Needing dentures isn't usually something to celebrate.

Owner and dental clinician Ryan Carlton achieves much of that himself. Bearded and friendly, he races motorbikes in his spare time and is a keen family man, bringing a down-to-earth energy to a process characterised by exquisite attention to detail.

Working alongside Ryan is a team that shares his passion for restoring people's confidence through their smiles.

This can be done through full, partial, implant or immediate dentures; the clinic does it all. It even has the city's only welder specifically designed for the repair of partial dentures.

Sports mouthguards and bite splints are also available. The clinic’s sports mouthguards are custom made for each patient and offer much more protection than an over-the-counter product, while being much more comfortable to wear.

Its bite splints offer relief for those who suffer from jaw dysfunction, clenching and grinding, which can be distressing, painful, and sleep depriving!

"Patients can either come to us directly or their dentist can send us moulds to work on," Ryan says, adding that miscommunication is less likely if patients visit the clinic.

If possible, it is also a good idea to visit before teeth are removed, because this helps the denture makers see the natural shape of a person's face.

That way, the denture can be sculpted more realistically.

Teeth are then positioned with the tiny twists and turns that make the final product indistinguishable from the real thing.

An artist's touch is required and experience counts for a lot.

Ryan and his wife Marion, a German- trained denture technician, bought Dentures Plus over seven years ago and have grown the business steadily.

The couple met while working at one of New Zealand's largest denture clinics, which helped them hit the ground running at Dentures Plus as they focused on applying the latest techniques and technology to the 20-year-old practice.

"We've got a laid-back atmosphere that really puts patients at ease, and a team that hails from all over the world. That's helped us extend our knowledge of the many different techniques out there," Ryan says.

Included among the services at Dentures Plus is denture care, with check- ups advised every one to two years to ensure good oral health and a comfortable fit.



Cleaning products are available over the counter and via the Dentures Plus website, including the stand-out cleaning solution Caldent.

In-house denture cleaning can also be performed at Dentures Plus using Caldent in conjunction with a specialised denture cleaning machine, producing in a few hours a result that would take a week at home.