Your New Dentures

Your first few weeks: New dentures always feel strange at first. Several days, or even a few weeks are required for you to feel like they are a part of you.

Using your dentures: Don't overwork your dentures in the beginning. You wouldn't try to run a mile with a new wooden leg. Take it easy and gradually progress to harder and tougher foods.

Sore spots: Your mouth will most likely have some sore spots while you're getting used to your new dentures. This is normal and expected. You need to let us know that you have sore spots and we will take care of them for you. Do, however, wear them long enough so we can see the sore spot. This helps greatly to know where to relieve the denture. Of course, there is no charge for this.

Chewing: The bite will not feel comfortable for a few days. It is very likely some fine tuning of the bite will be necessary-Usually after about a week of settling in. There is no charge for this either.

Cleaning the dentures and your mouth: Your dentures can be cleaned easily by using a denture brush or a soft bristled tooth brush and regular toothpaste. Denture soaks, such as Efferdent, are also useful. Brush your gums with a soft bristled tooth brush at least once a day. You may leave the dentures in or out your mouth at night, as you wish. However, if they are out of your mouth for an extended period, place them in a solution of 1/2 water and 1/2 mouthwash. If they dry out they will not fit as comfortably for a while.

The future: Your jaw bones and gums shrink year by year. This is one of the disadvantages of wearing dentures - they get looser and looser as time goes by. Because of this should have your dentures and tissues evaluated by us once a year. Wearing ill fitting dentures for too long a period before refitting them to your gums and bone can cause some very serious soft tissue disease. Denture adhesives may be helpful for a while but should not be relied on for too long a time.