Your First Pair of Dentures
Dentures can literally change the way you feel about yourself because suddenly you’ll have a mouth full of perfect teeth. It is this fact that has many people deciding that dentures really are the way to go. They have many hopes, but they sometimes find using their new dentures is not always easy. You may have some pain and discomfort and you might feel awkward with them in your mouth. Here are some useful common-sense tips you can utilize to help smooth the process of breaking in your new dentures and give you a feeling of confidence.
You will feel better about your first pair of dentures if you admit before hand that it may take some time to get accustomed to the look and feel of dentures in your mouth. Many people assume that they will walk out of the dentist office without any discomfort or unfamiliarity, but this is simply not true. Like anything else, the process of breaking in your dentures takes time. A general rule is to give yourself one week of acclimation time for each decade of your age.
Be prepared to call the dentist if your gums get sore because your dentures rub the gums excessively and cause ulcers. Don’t panic and assume you can’t wear dentures. Just call your dentist and ask him to adjust them for you.
A good part of breaking in your dentures and getting familiar with them is learning how to speak properly. Instead of going out to lunch with friends to show off your new teeth, stay home and talk to your pets or your plants. They are not judgmental beings, and you’ll be able to determine where your speech needs more work before you can go out and socialize with confidence.
Spend time counting. In fact, many dentists suggest counting from 65 to 70 as these are the sounds that take the most effort to pronounce because your muscles have to work in a whole new way. The more you practice the quicker your muscles will adapt.
Leave your dentures in your mouth for the first two or three nights. Generally, you remove them at bedtime, but it’s a good idea to leave them in the first few nights to help you become more accustomed to the way they feel.
As you can see, there will be an adjustment period. The older you are, the longer it will take to become accustomed to the look and feel of your new dentures. Just be patient, wear your dentures as much as possible, and practice talking. Following these tips will greatly assist you in breaking in your new dentures and conditioning the gums so that you can move smoothly from real teeth to living confidently with dentures. It may seem like a long process, but it will take less time than you might expect as long as you are diligent.
Copyright 2008 Denture Friend
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Comments
I hope I never have to resort to these things. Luckily my teeth are just fine at the moment, but I definitely agree that the whole “perfect smile” thing is very important to some people in today’s society therefore I can see why they would get these things.
It’s true that denture choices are such a reality check. To think of it, with old age you lose the power of chewing. Though a scary thought, it’s a brilliant solution that doesn’t involve pain.
My dentist (with the encouragement of my periodontist) jerked out 5 perfectly good teeth last May. They both agreed that those teeth were ‘badly infected’ and had to go. Two weeks later the general dentist jammed a set of partials in my mouth, and said “you will feel a bit of discomfort for a while. Come back in two weeks for further adjustment, if you need to”. By two o’clock that afternoon, those miserable things hurt so badly, I couldn’t continue to work. I went into the restroom and finally got the top one pried out of my mouth. I tried the bottom one again the next day – took about 2 hours for it to become unbearable. I will not put them in my mouth again, and I don’t care if I can’t chew anything. It’s not worth it.
I decided to get dentures after suffering for years with lower front teeth that were becoming increasing crooked and loose due to a car accident. I thought that dentures were the way to go. I was convinced by the dentist to get full dentures even though I really felt I did not need them. I can truly say this has been the biggest mistake of my life. Even after returning to the dentist time and again for adjustments, the dentures do not fit comfortably. I am not being a big baby about it I have tried and tried to wear them but even eating with them they become loose. The dentist told me to try them for three months and to go back. I have become so discouraged especially after developing a raw spot on my gum and having exposed bone protruding. I don’t know where to turn. Any suggestions?
Had my dentures two weeks today, and truthfully, very few complaints, as my gums shrink i understand they will be come loose.I went i into it with a positive attatude, noing they were not like my own teeth but on the other hand none of us was born with wheels,and our cars have become a part of us. SO lets make these teeth ours!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the article. This has been really helpful information. I feel so much better now that I have my new dentures, but it does take some adjustment time. I had been waiting to get dentures for years because I thought I couldn’t afford them, but thankfully I discovered Aspen Dental Dentures and I feel like a whole new person!