finally the denture is processed in acrylic, polished and fitted; the dentist checks suction, the edges and the bite. Most clinics can complete this in about five to seven days, with several short visits.
Conventional, immediate or implant-retained: which full denture suits me?
A conventional denture is made after the gums have healed from extractions, usually after six to twelve weeks. An immediate denture is made beforehand and fitted on the day the teeth are removed, so you are never without teeth, although the gums shrink as they heal and the denture will need relining; see our page on immediate dentures installation. An implant-retained denture clips onto two to four implants and is much more stable, particularly in the lower jaw.
| Type | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional full denture | Gums already healed, tightest budget | Lower denture often loose; needs adhesive for some people |
| Immediate full denture | Teeth to be removed and no wish to be without teeth | Needs relining as the gums shrink; fit less precise at first |
| Implant-retained overdenture | Loose lower denture, wish for firmer hold | Needs surgery and healing; higher cost; see 4-implant overdenture |
If you want teeth that do not come out at all, a fixed bridge on implants is the alternative described in our guide to dental implants; it costs more and needs enough bone.
What happens if teeth need to be removed first?
When the remaining teeth are loose, infected or too broken to restore, they are removed under local anaesthetic; see tooth extraction. The gums and bone then change shape for several months, with the fastest change in the first six to eight weeks. If you choose an immediate denture, it is fitted over the healing gum and adjusted; a firm final denture or reline follows after healing. If you choose a conventional denture, you wait for healing before the final impressions, which makes a longer plan or a return trip. The dentist can explain which route suits your mouth and travel dates.
Full dentures installation cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges for a complete set (upper and lower) in standard acrylic, not clinic quotes. A single arch costs roughly half. Each clinic confirms its own price in writing after an examination.
| Country | Approximate cost range (full set) |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €500 – €1,800 |
| United Kingdom | €1,500 – €4,500 |
| United States | €2,000 – €7,000 |
| Germany | €1,400 – €4,500 |
What changes the full dentures installation price: one arch or two, the grade of the teeth and acrylic, whether extractions are needed first, whether the denture is immediate or conventional, any relining and whether a spare or a flexible base is included. A written quote should say what is included: examination, X-rays, impressions, try-in, final dentures, adjustments, a care kit and transfers, and whether a later reline is covered. Check whether the price is for each arch or the pair.
What do the first weeks with new dentures feel like?
New dentures feel bulky and strange, even when the fit is good. Expect extra saliva for the first days, some difficulty with certain sounds such as s and th, sore spots where the denture presses the gum and a feeling that the lower denture lifts when you speak or move your tongue. These usually ease within two to four weeks as the muscles of the cheeks and tongue learn to hold the dentures. Start with soft food cut into small pieces, chew on both sides at once and avoid sticky or very hard food at first. Sore spots are fixed by small adjustments, so keep the follow-up visit and do not file the denture yourself.
How many days do I need in Turkey, and what is the recovery?
If no teeth need removal, complete dentures can often be made in five to seven days, with the impressions, jaw records, try-in and fitting spread over the visits and a day or two for adjustments. If extractions are needed, allow extra time: an immediate denture can be fitted on the day of extraction, with a review a few days later. There is no surgical recovery for the denture itself; after extractions there is swelling and soreness for several days. Plan a few days of soft food, and bring any medicines you take. Fly home after the clinic has checked the fit and adjusted pressure spots.
Do I need adhesive, and how do I keep dentures stable?
A well-fitting upper denture often needs no adhesive. A lower denture is harder to keep steady, and many people use a small amount of adhesive, which is acceptable if used as directed and not as a substitute for a fit that is poor. If a lower denture keeps lifting, two implants with clips can give a firmer hold; see the dentures page for the options. Gums shrink over the years, so a denture that fitted well can become loose; a reline restores the fit and is more effective than a thicker layer of adhesive.
How should I care for full dentures, and how long do they last?
Take the dentures out at night so that the gums rest, and keep them in water or a denture solution. Clean them every day with a soft brush and a denture cleaner, not ordinary toothpaste, over a bowl of water so they do not break if dropped. Brush your gums and tongue with a soft brush. Avoid hot water. A typical set is reviewed every five to eight years, and sooner if they crack, wear out or become loose; relines are commonly needed every few years. See a dentist yearly even if you have no natural teeth, because mouth checks look for ulcers and other changes.
Risks and problems with full dentures
Dentures are low-risk but not problem-free. Common issues are sore gums, ulcers, loose fit, difficulty eating and speaking at first and a gagging reflex with the upper denture. Poor cleaning, or wearing the denture overnight, can lead to denture stomatitis, a fungal inflammation under the denture that the NHS describes as common and treatable. Over many years the jawbone shrinks where teeth are missing, which changes the fit. A denture that rubs a sore spot for more than a couple of weeks, or any ulcer that does not heal, should be seen by a dentist.
How to choose a dental clinic for full dentures, and red flags
Look for a clinic that examines you before quoting, explains whether you need extractions and which type of denture suits you, names the dentist and the laboratory and gives a written, itemised price with the number of visits. Red flags include a quote without examination, removal of teeth that could be kept, a promise that dentures will feel exactly like natural teeth, no plan for adjustments and no information on repairs. Read how our process works and use our free quote page so that a clinic can review your photographs and X-rays and send a written plan.
Questions to ask the clinic:
- Do I need any teeth removed, and which type of full denture do you advise?
- How many visits and days are needed, and is a wax try-in included?
- Does the price cover adjustments, relining and repairs, and for how long?
- Where is the denture made, and what is it made of?
- Would two implants on the lower denture help me, and what would that cost?
Hospitals with Dental Treatments in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is the making and fitting of a complete set of removable false teeth for an upper jaw, lower jaw or both. The set has a pink acrylic base holding artificial teeth, and it is held by suction, the shape of the gums and sometimes adhesive.
Approximate prices are about €500 to €1,800 for a full upper and lower set in Turkey, against roughly €1,500 to €4,500 in the UK. The price depends on materials, extractions and adjustments, and the clinic confirms it in writing.
If no teeth need removal, about five to seven days with several short visits for impressions, jaw records, a wax try-in and fitting. Extractions or healing time can add days or a second visit.
Most people need two to four weeks to adapt to speech, saliva and chewing, and some take longer with a lower denture. Small adjustments for sore spots are a normal part of the process.
They let you leave the dental chair with teeth on the day of extraction. The gums shrink as they heal, so relining or a new denture is needed later, and the first fit is less precise.
The lower jaw has less surface area and the tongue pushes against the denture, so it holds less well than an upper one. A reline, adhesive or two implants with clips can improve the hold.
A set is usually reviewed every five to eight years, but changes in the gums, wear and cracks can mean a reline or replacement sooner. Regular dental checks help to catch problems early.
It is advised to remove them at night so that the gums can rest and to reduce the risk of fungal infection under the denture. Keep them in water or a cleaning solution.
They are not painful to make, but new dentures can cause sore spots and ulcers in the first weeks. The dentist adjusts the pressure points, and the soreness normally settles.
Implants give firmer hold or a fixed result but cost more and need surgery, healing and enough bone. Many people choose dentures because of cost or health, or add two implants to the lower denture.