"Are Dentures Comfortable?"

Dr. Pasch: At the Denture Center you are entitled to as many adjustments as you may need for the lifetime of your dentures, to ensure that maximum comfort is achieved and maintained, without additional expense. New dentures may feel awkward or uncomfortable for the first few days or weeks. They may feel loose, while the muscles of your cheeks and tongue learn to hold them in place. These problems most often diminish as your mouth becomes accustomed to new dentures. Eating with dentures takes a little practice. Start with soft foods, cut into small pieces. Chewing slowly and using both sides of your mouth at the same time will prevent the dentures from moving out of place. Other types of foods can gradually be introduced until you resume your normal diet. Speaking with your new dentures will also require practice. Reading out loud and repeating difficult words in front of a mirror will help. Speaking slowly will help eliminate muffled speech. If dentures sometimes slip out of place when you laugh, cough or smile, you can reposition them by biting down and swallowing.

After you get new dentures, your dentist may advise you to wear them most of the time, including while you sleep. After the adjustment period, you may be instructed to remove them at bedtime. Generally, it is not advisable to wear them around the clock because tissues that are constantly covered with denture material can become irritated.

Occasional laboratory relines, which can be done at the Denture Center while-u-wait, may be necessary at certain intervals, to restore proper fit due to bone loss and gum shrinkage. Once the reline is done, comfort is usually restored.

Also, if you have loose fitting full dentures, the Denture Center provides mini dental implants which attach to quality dentures that provide immediate retention and stabilization. It is quick, easy, and affordable. Mini implants help prevent shifting and tilting without messy adhesives. In addition, they can eliminate rubbing and soreness, and can even improve speech and digestion. We also have other implant alternatives for those patients that require implants to either replace missing teeth or to hold their dentures in place.

Dentures need to be replaced not only due to normal wear but also because the mouth changes naturally with age, and this requires denture replacement. Jaws may align differently as bones and gum ridges recede and shrink, as previously stated. It is important to replace worn or poorly fitting dentures before they cause problems. The American Dental Association recommends that dentures be replaced at least every 4-6 years, and we concur.

Even if you wear full dentures, you still must take good care of your mouth. Brush your gums, tongue and palate every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you insert your dentures. This stimulates circulation in your tissues and helps remove plaque. Selecting a balanced diet for proper nutrition is also important for maintaining a healthy mouth.