Denture and Overdenture Instructions

Insertion and removal

Practice a few times over a sink containing water so that if the denture is dropped, there is no risk of damage. Using a mirror, remove the lower denture first — rotate it so one side comes out before the other. Opening the mouth halfway (rather than very wide) makes it easier to rotate the denture past the cheek. You may need a finger from your other hand to hold back the corner of the mouth.

To remove the upper denture, insert a finger over the upper border about halfway back on one side to break the seal, then remove it without rotation, keeping the mouth halfway open. Always moisten the dentures before insertion. Place the upper denture first — make sure it is the right way up and give it a firm upward push with your thumb in the center of the palate. Rotate the lower denture in one side at a time, raising the tongue slightly as it goes in, then positioning it down over the biting surface.

Familiarization

Allow the tongue to feel the dentures all over. Practice smiling, yawning, and coughing in front of a mirror. These movements may unseat the dentures at first, but with practice your facial muscles will learn to make compensating movements.

Salivation

Increased saliva production is common when new dentures are placed. This should last only a few days and will return to normal as you adjust.

Speaking

Practice by reading aloud or talking on the telephone. The “S” sound commonly causes difficulty at first, but this will sound worse to you than to the person listening — try to ignore it and practice with close family and friends before speaking in public.

Eating

Plan to eat only soft foods for the first few days, then gradually build up to chewier foods after your first two post-operative appointments. Eat with a close companion for those early meals. You may need to adapt your diet slightly — for example, minced beef instead of steak, or soft bread instead of toast.

Cut everything into bite-sized pieces before placing food in the mouth. Try to eat on the back teeth, using both sides at once. Biting into food with the front teeth should be avoided until reasonable chewing skill is acquired. Note that biting into a corn cob, for example, may not be realistic with complete dentures — they are a substitute for having no teeth, rather than a third set.

Daily cleaning routine

Dental plaque forms on dentures just as it does on natural teeth. Remove and brush the dentures after every meal, rinsing thoroughly. At bedtime, remove them and brush thoroughly before soaking overnight in a proprietary denture cleanser.

Use a denture toothbrush with denture toothpaste (non-abrasive) or liquid hand soap — rinse very thoroughly after using soap. Conventional toothpaste contains abrasives that will wear the acrylic resin. Pay particular attention to the surface that fits against the gums and the spaces between the teeth.

Disclosing solution

From time to time, use a disclosing solution on the dentures after cleaning to check how thorough a result you are getting. Please ask us to show you how if you are unsure.

Ultrasonic cleaner

An ultrasonic denture cleanser (e.g. the Sonic Scrub by Clairol Inc.) may be used as long as visible debris has been removed first. Use it with a denture cleansing solution.

First week

For the first week, please wear the dentures at night. This helps you get used to them faster.

After the first week

Leave the dentures out of the mouth at night. This allows the supporting gum and bone to rest and will reduce bone loss over the long term. Soak them overnight in a store-bought cleansing solution after cleaning thoroughly. If leaving the dentures out at night causes discomfort from facial muscles or jaw joints, please contact us for advice.

What to expect

Some discomfort during the first few days is normal. Dr. Abey or Dr. Phasuk will arrange to see you the day following placement so that any potential problems can be identified and early adjustments made. It is important to keep the dentures in place during this first 24-hour period. A follow-up appointment will be arranged two or three days after the first post-op visit.

Occasionally, patients need one or two further adjustment visits, but the majority are comfortable following the two post-placement visits.

Why it matters

The mouth is a constantly changing environment. The gums and bone that support dentures change slowly over time, and poorly fitting dentures can accelerate bone loss. The rate of change is different for each individual and is affected by general health, medication, and diet. Conditions such as osteoporosis may increase bone loss — please advise us if this has been diagnosed. After a period of illness, hospitalization, or significant weight change, the fit of your dentures may deteriorate and an extra appointment should be made.

Yearly appointments

Our continuing care program involves a yearly appointment. At this visit, we give the mouth and oral structures a thorough check including an oral cancer screening; we examine the fit and bite of the dentures closely; and we clean the dentures in our industrial-size ultrasonic cleaner. Any necessary repairs or adjustments will be carried out. We encourage you to take advantage of this program as an investment against future problems.