Home Care Information For Your Removable Prosthesis - Denture/Partial
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR NEW DENTURES AND PARTIAL DENTURES
We have done our best to provide you with well-fitting, functional and aesthetic dentures. The following information will be helpful to you.
- YOUR FIRST FEW WEEKS:
- New dentures always feel foreign when first placed in your mouth. Several days or even a few weeks will be required for you to feel accustomed to them.
- SORE SPOTS:
- It is common to experience a sore spot after first wearing a new denture. They can be relieved with very little effort on your next appointment. Another appointment about seven days later will usually eliminate any other sore areas.
- CHEWING:
- The new bite or occlusion may not feel completely comfortable for a period of days. We will adjust the contacting surfaces of your teeth after 24 hours and again in about one week after the dentures have settled into place.
- UPPER VS. LOWER DENTURES:
- Your upper denture will rest comfortably in place with moderate to strong “suction”. Although your lower denture will have good stability, it is infrequent that “suction” can be expected on a lower denture. However, we suggest that you avoid denture adhesives unless you have significant difficulty. If adhesives are utilized, use powders only and avoid any adhesives on overdentures or implant-supported dentures.
- INSERTION:
- Never bite your partial denture into place. Always seat your partial denture with finger pressure only. Biting can cause bending of the metal clasps.
- CLEANING THE DENTURES AND YOUR MOUTH:
- Your dentures can be cleaned easily by using a denture brush and a mild toothpaste. Denture cleansers are recommended for the denture. Brush your gums with a regular toothbrush once per day to toughen and clean them. Please keep your dentures out of your mouth at night to give your gum tissue a rest. When your dentures are out of your mouth, leave them soaking in water. If dental implants are in place, brush them thoroughly each day and use any other cleaning agents such as gauze or toothpicks, which we recommend for your care.
- THE FUTURE:
- Your jaw bones and gums shrink up to 1/32 of an inch per year when your teeth are missing unless protected by implants. This is one of the main disadvantages of dentures. Because of this shrinkage, you should plan to have your dentures and oral tissues evaluated once per year by us. We will inform you when relining or rebasing of the denture is necessary. Wearing ill-fitting dentures for too long without refitting can cause severe bone loss and very serious oral diseases. Sudden weight loss can result in the need for relining your denture. We look forward to helping you adjust to and enjoy your new dentures.