Living with dentures
How will you adjust to your dentures?
Getting your dentures for the first time may be a little uncomfortable. Eventually, you'll get used to them and start feeling at ease with them. During the adjustment period, allow yourself to get used to your dentures naturally. If you are having trouble with certain activities then simply be patient.
If you have just gotten your dentures then you may have to avoid raw vegetables, fibrous meats, and sticky foods foe the first few months. You must cut your food into small pieces. When you bite, you must avoid using your front teeth. Instead, you should use your canine teeth or your pointed teeth. You can also use your premolars or the teeth behind your canines. You should not pull or tear your food in a forward direction. Instead, you should push back when you bite. When you chew, you should try to have food on either side of your mouth so that your dentures are stabilized. You should not expect to have the same eating efficiency like before. Even after you have become experienced with your dentures, you must still be careful with them.
You must have a proper diet if you are wearing dentures. Denture wearers usually have lower quality diets than people with most or all of their natural teeth intact. They may not be able to get the nutrients found in food that is hard to chew like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and meat. They may have a deficiency in nutrients like vitamin B6, vitamin E, and zinc.
You must speak slowly and quietly when you get your dentures for the first time. You can practice speaking in front of a mirror and practice saying difficult words.
You will notice that there is more production of saliva in your mouth. Right when you get your new dentures, your salivation is much more vigorous than before. This will eventually adjust in due time. When you sneeze, cough, or yawn, you may notice that your dentures become loose. This does not mean that they do not fit properly. The tissues underneath your dentures will need some rest everyday so you should take off your dentures when you go to bed.
Your mouth and the bone in your jaw that supports the dentures will continue to change over time. After several years of wearing your dentures, your jaws, especially your lower jaw or mandible, will become smaller as the bone wears away. These changes can cause your dentures to fit improperly and may become difficult to use.
You must have regular visits to your dentist if you have dentures. Just like people with natural teeth, you have to maintain your dentures and visit your dentist regularly. A rule of thumb is to visit your dentist twice a year. People who visit their doctors more frequently should visit their dentist more frequently as well. This is particularly important for people with compromised immune systems and diabetics. The regular visits to your dentist will ensure that your dentures work properly all the time. You will be examined regularly for bone loss, oral cancers, infections, and other conditions.
What are some of the possible complications you can have with your dentures?
It is very rare for people to have an allergic reaction to the plastic used in dentures. If ever someone has an allergic reaction to the plastic then other material may be used. There are also some people who have an allergic reaction to the metal components used in dentures. Most manufacturers of dentures have already stopped using this component so any allergies related to this metal should not be an issue any longer.
Out of the thirty six million people aged eighteen to seventy four who wear dentures in the United States, around twenty one million have some type of complication. Most of these complications are a result of poor oral hygiene or not following your dentist's instructions. For instance, if you do not clean your dentures properly, the nearby tissue can easily become irritated. If you don't eat a balanced diet then you may be more prone to fungal infections in your mouth.
Those who follow their dentist's instructions, clean their dentures and oral tissues daily, and contact their dentists if their dentures seem to have problems will not encounter much complication with their dentures. It is even better if you see your dentist every six months even if you do not experience any discomfort.
How should you take care of your dentures?
Dentures are not permanent fixtures in your mouth. You need to take them out everyday. Most people leave their dentures out at night while they sleep. They store them in water or some commercially available denture cleaning solution in a covered container. They change the water or the solution daily and keep the container clean.
Your dentures have to be cleaned thoroughly. They should be brushed twice a day using specially designed denture brushes. The tissues in your mouth also have to be brushed and massaged so that all food debris and bacteria are removed. This will also help maintain good circulation in your gums.
Some people will use denture adhesives like powders or pastes. These adhesives are used so that the dentures will not slip or fall out. These adhesives are popular for those whose jawbones have shrunk considerably. These adhesives are useful although they should not be used as an alternative or compensation for poorly fitting dentures.
If your dentures start becoming uncomfortable then you must see your dentist for some adjusting or refitting. Most of the repairs can be done right in the dentist's office so you don't need to spend days without your dentures. You should not attempt to repair or refit your dentures by yourself because you can cause injury to your mouth or seriously affect your oral health.
How are the dentures relined and rebased?
Since the supporting bones and tissues of your mouth change over time, your dentures will need some periodic alterations. Relining and rebasing are alterations that adjust the fit of your dentures. They will be made more secure on your gums. Rebasing involves making an entirely new denture base while relining merely modifies the existing denture. Both of the procedures maintain the denture's existing artificial teeth.
Relining involves resurfacing the portion of the denture that fits with your gums. After your teeth are extracted, the bone that once held your teeth will shrink. This process is called bone resorption. As the resorption continues, it is normal to notice that your dentures are no longer fitting properly over time. If the denture is in good shape then your dentist will simply recommend an office reline.
An office reline will take around an hour. During this procedure, the following takes place
- your dentist will clean the denture carefully and take out about two to three millimetres of the surface that fits in your gums
- in some cases, a bonding agent will be used to secure the reline material to the denture
- the reline material which is made of acrylic resin will be mixed and placed in the denture
- the denture is placed in your mouth when the resin is still soft
- an impression of your gum tissue is made inside the denture while it is in your mouth
- the reline material hardens in a shape that conforms to your gums so that the fit is enhanced
- your dentist will check the new surface and will polish the denture
There are two types of relines, the soft reline and the hard reline. Each of them uses different materials. The materials used for soft relines remain flexible. If you pressed the material with your fingernail then you will see the impression. Resin used for hard relines do not have this kind of flexibility.
Soft relines are usually temporary. The material used is biodegradable and isn't meant to last for more than a few months. Some relines can be repeated at regular intervals if your jawbone can't tolerate the force from a hard reline material. The softer material absorbs some of the stress from chewing. Some people get a soft reline if the gum tissues need more time to heal from the effects of an ill-fitted denture or from other stresses that have lead to injuries. In these situations, a hard reline will be done once the gums are healthy.
Rebasing involves replacing the entire base of the denture. This is not a very common practice. This is a more complex process because it may involve two to three dental visits. The teeth on your previous denture will be kept although you will be without dentures for a period of time. This may be for one day but in some instances it can take several days.
If your dentures have to be rebased then your dentist will take an impression of your gums without the denture. The denture will be sent to the lab and it will serve as the model for the new base. During this process, the teeth are kept intact and they will be placed in the new denture. The rebased dentures are usually adjusted.
What kind of denture is right for you?
An office reline can be done much faster and less costly than a rebase but the material used in a reline is not as dense as that used in rebasing. Since the relining materials are not as dense, they are more likely to discolour or have foul odours.
In some cases such as in a fractured denture base, rebasing may be your only choice. You must talk to your dentist and see which procedure is appropriate for you.