Should a denture be worn at
night?
While you may be advised to wear
your denture almost constantly
during the first two weeks even
while you sleep-under normal
circumstances it is considered best
to remove it at night. Research has
shown that removing the denture
for at least eight hours during
either the day or night allows the
gum tissue to rest and allows
normal stimulation and cleansing
by the tongue and saliva. This
promotes better long-term health of
the gums.
Dentures: Get your smile back
of the denture.
Don’t sterilize
your denture
with boiling
water because
it will
cause
extraction sites have healed (up to
eight weeks or longer.) The
denture process takes about one
month and five appointments: the
initial diagnosis is made; an
impression and a wax bite are
made to determine vertical
dimensions and proper jaw
position; a "try-in" is placed to
assure proper color, shape and fit;
and the patient's final denture is
placed, following any minor
adjustments.
New denture wearers need
time to get accustomed to their
new "teeth" because even the best
fitting dentures will feel awkward
at first. While most patients can
begin to speak normally within a
few hours, many patients report
discomfort with eating for several
days to a few weeks. To get accus-
tomed to chewing with a new
denture, start with soft, easy to-
chew foods. In addition, denture
wearers often notice a slight
change in facial appearance,
increased salivary flow, or minor
speech difficulty.
What is a denture?
A denture is a removable
replacement for missing teeth and
adjacent tissues. It is made of
acrylic resin, sometimes in
combination with various metals.
Complete dentures replace all the
teeth, while a partial denture fills
in the spaces created by missing
teeth and prevents other teeth from
changing position. Complete
dentures are either "conventional"
or "immediate." A conventional
denture is placed in the mouth
about a month after all the teeth
are removed to allow for proper
healing, whereas an immediate
denture is placed as soon as the
teeth are removed. The drawback
behind an immediate denture is
that it may require more
adjustments after the healing has
taken place.
It to
become
warped. If you wear
a partial denture be sure to remove it
before brushing your natural teeth.
When not in use, soak it
in a cleanser solution or in water.
Get in the habit of keeping the
denture in the same safe and handy
place to reduce the likelihood of
misplacement.
of aging, your mouth will
continue to change as the
bone under your denture
shrinks or recedes. To main-
tain a proper fit over time, it
may be necessary to adjust
your denture or possibly
remake your denture. Never
attempt to adjust a denture
yourself and do not use
denture adhesives for a
prolonged period because it
can contribute to bone loss.
When in doubt, consult your
dentist.
Sources' Your
Dentures, American Denial
Association, 1992; Removable Partial
Dentures, American Denial Association,
1991; "Science and Research, Suggestion
10 Patients: Learning 10 Wear and Care for
New Dentures," Iowa Denial Journal, Vol.
67, No.1, January 1981; "A Mylh In 7Ime,"
Oklahoma Denial Association Journal, Vol.
81, No.4, Spring 1994; "Posllnsertion Care
of Patients With Removable Dentures,"
Journal/ Colorado Dental Association, Vol.
71, No.2, January 1993; "Guidelines on
after care for dental patients,"}ADA, Vol.
94,
June
1977.
Who needs a denture?
Candidates for complete
dentures have lost most or all
of their teeth. A partial
denture is suitable for those
who have some natural teeth
remaining. A denture
improves chewing ability and
speech, and provides support
for facial muscles. It will
greatly enhance the facial
appearance and smile.
How do you care for a denture?
A denture is fragile, so it is
important to handle it with care.
Remove and brush the denture
daily, preferably with a brush
designed specifically for cleaning
dentures, using either a denture
cleanser or toothpastes. Never use
harsh, abrasive cleansers,
including abrasives toothpastes,
because they may scratch the
surface
Continue seeing your dentist
regularly
It is important to continue having
regular dental checkups so that a
dentist can examine oral tissues for
signs
What happens when you get a
denture?
A dentist can make a full
conventional denture when all
teeth have been lost or all
This information was compiled for General Dentistry. Your dentist cares about long-term dental health for you and your family and demonstrates that concern by
belonging to the Academy of General Dentistry. As one of the 35,000 general dentists in the United Sates and Canada who are member of the Academy, your dentists
participates in an ongoing program of professional development and continuing education to remain current with advances in the profession and to provide quality patient
treatment. Visit the AGD’s website at www.agd.org. You have permission to photocopy this page and distribute it to your patients.
