Your New Denture

You've just received your new dentures. whether you're a seasonedveteran or a new denture wearer, we're sure there are many questionswhich may need to be answered. We hope that the following informationwill prove to be helpful during the next few weeks of your dentureadjustment period.

• Learning to wear a new denture can take time. Don'tbecome discouraged if you find some difficulty in the beginning.YOU'RE NOT ALONE! Please do not listen to friends who tellyou how easy it was for them to get used to their dentures andhow they can eat everything and anything. They are either bragging,have greater bone and gum support or their memories may be poor.Your dentist will help you through any difficulties you mayface or any situations that may arise during your adjustment period.
  
  
• A lower denture usually takes more time to adjust to thanan upper denture. The tongue may feel restricted and willtend to play, sometimes even subconsciously, with the new prosthesis.It will soon adapt to the restrictions and to the new feelingthat a denture presents.
  
  
• Try to eat only soft foods for the first couple of days. Then,as you progress to more solid foods try to eat slowly and deliberately,attempting to place even amounts of food on both sides at thesame time during the chewing cycle. By placing food on bothsides of the mouth at the same time, you balance the biting forceson the new denture and will help to make it more stable. Thelonger you take to eat your meal, the faster you will learn tomaster your new prosthesis.
  
  
• Try to take small bites at first. Cut all your food into smallportions. If, and when, your gum tissues are strong enough totry foods which are bitten off (bread, corn on the cob, etc. ),try to press the food against the back teeth on the upper in orderto stabilize the denture.
  
  
• It is perfectly normal to experience some discomfort associatedwith sore spots during the adjustment period. Nature did not intendfor us to wear hard plastic against soft gum tissue. It takesa while for the gum tissues to firm up and to accommodate to thehard plastic denture.
  
  
• If sore spots should develop (and in some cases they donot), please be sure to wear the denture for at least 24hours prior to your adjustment visit! If your dentist can't see the sore spot visually, it is sometimes impossible for him to make the necessary adjustments.
  
  
• Reading aloud during the first couple of days will go a longway in reducing any minor speech problems which may result fromwearing a new denture. If speech problems continue to persist,please let your dentist know.
  
  
• An unclean denture is neither healthy, attractive or comfortable.Clean you new denture every morning and night with either a denturetoothbrush and denture toothpaste ( if necessary, any toothpastecan be used ) or with one of the commercially available denturecleaners. Please be sure to check with your dentist to make sure thatthe commercial cleaner will not interfere with the type of dentureliner you may have in your prosthesis. Permanent soft liners andtemporary soft liners react poorly to most commercial cleaners.
  
  
• We prefer that you leave out one or both of your denturesat night. This allows your gum tissues to breathe and also relievesthem of the constant pressures of mastication. When left out ofthe mouth, all dentures should be left in water to prevent warpage.
  
  
• Gum tissues are in a constant state of changebut dentures are not. Therefore, periodic relining of your denturesmay be necessary. If you find your denture getting looser andmastication more difficult, this may be a sign that a reline maybe needed. It is very important for your dentist to see you regularly toevaluate the state of your oral tissues and to determine if additionaltreatment is required. Dentures typically need to be relined orremade every 3-5 years.
  
  
• NEVER try to adjust your dentures yourself ! Home remedies,although simple, will only lead to trouble.

  If any problems arise or if you have any additional questions,your dentist is available to help.