Dentures

Full and Partial Top 3 Tips for Dealing with Your New Set of Dentures

Whether full or partial, dentures can restore confidence for patients with lost or missing teeth. As your local Shepparton dentist, it is procedure that we commonly undertake. They can restore smiles and improve the ability to speak and chew greatly. They are overall a reasonably quick and trouble-free solution for missing teeth. With that said, not everyone takes to their new dentures straight away. At Maude Street Dental, it is not unusual for patients to have an adjustment period, a disappointing start and faltering when it comes to dentures. Fortunately, a few simple dental hacks will help you adjust more quickly after your new dentures are fitted.

What can I expect after I get my new dentures?

As with any prosthetic, dentures will certainly feel strange in your mouth for the first few days. Some patients report feeling like their dentures are too large or too loose. Patients who are not familiar with dentures often find they have speech difficulties too. When you wear your dentures for the first time, you may find you need to re-learn how to move food around your mouth or chew. Gum and mouth soreness are other common complaints from patients with new dentures. Lastly, dry mouth and excess saliva are not uncommon for new denture wearers. Below are a few simple tips to help you deal with such challenges.

#1 Be sure that your new dentures fit well Irritation is quite a common occurrence for those adjusting to life with their new dentures. Gum soreness can develop suddenly after wearing the prosthetic denture or the sensation of having a foreign object in the mouth. Do not panic – these experiences are quite normal! It is, however, important for patients who wear them to understand the differences between likely discomfort and badly fitting dentures.

Here are a few of the areas for concern:

• Gum pressure sores – raw skin and occasional bleeding gums

• Cheek and jaw muscle pain – persistent pain that lasts for days/weeks

• Denture slippage – which does not rectify after a few days These are indicative of dentures that need adjustment. It is worth mentioning that patients who have had newly extracted teeth should follow the detailed instructions given by their dentist on dealing with the recovery process.

#2 Re-learn and practice specific words Patients with newly fitted dentures may need to learn to re-pronounce certain words and singing or even reading aloud will help speed up this process. Exercises like this train your mouth, lips, and tongue to adjust to the new denture(s) when speaking certain words.

#3 Good nutrition and making dietary adjustments Dentures are not like teeth with root anchors that hold them firmly below the gum line. This means that foods such as chewy meats or nuts can be difficult to eat. Patients adjusting to their new dentures will have to get used to or work around this and other limitations. Identifying soft, nutritious foods is a simple workaround for this. For those who enjoy meat, choosing ground meat or lean cuts that are easy to chew is ideal. Cutting up solid foods into smaller, more edible pieces will also help.

We can take care of all your dental and oral needs, including dentures. Our dental practice provides a service that offers fitting, repair, and maintenance of prosthetic dentures. If you need any assistance regarding your dentures, our team is ready, willing, and able to assist you.