Denture Delivery Instruction and Education
Congratulations on your new set of dentures. This new prosthesis can create significant impacts in your life. You should be aware that there will be a period of adjustment to the dentures. Below is a guide to help you navigate through this period and attain the best possible results. Ponte Vedra Complete Dentistry is committed to providing the residents of Ponte Vedra and surrounding communities with oral health education. We welcome questions and new patients so do not hesitate to contact us any time.
Appearance
It is important to understand that the lip support may look awkward at first. The lips are feeling something that is foreign and may not relax adequately. The lips may look at feel too full at first and you may feel that the denture is bulky in the mouth. In addition, this may seem more pronounced if you have had large segments missing teeth prior to delivery. You, your friends, and your family will have become accustomed to the collapsed appearance of the face. Your perseverance during this time period will be rewarded in the future.
Chewing and Eating
Denture teeth are not the same as natural teeth. It is often said that dentures are not a replacement for teeth but rather a replacement for no teeth. Dentures have been shown to have only 25% of chewing efficiency as healthy natural teeth. With proper training, chewing function can be sufficient but it is important to note that there are limitations.
Adaptation in masticatory skill commonly requires 6 to 8 weeks to occur. If you expect this, the process can be much less aggravating. A complete re-training of the tongue, lips, and cheeks are required for satisfaction. In the first days after receiving your dentures, you may notice that you have excess saliva in the mouth. This is the result of a new and foreign presence. The salivary glands will accommodate soon enough and the salivary flow will return to normal.
In the beginning, food cut into small pieces will be the best to eat. Up and down chewing strokes are best to us and side to side strokes should be avoided if possible. Tough fibrous foods should be avoided until adequate skill has developed. It is important to note that chewing on one side of the mouth will create an uneven force on the denture and can cause it to tip and rock. Learning to chew on both sides of the mouth will be of benefit.
For many people, the tongue naturally rests further toward the back of the mouth. If you have received a lower denture, this may cause a tipping force. An attempt to push the tongue’s resting position more forward to rest on the inside of the lower teeth can help to stabilize the denture.
During the initial adaptation to the denture, the denture may seem loose at times. If the denture truly is loose, the dentist will correct the problem. This often can be caused by the muscles in the mouth dislodging the denture. These muscles often contract in response to a foreign object in the mouth. This is all part of the adaptation process and soon enough these muscles will relax and learn to cooperate rather than oppose the prosthesis.
Friends and Family
Patients often find themselves discouraged or self-conscious following social interactions. If this has potential for occurrence, there are a few tips that could prove to be beneficial. First, as stated above the new appearance of dentures can be different enough to provoke comments. Changes in hairstyle, makeup, or clothes can potentially take emphasis from the mouth and ease this transition. Second, if eating is challenging at first, it may be best to have the first few meals out of social circles.
Speaking
Many patients find themselves struggling with speech for several weeks after obtaining a denture. It is important to note that speaking with dentures requires practice. The form and function of speech holds many intricacies. Reading challenging statements aloud can expedite this process. Many people find that they are much more aware of the audible changes in speech than their listeners are.
Cleaning Dentures
The fact that dentures are not natural human tissue does not make oral hygiene any less important. Plaque, calculus, and stains can build on dentures just as they do in the mouth. This can cause irritation of the soft tissues of the mouth, increased tendencies for fungal infections, and bad odors. A clean rinse of the mouth and denture whenever possible is recommended. In addition, dentures are made to be removed every night during sleep. A soft brush can be used to clean the dentures prior to placing them in fluid overnight. Commercial cleansers work well but it is important to note that the soak is not sufficient to clean the dentures and the brushing prior to placement is crucial to remove plaque and calculus.
Irritation and Discomfort
No two mouths are the same. With that said, if you experience any irritation or discomfort from your denture you should know that this is not uncommon. If you feel discomfort, you do not need to keep the dentures in the mouth. Appointments subsequent to the delivery of the denture are designed to correct any errors in fit and irritated spots in the mouth. If you have irritation in the mouth and are scheduled for a follow-up appointment, wear the denture for a day before the appointment so the dentist can identify the exact placement of the sore spots. Do not attempt to adjust the denture yourself. This can be detrimental.
Communication with Your Dentist
If you have questions or concerns regarding your dentures, it is important to understand that no issue is too small. Keeping a small notebook in your pocket for the first days may be a good idea to write down anything that you may want to discuss with the doctor at follow-up visits. This should include things like specific troubles with chewing, speaking, soreness, etc.
Adhesive
If you believe you require adhesive to retain the dentures in the proper spot in the mouth, it is important to discuss this with your dentist. Adhesives have potential drawbacks and often the problem can be remedied by the dentist during a simple appointment.
If you have questions at any time, feel free to contact us electronically or call us at (904)285-7711.