What does denture mean?
A denture is a removable dental appliance designed to replace missing teeth and the surrounding soft tissue of the mouth. Most often discussed in the plural, dentures consist of artificial teeth set into a flesh-colored acrylic base that sits over the gums, and they may be either full — replacing an entire arch of teeth — or partial, filling gaps where only some teeth are lost. The word belongs primarily to medical and clinical contexts but is widely understood in everyday speech, where informal alternatives such as "false teeth" or "plate" also circulate. Dentures restore the ability to chew and speak clearly while supporting facial structure, making them one of the oldest and most familiar solutions to tooth loss; their history stretches back centuries, long before modern acrylic materials made them comfortable and natural-looking.
nounA removable artificial replacement for missing teeth, typically a set of false teeth mounted on a gum-colored base; used most often in the plural, "dentures," to refer to a complete set.
- A removable artificial replacement for one or more missing teeth and surrounding gum tissue (usually in the plural: dentures).
- A complete set of such artificial teeth fitted to replace all of a person's natural teeth.
"After losing several teeth in the accident, she was fitted with a partial denture."
"He takes his dentures out every night and soaks them in cleaning solution."
"The dentist recommended full dentures once the remaining teeth could no longer be saved."
The plural "dentures" is the standard everyday way to refer to the appliance(s) someone wears, especially when referring to both upper and lower sets together.
"Since getting her new dentures, she can finally enjoy apples again."
George Washington wore dentures — but not wooden ones as legend claims; his were likely made of ivory, metal, and even human teeth.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of denture
The word "denture" derives from the Latin "dens" (stem "dent-"), meaning "tooth." It entered English in the mid-nineteenth century via French "denture," which itself comes from the Latin root combined with the noun-forming suffix "-ure." It shares this Latin origin with related words such as "dental," "dentist," and "trident," all built on the same tooth-root.
How denture is actually used
"Denture" is most commonly used in the plural form "dentures" when referring to what someone wears; the singular "a denture" tends to appear in dental or clinical contexts. The register is neutral-to-formal, with "plate" or "false teeth" serving as more colloquial alternatives in everyday speech.
Easily confused with denture
A dentist is the professional who treats teeth, while a denture is the removable artificial appliance that replaces missing teeth.