Cook Street Denture Clinic

Your dentures may feel odd at first. You may even gag slightly once they are in. They may feel slightly uncomfortable or even loose until your cheek muscles and tongue learn to keep them in place. You may notice excess saliva in your mouth. Within a few days they will begin to feel normal.

It is very common to return to your Denturist because of a “sore spot.” Your natural gums were not meant to have hard plastic resting on them as dentures do. These sore spots are normal and can be relieved by a few small adjustments. As your mouth becomes accustomed to the dentures, the sore spots should gradually lessen. It is important that you do not try to adjust your denture by yourself. You may jeopardize the fit, function and guarantee of your Dentures.

Becoming comfortable with eating may take some practice, as a denture is essentially a hard-plastic appliance used to replace as many as 32 living teeth. When first wearing new dentures, avoid hard foods in favour of a diet of soft and non-fibrous foods. Try taking smaller bites and chewing gently to prevent dentures from becoming loose. You will need to gradually introduce more solid foods to your diet, in order to avoid discomfort and sore spots. With practice and patience you will soon be able to enjoy most foods!

At first you may notice subtle differences in your speech, such as a lisp. By practicing reading out loud and enunciating clearly, you will quickly become used of your new dentures and how to speak with them.

Lower dentures generally require more time to get used to. This is because your tongue, cheeks and lower jaw muscles must all learn to work with your new appliance. As well, there is much less ridge for your denture to adhere to, which makes them feel looser than the upper denture.

A yearly check-up of your Denture is recommended. This is important for your general oral health, and to monitor any changes with the fit or health of your gums and dentures. Physical challenges with the supporting bone in your mouth, use of certain medications, or weight loss, can all affect the fit of your dentures.

The change that occurs in your mouth after your teeth are extracted is referred to as gum resorption. As the jaw bone changes and the ridges upon which dentures rest, shrink, there is less stability in the mouth. This means greater space between your teeth, a loss of lip and cheek support, and a looser fit. To counter the problem of gum resorption, Relines or Rebases are recommended every two years. Relines can be done in as little as one day. In the morning you come in, have a new impression taken of your gums, then the Denturist reconstructs your denture using the new fit with high strength acrylic. You come back later that afternoon to pick up your proper fitting denture.

The Canadian Dental Association recommends that you replace your dentures every five years. This is because a person’s mouth and gums are in a constant state of change. Because your denture is a hard appliance, it cannot adjust to the changes in your mouth by itself! The artificial teeth wear down, and the denture does not support the face as it did when it was new. This leads to an older, sunken look in the face, discomfort, and lack of proper function. When you reach the point where your dentures are feeling too loose, where they are uncomfortable, or where you notice a visible change in your appearance, it is time to call your Denturist and have your dentures replaced!