Dentures in Skopje

What dentures can do for you

Dentures (false teeth) are made to measure from moulds of your mouth, and you can take them out yourself for cleaning. They can be upper or lower, with a base of acrylic, metal or flexible plastic. If you are thinking about dentures in Skopje, they can:

• help you chew more easily and speak more clearly
• support your lips and cheeks, so your face does not look sunken
• fill the gaps that show when you smile

Dentures replace teeth but do not work quite like natural ones. They take time to get used to and, as your mouth changes over the years, need occasional adjustment or replacement.

Are dentures right for you?

Dentures are often a good choice if you have lost all the teeth in a jaw or several teeth in different places, if teeth must come out and you do not want to be left without any, or if a bridge or implants do not suit you.

Sometimes it is better to wait or take extra care:

• Recent extractions. The gums often need a few months to heal before a conventional complete denture is fitted. An immediate denture can be worn in the meantime.
• Untreated teeth and gums. Decay and gum disease are treated first.
• Smoking. It threatens the gums and the teeth that support a partial denture.
• Diabetes, steroid medicines or a weakened immune system. These raise the risk of a fungal infection under the denture.
• Dry mouth. Without enough saliva, a denture is harder to keep in place.
• Metal allergy. Metal-framed partial dentures are usually cobalt-chrome, so tell us about any metal allergy.
• Bone-strengthening medicines. Tell us if you take, or have taken, bisphosphonates, denosumab or similar medicines. For people taking them, a denture that rubs is a known risk factor for osteonecrosis of the jaw, a rare but serious jawbone condition. Call us if a sore under your denture does not heal.

A denture may not give exactly the result you hope for, and there are often other options, so we decide together after an examination.

Which type of denture might suit you?

How dentures are made, step by step

1. Examination and plan. Your jaws, gums and remaining teeth are checked, with X-rays if needed, and your options are discussed.
2. Preparation. Decay and gum problems are treated, and teeth with a poor outlook are sometimes taken out.
3. Impressions. Moulds of your mouth are taken with a soft material, often in two stages.
4. Bite and choice of teeth. Wax bite blocks record how your jaws meet, and the size, shape and shade of the teeth are chosen.
5. Laboratory work. A dental technician makes the denture, usually over a few weeks.
6. Fitting. The fit is checked, pressure points are eased and the bite is fine-tuned.
7. Review appointments. A few adjustments are usually needed in the first weeks.

In total, expect several appointments over a few weeks; after recent extractions, allow a few months of healing before a conventional denture.

Immediate dentures: teeth on the same day

Impressions are taken before the extraction and the denture is fitted straight afterwards, so you are not left without teeth. As the gums and bone heal, the denture loosens, and a reline (a new layer on its inner surface) or a new denture is usually needed after a few months to a year. If you live abroad, plan for these visits too: see international patients.

Does getting dentures hurt?

Any extraction needed beforehand is done under local anaesthetic. If you feel nervous about dental visits, tell us when you book: we will explain each step before it happens. See also your first visit.

Mild irritation, sore spots and extra saliva are common at first; sore spots are eased at review appointments. Do not put up with a denture that hurts or rubs: call us to have it checked.

Getting used to dentures and caring for them

Getting used to new dentures usually takes a few weeks, sometimes longer. At first they may feel bulky or loose, and your speech may change slightly until your cheeks and tongue adapt. Practise putting them in and taking them out.

Eat soft food in small pieces and chew slowly on both sides. Avoid sticky or hard food and chewing gum at first, then gradually return to your usual diet.

• Brush your dentures daily with a soft brush and mild soap or denture cleaner, not ordinary toothpaste, which can scratch them.
• Clean them over a bowl of water in case you drop them.
• Do not use hot water or bleach, which can warp or damage dentures.
• Take them out at night and keep them in water or a soaking solution, unless your dentist advises otherwise.
• Brush your gums, tongue and remaining teeth morning and night, with fluoride toothpaste on the teeth.
• If you use adhesive, apply only a little, remove it daily and avoid adhesives containing zinc.

Adhesive cannot fix a poorly fitting denture. Call us if your denture slips, clicks when you talk, hurts or breaks (bring all the pieces), or if your gums are red and bleeding. Even without natural teeth, you still need regular check-ups. For your remaining teeth, see our brushing and flossing guide.

Risks, limitations and alternatives

• Denture stomatitis: fungal inflammation (thrush) under the denture. It is common (15% to over 70% of wearers in studies) and linked to poor cleaning, overnight wear and a poor fit. It is treated with better cleaning and, if needed, antifungal medicine, and it is not contagious.
• Loosening: the jawbone and gums shrink over the years, and a loose denture can cause sores and faster bone loss.
• Your remaining teeth: if poorly cleaned, they collect plaque around the denture, which can lead to decay and gum disease. This is not inevitable: in a review of 46 studies, about 95% of partial dentures were still in use after five years, with few gum changes.
• Movement when talking or chewing, breakage if dropped, and a risk of choking if worn overnight.

Alternatives to dentures

If a lower complete denture will not stay in place, an implant-supported one is often more stable.

How much do dentures cost, and what affects the price?

The cost of removable dentures depends on:

• the type and material: acrylic usually costs less, cobalt-chrome more, and implant-supported options more than conventional dentures
• the number of teeth, and whether one jaw or both
• treatment needed first: extractions, fillings, root canal or gum treatment
• the number of appointments and laboratory work
• upkeep: a reline every one to two years or as needed, repairs and, in time, a new denture

You will receive the exact cost in a written plan after an examination. See Prices.

Dentures in Skopje: why Dr. Milanovski?

We check what can be saved first. ‘Save the tooth’ is the practice’s motto. Before deciding on a denture, we check which teeth can be kept with a filling, root canal treatment or a post and crown. A few saved teeth or roots can steady a denture and help preserve the bone.

Clear explanations before you decide. We explain your options, their benefits and limitations, and give you a written plan before treatment.

Health Insurance Fund (FZO). The practice has a contract with the Fund for primary dental care, so if you are insured, you can register Dr Kiril Milanovski as your chosen dentist (izbran stomatolog).

Dentures: frequently asked questions

If you are missing teeth or your old denture bothers you, book an appointment and we will look at your options together.