Types of Dentures: Full, Partial & Immediate
Three very different paths to a whole smile. Here's how they compare on cost, timeline, and comfort, and how we help Salem patients pick the right one, for free.
Three types of dentures, one honest comparison
If you've started researching types of dentures, you've probably noticed every website says something different. Here's the simple version: nearly every denture made in America is a full denture, a partial denture, or an immediate denture. Which one fits you depends on how many teeth you're missing, whether extractions are needed, and what your budget and timeline look like.
Dentures are the flagship specialty at East Salem Dental — Dr. Michael Tran has advanced training in removable prosthetics and has rebuilt more than 1,000 smiles for patients across Salem and Keizer. This page walks through all three types the same way we would in the chair: plainly, with real numbers.
Full dentures: a complete new smile
A full denture replaces every tooth in an arch — upper, lower, or both. The base is tinted acrylic shaped to hug your gums; the teeth are chosen with you for shade and shape so the result looks natural, not "denture white." Uppers stay in place mostly by suction against the palate, while lowers rely on the ridge of your jaw (and are the ones most patients eventually want implant support for).
Full dentures here start at $1,200 per arch, take about 3–6 weeks across a handful of short visits, and typically last 5–8 years with periodic relines. They suit patients whose remaining teeth are failing or already gone, and who want the most affordable complete-smile option.
Partial dentures: keep the teeth you have
A partial denture fills gaps while your healthy natural teeth stay right where they are. It also stops neighboring teeth from drifting into the empty spaces — a quiet problem that makes future dentistry harder. Partials come in two main builds:
- Cast metal partials use a thin cobalt-chrome framework with discreet clasps. They're the workhorse: strong, slim, easy to adjust, and they last 7–10 years.
- Flexible partials are made from a soft nylon resin with gum-colored clasps, no visible metal at all. They're lighter and more cosmetic, especially for front teeth, but harder to reline and better as a shorter-term or aesthetic-priority choice.
Partials start at $1,250 and take roughly the same 3–6 weeks as a full denture. If you're weighing a partial against replacing individual teeth, our dental implants page and the dentures vs. implants guide lay out that trade-off.
Immediate dentures: never a day without teeth
An immediate denture is made before your extractions and placed the same day your teeth come out. You walk in with failing teeth and walk out with a full smile, no toothless waiting period, ever. For many patients that single fact decides everything.
The honest trade-off: your gums shrink as they heal over the following 3–6 months, so an immediate denture will need relines to stay snug. That's a certainty, not a maybe. We build a healing reline into the plan from day one, and some patients later convert to a fresh conventional denture once the gums are fully settled.
Side-by-side: cost, timeline, lifespan
| Type | Cost | Timeline | Best for | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full denture | from $1,200/arch | 3–6 weeks | All teeth missing or failing | 5–8 years |
| Partial (cast metal) | from $1,250 | 3–6 weeks | Several gaps, healthy teeth remain | 7–10 years |
| Partial (flexible) | from $1,250 | 3–4 weeks | Cosmetic priority, metal-free | 4–6 years |
| Immediate denture | from $1,900 | Same day as extractions | Never being without teeth | 5–8 years, relines needed |
Wondering how these figures compare around town? Our fees run intentionally about 20% below what most Salem offices charge, and every number is confirmed in writing before treatment starts. The Oregon denture cost guide breaks the pricing down line by line.
How we help you choose — for free
You don't have to decide from a webpage. A free denture consultation includes an exam, X-rays, and a plain-English conversation about which type actually fits your mouth, your budget, and your patience. You leave with a written quote for each option — in English or Spanish. Most PPO plans cover about half the cost of dentures as major work, and OHP covers dentures in qualifying cases; see our dentures on OHP guide and insurance & pricing page, or ask at the front desk — our OHP team checks coverage before you spend a dime.