Your dentist may have told you that you need dentures and you’re probably feeling anxious about it. What will they feel like? Will I be able to eat with them? What if they fall out when I’m socialising?
These are the most common questions Dr. Suril Amin and the team get asked when people visit The Denture and Implant Clinic for their first dentures. There are as many answers to questions about what to expect getting dentures, as there are patients; every patient is different, after all!
The most important thing to do is to manage your expectations. If you think dentures will be exactly like your natural teeth (when they are in a healthy state), you’ll be in for a shock after the dentures are fitted. That’s not to insinuate that dentures are a negative, inferior experience – they’re just different from natural teeth. So, what will they feel like?
This article prepares you for a lifetime of effortless chewing and confident speaking with dentures. It can’t be said too often that the following tips about getting dentures for the first time are based on the average denture for the average person. Some people have good bone structure inside their mouths, which enables The Denture and Implant Clinic to make dentures that perform really well. Other people have limited bone, which leads to poor support and retention.
Dentures and speech problems
Your speech may be affected by new dentures. Your tongue has to get used to how new teeth are positioned. You may develop a lisp during the first week of wear, but the clarity of your speech should improve quickly. It may be better to delay giving important presentations until after you get more comfortable with speaking with your new teeth.
Dentures and eating tips
Dr. Amin and the team recommend that you eat soft things for the first week and slowly build up to harder things. A few good picks include:
- Vitamin-rich smoothies
- Yoghurt
- Non-sticky spreads like hummus
- Steamed or baked veggies
- Fresh berries
- Olives
Gradually working your way up to coarser, chewier foods helps you get accustomed to eating with the denture in; it can take a few weeks to get comfortable. Be patient.
It’s also not uncommon for dentures-wearers to get a small amount of food stuck underneath. It’s a good practice to remove dentures after eating, and when cleaning your mouth. If you are out and about, rinsing with water should suffice.
Soreness
The Denture and Implant Clinic takes great care to provide you with the best fitting dentures possible. They are made to fit snugly. So, expect two to three adjustments. For those “sore spots,” our team makes small, precision adjustments to relieve the pressure that produces discomfort in specific areas.
Gagging
Depending on the type of denture you have, we may need to cover the palate to provide support and retention. Design options are discussed with you before the denture is made. That way, you know what to expect. If we cover the palate, this approach normally takes a while to get accustomed to, and if you have a sensitive gag reflex, adjustment periods may take longer. If you are having difficulty getting used to this design, we can reduce the denture so it doesn’t go as far back; however, the more surface area that is removed, the looser the dentures feel. If concerns linger even with ongoing adjustments, Dr. Amin can always discuss implant-retained dentures with you.
Comfort
As long as the dentures aren’t a source of soreness, aim to keep them in during the day as long as possible! The more you wear them, the quicker you get used to them.
As a rule of thumb, the less teeth you have on the denture, the smaller they will be and the quicker they will begin to feel natural in your mouth. Removing a lot of teeth and going straight to a complete denture can be a big change that requires mental preparation. It’s best to extract in stages, adding new teeth to the denture over time. That way, the process of getting dentures is gradual, rather than a dramatic transition.
For more new denture tips and to find out what options are best for you, phone our office at 020 8629 1226.
