Dentures (also known as dental plates), can be defined as a set of artificial teeth, which are used when a patient has lost real teeth on the mandibular arch, the maxillary arch, or both. Patients can become entirely edentulous (without teeth) due to severe malnutrition, genetic defects such as Dentinogenesis imperfecta, ineffective oral hygiene or trauma. Dentures can help give the edentulous patient better masticatory (chewing) abilities, as well as enhance the esthetic appeal of their lips in specific and their entire face in general. They are most associated with pensioners.

Removable partial dentures are for patients who are missing only some of their teeth on a particular arch. Fixed partial dentures, better known as crowns and bridges, are also for patients missing only some of their teeth, but these are more expensive than removable appliances, and they are contraindicated in certain instances.

Conversely, complete dentures are worn in patients who are missing all their teeth in an arch (i.e the maxillary or mandibular arch).