You must clean your dentures daily, just as you would your natural teeth. This means that after every meal the dentures must be cleaned, rinsed and brushed free of debris.
*Dropping dentures in the sink during cleaning can cause it to break or crack. To avoid this, first fill the sink with water before brushing.
Dentures should be soaked in denture cleaner daily to weekly for 20 minutes. We recommend Renew Denture Cleaner, (available at our office) safe for use on permanent liners.
Yearly examination and professional cleaning by your Denturist is required for the health of your mouth and denture.
Every 2 years Dentures need to be relined to ensure optimal fit. When you replace teeth with traditional dentures, the bone that once supported them doesn’t get stressed the same way. Your denture will transfer chewing and biting force to your gums.This puts stress on the jawbone and causes it to break down,this along with normal wear from use and cleaning results in the dentures not having the best possible fit. Regular relines will help refit the denture to compensate for changes in fit.
Dentures need to be replaced every 5-7 years.
Maintaining good nutrition during the healing process is important. Drink plenty of fluids. During the first 24-36 hours you need to eat food that does not require chewing: juices, blended drinks or shakes, milk, cheese, soup, yogurt, Ensure(meal replacement drinks), eggs, broths, soups or fish. After the first or second day you can slowly increase the consistency of the food. In addition to the foods above, consider soft foods like small pastas, well-cooked carrots and green beans, mashed potatoes, creamed vegetables, well-cooked fruits (no seeds), canned fruits. Cut your food into small pieces and eat slowly.
Eating with a denture is very different from eating with natural teeth. Chew food on both sides of your back teeth and chew straight up and down. Biting food off is generally better done at the corners of the mouth instead of the very front as is common with natural teeth. You will soon learn what works best for you.
Expect several adjustments to the dentures over the first few weeks as the swelling subsides. Soft foods should be eaten such as mashed potatoes, overcooked pasta, soups, smoothies, fish etc… Reading a book out loud is a great way to practice your speech and get used to your new dentures.
2 weeks after extractions, most dentures become loose because of the healing process, a tissue conditioner (temporary liner) is placed in the denture by the Denturist. The tissue conditioner is applied chair-side in a short appointment and is applied only if needed, at no cost to the patient.
3 months after extractions, most dentures become loose as you continue to heal, because of bone loss due to healing and connective tissue remodeling. Another tissue conditioner is placed in the dentures by the Denturist. This is applied chair-side in a short appointment during the healing period. *Will be billed to the patient as outlined in the treatment plan.
6 months after extractions,bone remodeling has stabilized enough to have the permanent reline placed. The residual ridge (where your teeth were) will slowly resorb over time, it’s important to keep your dentures fitting properly to maintain oral health. A permanent processed reline is a day-long procedure consisting of an early morning impression appointment, leaving the dentures to be processed,followed by a late afternoon reinsertion. *Will be billed to the patient as outlined in the treatment plan.
Do not remove your immediate denture for 24 hours. The denture will act as a splint to help promote healing, by reducing swelling, preventing food particles from entering open sockets, and any trauma from chewing on the tissues. If the denture is removed during this period, the gums may swell, making it hard to get the denture back in. Apply an ice pack to the area during the first few hours: on for 20 minutes, off for 20 minutes.
Bleeding is normal the first 2-3 days. Gently close your teeth together tightly for 10 minutes and the pressure from the denture will slow down the bleeding. Do not rapidly clench and release as this can increase bleeding. Clean the rest of your mouth and remaining natural teeth as usual. A clean mouth can aid the healing process. Do not spit, the denture could become dislodged. If you need to remove liquid from your mouth, drool gently over the sink. Avoid mouthwash during the first 24 hours unless prescribed.
You will have a scheduled post-extraction appointment with the Denturist the day after your extractions.The Denturist will be the first one to remove the denture. They will clean the denture, adjust any pressure points, and reinsert the denture.
Remove your denture and rinse it after every meal. For the first week following extractions, keep your denture in at all times (sleep with your denture) except to clean. To clean the denture, partially fill the sink with water to cushion impact if denture is dropped. Use liquid dish soap and a denture brush to clean the denture. Toothpaste made for natural teeth is too abrasive and will scratch and dull the denture. Once healed, use a soft toothbrush and toothpaste to clean the gums and tongue, as it harbors many of the germs that cause bad breath. After the first week, it’s best to leave the denture out at night. Keep dentures in a clean water bath when not in your mouth, safe from pets or being misplaced. This allows the gums to relax and maintain optimal health. Under certain circumstances it may be necessary to keep your denture in all night. If this is the case, there is increased risk for some problems such as oral yeast infections.
