Dentures are removable false teeth that come with a host of benefits, including helping to improve how you eat and speak, as well as boosting your confidence by restoring your smile. They can also enhance facial shape, especially around the lips and in the cheek area. You can either have partial dentures for a few missing teeth or full dentures to replace a whole set of teeth on the upper or lower jaw.
Book an appointment
Depending on the complexity of each case, the duration of the treatment will vary. After your initial visit, examination and diagnosis, the subsequent visits will include taking impressions of the mouth, bite registration, try-in of the denture, issue and review.
New dentures always feel strange when first placed in your mouth. Several days or weeks will be required before you get accustomed to them. Adaptation varies with different persons and often time and experience are essential before dentures can be worn comfortably and function effectively.
Eating – Eating will take a little practice. Start with soft foods and foods cut into small pieces will help. Chew slowly using both sides of your mouth at the same time to prevent dentures from tipping. Once you become accustomed to chewing, include other foods until you return to your normal diet.
Increased salivary flow – You may experience an increase in salivary flow when the dentures are first inserted. This is a natural response of the salivary glands that will return to normal after a few weeks. You can improve the situation by swallowing more often.
Speech – New dentures may alter your speech initially. Pronouncing certain words may require practice. Reading out loud and repeating troublesome words will speed up the adaptation process. This problem rarely persists beyond two weeks.
Sore spots – Minor irritation caused by surface irregularities or pressure spots on the denture-bearing areas are quite common. Your dentist will relieve the discomfort by adjusting the denture surface. Stop wearing the denture if the irritation is very painful. Consult your dentist immediately.
Your jawbones and gums naturally shrink over time and this can cause the dentures to fit less securely. Ill-fitting dentures can give rise to chewing difficulties, soreness, infections and changes in facial support. It is important that you visit your dentist to have your dentures and oral tissues evaluated yearly. Your dentures may need to be adjusted, relieved or even relined from time to time to ensure an optimal fit. Do not attempt to adjust the denture yourself – seek professional help.
With time and practice you will soon learn to eat, talk and smile with your dentures as you would with your natural teeth.
Book an appointmentYou should wear your dentures for around 8 hours a day at least. This gives your jawbone and gums time to get used to the dentures and prevents sore spots from developing. It is preferable to take them out at night time to give your gums a chance to rest.
Generally, it would be beneficial to wait 3-4 weeks before you start to eat solid foods again.
It’s best to avoid hard & chewy foods, as well as sticky or spicy foods and alcohol while your mouth is sore or healing. To get used to the feeling of dentures, you should try not to rush eating so you can focus on the eating process and take small bites or cut up your food into bite size pieces so less chewing is required.
Dentures are designed to be hard-wearing, but they will last longer if you treat them with care. Dentures should be removed before you go to bed so your gums can have a rest, but they must be stored in water or denture fluid as they could lose their shape if allowed to dry out.
Clean your dentures with a toothbrush or a special denture brush and remember to keep your gums and any remaining teeth clean too. You will also need to attend regular check-ups so your dentist and hygienist can keep an eye on your oral health.
It can take a little while to get used to your new dentures, especially if they are a complete set. They may feel odd at first and eating can be tricky, so it may be a good idea to start with softer foods and slowly introduce more challenging items. The amount of saliva in your mouth may increase, but this should soon improve as your mouth gets used to your replacement teeth.
Initially, speaking may be difficult but you can improve this by reading aloud. If you are experiencing any sore spots in your mouth, the denture surface may need some adjustment.
If possible, dentures should be removed and cleaned after every meal. When cleaning, remember the following:
68 Wimborne Road,
Poole,
Dorset,
BH15 2BZ
Get directions from Google
Tel: 01202 673 037
