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Denture Care Instructions

Following the delivery of new dentures there is a variable period (generally 2-6 weeks) during which patients must adjust and accommodate. Everyone adjusts to change differently, some patients may find a denture that replaces a single tooth to have a harder time adjusting that another person with a full denture. We will try to assist our patients with these adjustment period as best we can and to achieve this, we will go through what to expect and how to care for your dentures.

 

Challenges

  • New dentures take time to adjust to, even for patients who have had dentures before.

  • It typically takes 1-3 months for a patient to adjust to the new dentures; patients who’ve only started wearing dentures at an older age may take longer.

  • Increased salivation is a normal response when there is a new object, such as food or a new denture. Your body will learn to recognize the denture and all issues associated with excess salivation will decrease with time.

  • Typical difficulties include feeling like the denture is unstable, lisping, chewing, and speaking. The muscles in the mouth will learn to accommodate the space taken up by the denture and these difficulties will reduce with time.

  • Accepting that it will take longer to chew food.

  • There will be sore spots when you start wearing new dentures. These spots are typically very small and the gums around the spot will shrink back to resolve the discomfort. Prolonged soreness should be brought to the dentist’s attention.

Accelerate your adaptation

  • Read out loud whilst wearing your new dentures.

  • Begin with soft foods and gradually switch to tougher and stickier foods.

  • Cut food into smaller pieces and chew on back teeth. Denture front teeth are primarily for aesthetics and speech function, they do not bear much force.

  • Avoid grinding side to side when chewing.

  • Remove the dentures occasionally throughout the day and bathe your mouth with warm salt water. Replace the denture immediately after. Continue wearing the dentures even if it causes soreness as we will be able to identify the sore spots during your next review appointments.

Maintenance

  • Briefly brush your dentures before wear each morning. Thoroughly brush both the inside and the outside surface of the denture at night. Remember to continue brushing your remaining teeth.

  • Once a week, soak the dentures in a denture cleaning solution. Alternatively, a diluted solution of white vinegar (50:50 mix). Ensure the solution covers the entire denture and leave overnight. Rinse thoroughly the next morning.

  • Caring for the oral tissues is also very important. A soft toothbrush should be used to scrub the tongue, gums and roof of the mouth.

  • If your denture has metal clasps, avoid tugging on the metal clasps as they may deform or break. Reach around the periphery of the denture to remove the denture.

At night

  • Avoid wearing the dentures whilst sleeping (unless advised by the dentist). Dentures, unlike natural gums, do not fight off bacteria and fungus.

  • Routine use of dentures whilst sleeping, especially without proper cleaning, commonly causes gum infections (even if the patient has no teeth).

Things to watch out for

Contact us if you’ve noticed any of the following:
 

  • If you have developed a sore spot after years of wearing the same denture comfortably, your gums may have changed in shape.

  • Burning or itching gums.

  • Foul breath.

  • Increased redness of the gums where the dentures sit.

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Recall Appointments

At A'Beckett St. Dental, we will work towards getting the best outcome for our patients, and this applies to dentures as well. We will routinely schedule review appointments to have minor adjustments to the dentures. Sometimes, these adjustments are noticeable, but more often than not, these adjustments have a far greater impact than the patients realise.
 

Partial dentures often rely on remaining teeth for added stability, as such, they place an added strain on those teeth. The dentures also create spots where food and debris can accumulate. Food and debris are a significant contributor to tooth decay and gum disease, as such, we advise patients who wear partial dentures to have regular dental check ups.
 

Finally, dentures like every appliance, is subject to wear and tear. You can expect a well made appliance to last 5-10 years. As the material is ground down with chewing and grinding, the teeth will eventually look stumpy, or the structure of the denture becomes too thin and breaks. If you have grown comfortable with your existing denture, it is advisable to make new ones before they break. That way, we can replicate as many features you like about your existing dentures. Broken dentures can be replicated too; however, it would be much less ideal.

Disclaimer: The information presented here is intended to be used by A'Beckett St. Dental patients only. The information provided here is general and may not necessarily be suitable for the type of treatment you have received. A'Beckett St. Dental and its associates cannot be liable for the information presented here as it is intended as a general guide only and this information is not a substitute for professional advice. Patients should always seek first hand advice from a dental professional and should use the information provided here only when no other options are available.

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