Getting used to your new dentures

A new feel with new dentures

Many of our denture patients need a bit of time to get used to wearing dentures – especially if they are wearing dentures for the first time. In our experience, it can take longer to adjust to complete lower dentures, as there is usually less retention and the tongue may feel constricted for while. It will take your tongue, lips and cheeks several days or even weeks to get used to the shape of your new dentures. Any problems usually resolve themselves within a short time. During this stage, you will play a more active role in adapting to your new dentures than your clinical dental technician.

Appearance

At Changing Faces®, it is our aim to create the dentures that will improve your overall appearance with a more natural and youthful look. By positioning your front denture forward, in keeping with where your natural teeth once were, your new dentures will provide essential support for your lips and cheeks. With this, Changing Faces® dentures can actually reverse the signs of aging caused by tooth loss.

With complete dentures, it is normal for your mouth and face to look and feel different. After a few days this feeling will disappear and you will enjoy new confidence in your appearance. To ensure that you are happy with your new look and feel, we go through a number of stages before your final fitting.

Speech

Throughout the different stages of treatment we use a number of tried and tested techniques to make sure that your new dentures have a positive effect on your speech. In fact, we find that our dentures often help to improve speech overall. As your tongue and lips get used to the shape of your new dentures, any initial difficulties you experience will soon subside. Reading aloud is very effective and can help speed up the process. Try counting from 65 - 70, as these sounds can be the hardest to get used to.

It is common to salivate more (which can affect speech) when your new dentures are fitted. As your mouth gets used to presence of the dentures, this will soon subside. Try sipping water to thin down your saliva and try swallowing more often.

Eating

Getting used to chewing can take more time and practice until your cheeks, lips and tongue adapt to their new interaction with your new denture base. Many of our patients experience a reduction in the length of their face, which caused by many years of wearing ill-fitting and worn down dentures. By returning your jaw to its natural position, your new dentures may temporarily affect your chewing and biting ability. Rest assured that things will soon return to normal. With your facial length restored to what it once was, your eating should actually improve.

When wearing your new dentures for the first time, begin eating with small bites of finely sliced foods. This will help you begin to control your new bite and tooth position. Avoid tough, hard and sticky foods until you become more accustomed to your replacement dentures. Biting on the front teeth of even the best made denture can cause your denture to lever away from your gums. Biting slightly to the side more towards your back teeth causes less leverage.

New dentures take time to get used to and you may feel that it was easier to eat with your old dentures. However, most of our patients feel their new Changing Faces dentures offer them more freedom to enjoy the foods they love.

If you are a complete denture wearer, try following these basic principles to make your adjustment period much easier:

• Chew up and down, rather than from side to side
• Cut your food into small pieces and eat slowly
• Chew on both sides of your mouth at the same time
• Avoid bringing the lower front denture teeth forward against the upper front denture teeth
• If you find that it is necessary to bite using the front teeth on your denture, hold your tongue against the back of the upper denture to keep it in place

Everyday wear

When it comes to the period of time you wear your new dentures, it is a matter of personal choice. However, we do recommend that you leave your dentures out at night, as this is often the most convenient time to allow your mouth to rest. If this is not possible, we suggest that you remove your dentures whenever you are in private, as even a short break will allow your mouth to rest. Whenever you remove your dentures, make sure you keep them soaked in water.

Sore areas

Your mouth may have changed a great deal since your last set of dentures were fitted. The size and shape of your new dentures will be created to fit precisely with the contours of your mouth. As a result, pressure points and sore spots can develop under and around your new dentures during the first few days of wear. This is perfectly normal but should it continue, we can alleviate any discomfort you experience by adjusting the denture surface. If the irritation is very painful, stop wearing your dentures and consult your clinical dental technician.

In most cases, a new partial denture will be supported by your natural teeth and gums. If you are wearing a partial denture for the first time, you may experience some slight soreness while you adjust. Designed to be as comfortable as possible, our partial dentures will minimise any potential for soreness. Try not to bite your partial dentures into place as this may loosen and break the clasps and damage your mouth. Instead, follow the insertion and removal advice provided by your clinical dental technician.

Experiencing discomfort with your new dentures?

Help is at hand. Changing Faces® appointments are always readily available to any of our denture patients who are experiencing discomfort. In addition, dental recall appointments every 12 months will help us to make sure your dentures provide the best feel and fit.