Things You Should Know About Dentures

We are happy that you have chosen us to explore with you the possibilities available to you for your new dentures!  In an effort to provide you with the most pleasing, longest lasting denture available, Dr. Ritchie has taken extended Post Graduate classes and uses only the finest materials .  He will not accept your case unless he feels he can be helpful to you.  There are some factors, however, of which you need to be aware before you proceed.

·     Everyone is different!  Each patient presents with a unique situation.  Certain factors (such as age, dry mouth, poor overall health) are beyond our control and make dentures more difficult to wear successfully.  The anatomy of your mouth also plays a large role in the stability of your dentures. 

·     New dentures will require patience and practice.  Dentures are not the same as your natural teeth.  According to one study, the chewing ability of the best fitting dentures is about one-fifth the chewing ability of healthy, natural teeth.  It takes time for your mouth to adapt to the dentures and they will gradually feel more natural after they have been worn for a while.

·     Lower dentures are normally less stable than upper ones.  Upper dentures achieve much of their stability from the roof of your mouth.  Lower dentures, of course, lack that.  They also can be dislodged by the movement of your lips, cheeks, and tongue.

·     We strive to provide you with dentures that will not require denture adhesive, but some patients will always need it.  Again, each individual is different.

·     Some patients will want more stability than dentures are able to provide.  In these cases, Dr. Ritchie will evaluate the patient for the advisability of dental implants.  There are several treatment options available to most patients.  Implants are the treatment option that provides the most stability for patients with no remaining natural teeth.  If you are particularly interested in implants, please ask for more information or visit the Mini Implant page on this website.

·     If you are receiving your dentures at the same appointment that your remaining teeth are removed, you should expect a series of adjustment and/or reline visits.  Once natural teeth are removed, the underlying bone will change for the rest of your life.  Most of this change happens during the first 6-12 months without natural teeth.  We will initially place a temporary, soft reline material to help protect the tissues.  As the swelling from surgery subsides and the bone remodels, your denture will become less and less stable and we will periodically add to the reline material.  After the soreness from the surgery resolves and the bone remodeling slows, we will need to place an interim hard reline material.  About one year after your teeth have been removed, it is advisable that you have your dentures relined with a permanent heat cured reline material.  It will be necessary to keep your dentures 1-2 days to accomplish this.

·     Due to the highly individual nature of treatment with dentures, no guarantees can be offered for dentures that fail to meet the patient’s expectations due to factors beyond Dr. Ritchie’s control.

 It is important to remember . . .

It is very common, especially with new dentures, to have sore spots.  Please call us to schedule an appointment for adjustment.  It is important to wear your dentures long enough to produce redness so the dentures can be adjusted accurately.

When you first begin wearing your dentures, it is advisable to begin with soft foods that do not need hard chewing such as eggs, cooked vegetables, or puddings.  It is also helpful to cut foods into small pieces that can be managed more easily.  It may be necessary to use Ensure or Instant Breakfast drinks to maintain nutrition during the period immediately after your teeth are removed.

If you find that it is difficult to speak properly, it is helpful to read aloud.  This enables your tongue and lips to adjust to forming letters with the dentures in place.

Even though you have no natural teeth, you will still need regular yearly dental checkups.  You will continue to lose underlying bone for the rest of your life.  This will cause the fit of the dentures to change over time.  Your dentures will most likely need to be remade or relined every 5 to 8 years.

 Home care tips . . .

Remove your dentures for several hours each day – preferably overnight.  Your oral tissues need a chance to “rest”.  While your denture is out, soak it in a commercial denture cleaning solution.  Brush your denture with a denture brush over a towel or over water so that it will not break if it drops.

Clean your mouth at least twice daily.  Brush your gums gently with a solution of 1/2 teaspoon of salt or baking soda in a glass of warm water using a soft toothbrush or gauze.

It is our goal that you be pleased with the fit, appearance, and function of your new dentures.  One of the critical factors in achieving that goal is for us to begin with realistic expectations.  If you have any questions or concerns about these issues or others that may arise, please feel free to contact our office and discuss them.