Denture and Partial Denture
The following suggestions are presented to assist you in learning to use and properly care for your new denture/partial. If you have had teeth removed in conjunction with the placement of new denture/partial, you may also refer to Home Care Instructions for Tooth Extractions.
Most new denture/partial require a “breaking in” period before they become comfortable. This length of time varies with each individual patient depending upon their ability, determination and perseverance to learn how to use them. You must first learn to keep them in place and then gradually start to use them.
What to expect: It is normal for you to feel awkward at first with your new denture/partial. Your appearance has probably undergone a slight change, your speech may seem altered and you will feel certain your mouth is too full. Time, patience and some training will soon bring about a relaxation of the facial muscles and begin to alleviate some of the apparent problems.
Looseness: If you have had teeth removed immediately prior to placement of the denture/partial, it may feel loose due to gum shrinkage that occurs as the gums heal. Complete healing of the gums and the underlying bone takes three to six months. During this period a temporary liner may be placed inside the denture to keep it relatively snug. Denture adhesive will also help in this regard. Once healing is complete, a permanent liner will be placed and simply closing your teeth together and swallowing will help to seat the dentures by removing air and saliva from the interface.
Sore Spots: Soreness from uneven pressure on the gums may develop at any time, and is not unusual, especially if you have not worn a denture/partial before. Sore spots are best corrected if the denture/partial are worn for a couple of hours before returning for the adjustment appointment. This will allow a precise detection of the offending areas inside the denture/partial which are corrected by trimming.
Eating: Start with soft foods or those that are easy to chew. Take small bites and chew slowly, trying to overcome difficulties as they arise. Keep the food distributed evenly on both sides and chew on the back teeth. To eat foods that normally require biting with the front teeth, it is a good idea to start with a knife and fork. Biting with the front teeth usually causes the denture/partial to tip and come loose, but it can be learned with practice. Sometimes biting with the side teeth may be an easier alternative. More difficult foods that are fibrous (steak) or hard (carrots) will require a gradual learning curve. Initially, we recommend avoiding chewing gum or attempting to eat sticky foods.
Speaking: Learning to talk with your new denture/partial in place requires some patience and perseverance. Reading aloud is a very good way to enunciate distinctly, especially those sounds or words that are not clear. Try to avoid movements of the lips and tongue that tend to displace the denture/partial or cause them to click. Careful practice and repetition may help to hasten the process and produce the desired results.
Mouth and Denture/Partial Hygiene: It is extremely important to clean your denture/partial with a soft brush and cleaning paste or soapy water after each meal. Special denture brushes can be purchased at any store that sells toothbrushes. Food particles that are trapped under the denture/partial can cause inflammation of the gums and sore spots. You should remove your denture/partial for at least six hours daily, usually while sleeping, to give your gums a chance to rest. During this time, the denture/partial should be cleansed and placed in a small tub of water to prevent them from drying out. This will make placement of the denture/partial back into the mouth easier. You may want to consider placing the denture/partial in an enzymatic or special cleansing solution once a week to remove those otherwise insoluble stains and proteins. Be sure to brush the denture/partial before placing it in the cleansing solution.
Because food will stick to the soft tissues of your mouth, it is also beneficial to brush the gums, roof of the mouth and tongue daily. Massaging and stimulating these tissues will reduce the incidence of inflammation and sore spots.
If your dentures were placed over new extraction sites (immediate dentures), you should wear the dentures at night for the first three days. This will help promote healing and prevent irritations to those sites. You may then resume the directions previously described and remove the dentures when sleeping.
Be sure to have your denture/partial checked at least once annually as changes in the mouth such as bone loss and wearing of the teeth will inevitably occur. Careful maintenance of the denture/partial and the supporting soft tissues will help slow down these changes.