Stony Brook Medical Park Dental Group

FAQ Topics:

Can you tell me a little bit about dentures and their benefits?

Most patients have many questions about dentures and should learn a little about them if your dentist recommends them to you. Dentures have been made for many centuries and we think the earliest denture may be more than 2,000 years old. Dentures made today are quality made and are more comfortable than in the past. When you replace missing teeth in your mouth with a denture there are substantial benefits to your health and appearance. Dentures come in several varieties:
- An implant supported complete or partial denture are dentures which are supported and retained by implants which are metal posts placed in the jaw bones specifically for this. These implants allow patients, who otherwise do not have good oral anatomy to support dentures or who are having difficulties with their dentures, to enjoy greater security and comfort.
Can you tell me the differences between conventional dentures and dentures made immediately for me?

Conventional dentures, complete, removable, overdentures and implant-supported dentures are usually made and placed in patients’ mouths after remaining non-functional teeth are removed and the oral tissues have healed sufficiently. The healing process varies from individual to individual but may take several months. Immediate dentures of several types are placed immediately after non-usable teeth are removed. The dentist goes through several procedures prior to the insertion of this type of denture, such as making models, selecting replacement teeth and recording the position of the patients’ jaws. One of the main advantages of making immediate dentures is that it allows the patient never to be without teeth during the healing phase, it also allows speech, chewing ability and appearance to be minimally disrupted. However, the tissues under any denture changes with the loss of teeth, this loss is greatest in the first six to nine months after the remaining teeth are removed so that the dentist will have to make several refittings of the denture, called denture relining, to make up for this tissue loss and shrinkage. If you have this procedure done, make sure that you follow the dentist’s recommendations for follow up care for these important relinings.
What will my dentures feel like when I get them?

Any new denture will feel very awkward for several weeks, especially those which are not attached to any of your remaining teeth, until your body becomes used to these foreign objects in your mouth. Your dentures may feel loose in your mouth until your muscles of the lips, cheeks and tongue learn how to keep them in place and saliva flow which normally increases when new dentures are placed returns to normal levels. In addition, it is quite normal to experience areas of minor discomfort and soreness as your oral tissues adapt to the dentures. Make sure you follow your dentist advice to return to the office for denture adjustments to correct any of these problems. These problems are normal and correctable.
Will dentures change my appearance and my speech?

Dentures can be made to closely resemble your natural teeth so that very little change will be noticed, or they can be made to improve your smile by altering either the tooth color and/or tooth position to change your smile and help fill out the appearance of your face. New dentures will affect your speech, especially certain words which are pronounced by using your teeth to form them. Practice by slowly reading aloud will overcome this difficulty. Sometimes your dentures may "click" when speaking, in which case speak more slowly. Dentures may slip or loosen during speech, during laughing, coughing or smiling, but do not be alarmed. To reposition the dentures on your tissues, just bite down gently and swallow. If this problem persists during these movements, please consult your dentist to determine the cause.
Will I be able to eat with my new dentures?

With any new denture, learning to eat takes the most practice. You should first master the control of your dentures in your mouth, then speech returns to normal and finally one learns to chew again with new dentures. You must learn to cut foods into small pieces and use softer foods to begin with until mastery of chewing is relearned. Being patient, place the food on the back teeth and chewing with both sides of the mouth will assist you to with your dentures, it would be best to move the food to the side of the mouth, normally by the canine tooth, to break off the food before having the tongue and lips place it over the back teeth. Completing this procedure will prevent the dentures from becoming loose. Many patients experience getting food under their dentures, this is normal. After a meal go to a bathroom and rinse or brush the dentures to remove any food particles. As you become accustomed to chewing with your dentures, you can add harder foods to your diet until you return to your regular diet. Be careful with very hot foods because the plastic of the dentures does not transmit heat very well to the oral tissues. Also, be cautious with very hard foods such as nuts, sharp bones, or shells that may become lodged under the denture.
How long should I wear my dentures?

During the first few days or week after getting new dentures, you may be advised to wear them most of the time, even when you sleep. After the initial adjustment period, we recommend that you find time to keep your denture out of your mouth to allow your tissues to rest and to restore the blood circulation to your oral tissues. We also recommend that they be kept out during sleeping. However, many individuals feel comfortable sleeping with them or may feel embarrassed if a partner sees them without their dentures. In this case, it is advisable to find some time in each day for at least a half hour or more to allow for tissue rest. It is generally not desirable for the oral tissues to be constantly covered by dentures. See our post-insertion instructions for further details.
Can I use a denture adhesive?

Your dentist makes dentures to fit rather precisely to your oral tissues and, therefore, this usually does not require the use of denture adhesives for comfort. However, some individuals wish to add some adhesive to give greater confidence, especially when they are new, so that they do not slip. In this case, adhesives can be used, but please follow the directions on the adhesive instructions or ask your dentist for advice. In emergency situations, you may wish to use adhesives until you can see your dentist to correct problems with fit or discomfort. Remember that the use of denture adhesives can mask problems of poor fit of dentures, mask infections such as yeast infections which are common with denture wearers, and may contribute to the formation of denture sores. If any of these symptoms arise, please see your dentist
How do I take care of my dentures?

See our "Caring for Your New Dentures" section for more information. Please do not make any minor or major adjustments or repairs to your dentures. Using over the counter relining materials and glues may damage the dentures and cause other intraoral problems.
Will my dentures need replacement or refittings over time?

In time, all dentures will need a certain amount of refitting or replacement due to normal wear and tear in the mouth. Refitting of a denture is called relining. All intraoral tissues change over time, especially those tissues supporting dentures. In time, the gums and bone shrink (resorb) causing the jaws to be incorrectly aligned, manifested by the bite of a denture feeling different or excessively loose. Loose dentures can lead to dental infections, mouth sores, and alterations in speech, chewing ability or facial appearance. Your dentist can advise you if you need any refitting procedures to increase the longevity of your dentures or if new dentures are indicated for you.