Question 1

What should I expect with my new dentures?

Accepted Answer

So you’ve received your beautiful smile and are ready to confidently mingle once again with the world. With that being said, new dentures do often take time to get used to. Typically, it can take between a few days to a few weeks before you feel your new dentures are as comfortable, as in breaking in a new pair of jeans. Initially, you may experience excessive saliva flow which usually subsides within a few hours. You may experience a bit of difficulty in your speech. We suggest practicing your speech and phonetics in front of the mirror. Don’t be alarmed, as that too usually only takes a few days to resolve it. You may also experience soreness on your gums, biting of your cheeks and/or tongue. We suggest rinsing your mouth with warm water and salt, 2-3 times per day. When this occurs, we encourage you to call your Denturist to book an adjustment appointment. Adjustments are usually very quickly done and more often than not resolve the issue(s) so that you can continue with your new smile comfortably.

Question 2

How do you know if you need a new denture?

Accepted Answer

The general life of dentures can range from 5 to 10 years with good hygiene practices and regular relining. This time frame is unique to each individual. One person may have a harder bite which would cause the denture teeth to wear faster than others. There are many reasons one should consider replacing their teeth. The overall health and look of the denture base material is one of them. Acrylic like all material has microscopic porous. These porous serve to harbour bacteria which over time dissolves the characteristics of the acrylic. A sign of this would be discoloration of the acrylic from a bright pink colour to a brownish tan colour to a dark brown. It is not recommended for your overall health to continue to wear a denture that shows signs of discoloring. Another sign that you might be ready for a new set is your overall comfort level. You may find that your chewing ability is not quite what it was when you first got your teeth. You might be feeling less confident in a public setting as your teeth move around much more than they have before. You're possible noticing your speech is slurred or are from time to time getting sores on your gums that just keep coming back. At the Denture Health Care Centre we recommend asking your denturist to assess your current dentures to understand and discuss the best treatments specific to you.

Question 3

What if my denture chips or breaks? What should I do in the meantime?

Accepted Answer

From time to time, it is not uncommon for a denture to break. Either a tooth came out, or possibly a midline fracture becomes noticeable. We do not recommend repairing your dentures yourself. Improperly repaired dentures with products like crazy glue, does not last and can cause serious adverse effects on your health. As well, attempting to repair a denture improperly can create a situation where a simple repair becomes more complicated or Sometimes even un-repairable. It is understandable the anxiety that may arise with having a broken denture. What do I do for work tomorrow? At the Denture Health Care Centre in Barrie we are accessible during the day 7 days a week as well we have created an emergency on call service that runs between 6 Pm to 11 Pm, Mon through Sun.

Question 4

I've had my dentures for years, and I am experiencing pain or soreness while eating. What's happening?"

Accepted Answer

There could be a number of reasons why dentures may become uncomfortable after years of wear and tear. Your Jawbones are always changing and it is likely that your dentures are not quite stable as they once were. There has developed a space in some areas of your dentures between the base of the dentures and your receding jaw bone. This causes the denture to move around and cause sores . It might be time for a reline or a new denture. Consult with your denturist so that he or she may evaluate the best course of action for your specific situation.

Question 5

What is a reline and why is it important?

Accepted Answer

Relines are required for a few reasons. The most common of which is because the jaw bone naturally shrinks over time. This is called resorption. Another common reason a denture may require to be relined is loss of weight. Typically when someone losses more than 10 pounds there will be a noticeable feel of fit of the denture. It is a common misconception that gaining back the weight serves to reverse the effects but that is rarely the case. It is important to note that in the case of partial denture relines while the dentures are being held by clasps around a real tooth any space between the gum and the denture base if gone unattended would mean the clasp is torquing on the real teeth and by doing so can cause damage or ultimately the loss of the tooth.
Relining consists of adding new acrylic denture base material to the tissue side of a denture to fill the areas where your bone has receded. In essence refitting your denture to your current bone structure. Your Denturist starts off by taking an impression inside your existing denture to complete the reline. This procedure is relatively quick and easy for the patient. Relining of dentures are recommended every 2 to 4 years. Relining of your dentures not only serves to improve the fit of your dentures so that you can resume your ability to eat and smile confidently but also serves to maintain a healthty mouth as well as improving the life expectancy of your dentures.

Question 6

What is a soft liner?

Accepted Answer

Soft liners are a medical grade soft polymer material that is added to the tissue side of a denture. It acts like a cushion for the underside of your denture. Soft liners can be added to new or old dentures. This procedure is recommended in situations where there is large bone loss , typical in situations where the individual has been without their natural teeth for a fair amount of time or for those whose bite is strong causing excessive pressure on the gums. The cushion quality of the material greatly improves comfort.

Question 7

How do you clean dentures?

Accepted Answer

We recommend using a denture brush and denture paste cleaners that are manufactured specifically for dentures. These products are easily accessible at any pharmacy. Denture brushes are designed with the required bristle strength as well as shape to reach into crevices and pours. Denture Cream cleaners are specifically formulated to assist in removing debris from your denture both visible and in the pores of the acrylic. They are made with ingredients that limit scratches to the denture . This is very important as scratches in themselves promote harboring of further debris and unwanted bacteria.
Place a soft cloth on the bottom of your sink to protect your denture from breaking should your denture fall from your hands. Using your denture brush and denture paste cleaner gently brush away any food debris visible. Under slow running tap water Rinse off the remaining paste and now you are ready to return your dentures to your mouth. We recommend that this be done after every meal as it is a great way to maintain a healthy mouth as well as greatly enhances the life of your dentures.
In addition to this it is suggested that once a day, typically before going to bed, that after the regular brushing you can also soak the dentures in water with tablets manufactured for dentures. These tablets are formulated to penetrate deep into the pores of the dentures to not only remove very fine debris not visible to the eye but to eliminate unwanted bacteria.

Question 8

Did we answer your questions?

Accepted Answer

If we have not answered all your questions or you may have a question about the information we have provided, please feel free to contact us and we will be glad to take the time to discuss further. At the Denture Health Care Centres in Barrie and Orillia our team of Denturists are committed to you, your health , and your every day confident smiles.

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