Your New Complete Dentures

We have done out best to provide you with well-fitted, functional, and aesthetically pleasing dentures.  We feel confident that after a few weeks of adjustment, you will enjoy years of satisfaction and use.  In the meantime, the following is information you need to know.

1. Your First Few Weeks
   New dentures always feel strange when first placed in your mouth.  Several days or event weeks will be required for you to feel accustomed to them
    
2. Sore Spot
   Your mouth will most likely have a few sore spots about 24 hours after your first put your new dentures in.  Such sore spots can be relieved by your doctor with very little effort.  An initial readjustment appointment should be made, and other appointments about 7 days later will usually eliminate any other sore areas.
    
3. Chewing: 
   The new "bite" or occulusion will not feel comfortable for a period of days.  We will adjust the contacting surfaces of your teeth after 24 hours, and again in about 1 week after the dentures have "settled" into place.
    
4. Upper vs. Lower Dentures:  Your upper dentures will rest comfortably in place with moderate to strong "suction"  Although your lower dentures will have good stability, it is infrequent that "suction" can be expected on a lower denture.  We suggest that you avoide adhesives unless you have extreme difficulty.
    
5. Cleaning the Dentures - and Your Mouth 
   Your dentures can be cleaned easily by using a brush and a toothpaste.  Denture soaks are also useful for the denture.  Brush your gums with a regular toothbrush once per day to toughen and clean them.  You may leave the dentures in our out of your mouth at night, depending on your preference.  If they are out of the mouth, leave them soaking in a water and mouthwash solution.
    
6. The Future 
   Your jaw bones and gums shrink up to 1/32 of an inch per year when your teeth are missing.  This is one of the main disadvantages of dentures.  Because of this shrinkage, you should plan to have your dentures and oral tissues evaluated by us once per year.  We will inform you when relining of rebasing of the dentures is necessary.  Wearing ill-fitting dentures for too long without refitting can cause severe bone loss and very serious oral disease.  Even dentures that "fit" comfortably need to be checked with your tissue.

We look forward to helping you adjust to and enjoy your new dentures!