Sore spots can occur even if a denture has a “perfect fit.” This is due to the fact that the gums the denture rests upon varies. Contact your denturist as soon as a sore develops so an adjustment can be made; trying to “tough it out” can lead to a larger sore that is harder to treat. Rinse with warm salt water or use Pro Relief Dental Gel (sold in our office) while sores are healing. Never attempt to adjust the denture yourself.
Certain sounds may be hard to pronounce when you first get your denture. Try reading out loud to train your speech. Over time your speech will improve. Having a denture in your mouth can be overwhelming at first. Our mouths are designed to detect even very small foreign objects. Therefore, something as large as a denture can be quite a “shock”. You will probably notice additional saliva in your mouth. This is because objects in the mouth are usually food so saliva is increased to aid the eating process. It may take a couple of weeks for your mouth to realize the denture is now “part of you.” In most cases, a lower denture will cause more problems than an upper denture. Even with a “perfect fit,” the shape of the lower gums usually prevents suction, so a lower denture feels looser than an upper denture. A denture adhesive may be of help in this case. If you continue to have problems with the lower denture, ask your denturist if implants might be right for you. In some cases, a feeling of fullness in the roof of the mouth may cause some gagging at first. This declines as the mouth realizes the denture is not a foreign object but is now “part of you.”
The TC will promote healing and help your denture fit. The first TC will be applied 2 weeks after your denture is placed, if needed. The second TC is applied at 3 months (as outlined on your treatment plan and charged at that time). This will compensate for the drastic changes to your gums as you heal and help keep you comfortable during healing.
Once you heal, your Immediate denture will need to be relined (as outlined on your treatment plan and charged at that time). As the gums shrink, the denture and the gums become mismatched. This change is especially great during the first 6 months after removal of natural teeth. For a reline additional denture material is added to the denture that contacts the gums so that the denture once again closely conforms to the shape of the mouth, utilizing the initial immediate denture.
If you have chosen a temporary denture, we will make a new permanent denture once you are fully healed. This is recommended as your second denture is always going to be better than your immediate denture. After your reline or final denture is placed, dentures should be soaked every day for 20 minutes in denture cleanser. (We
recommend RENEW, available at our office.)
New dentures can be difficult for you to get used to. After extractions your mouth is going through very dramatic changes.
It’s normal to need adjustments on new dentures. Call us to schedule an adjustment. You will likely experience dentures sores, needing to be treated immediately by the Denturist. Rinse with warm salt water or use Pro Relief Dental Gel (available at our office) while sores are healing.
Dentures should be rinsed prior to placing in your mouth. They stick tighter to your gums this way.
Your denture will likely be loose during the 6 month healing period. Once you are fully healed, if your denture does not stay in place on its own, denture adhesive or paste may be needed. This should not be considered a crutch, but an aid to better denture adhesion and fit.
Eating with dentures is not like eating with natural teeth. Biting into apples, carrots, and steak is not advised. In order to eat with dentures, cut food in smaller pieces and chew on both right and left sides at the same time.
To maintain the health of your mouth and gums, the dentures must be removed from your mouth at least 2 hours every day. When not in your mouth, dentures must be kept in a clean water bath.
New dentures can be difficult while you get used to them. Reading a book out loud is a great way to practice your speech and get used to your new dentures.
It’s normal to need adjustments on your new dentures. Call us to schedule an adjustment. FREE adjustments are included for 3 months after delivery. After 3 months adjustments will be charged.
You will likely experience dentures sores,needing to be treated immediately by the Denturist. Rinse with warm salt water or use Pro Relief Dental Gel (available at our office) while sores are healing.
Dentures should be rinsed prior to placing in your mouth. They stick tighter to your gums this way.
If your denture does not stay in place on its own, denture adhesive or paste may be needed. This should not be considered a crutch but an aid to better denture adhesion and fit.
Eating with your dentures is not like eating with natural teeth. Biting into apples, carrots, and steak is not advised. In order to eat with dentures, cut food in smaller pieces and chew on both right and left sides at the same time.
To maintain the health of your mouth and gums, the dentures must be removed from your mouth at least 2 hours every day.
When not in your mouth, dentures must be kept in a clean water bath.
