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3 ways to Adjust to Dentures

3 ways to Adjust to Dentures

Missing teeth, unless you’re 6 years old and waiting for the tooth fairy, aren’t a good thing. They put you at risk of tooth decay and bite problems, as well as facial asymmetry, chewing challenges, and even speech problems. 

Statistics are startling for adults in the United States who are missing teeth. Over 36 million don’t have any teeth, and 120 million are missing at least one tooth. 

Dentures are a great solution when you’re missing a few teeth or if you don’t have any of your natural teeth. 

Dr. Ali Saeghi and the Modern Age Dentistry team have helped many restore their smiles with dentures at our offices in Los Angeles, West Hills, and Ojai, California. Once they’re fitted, they take some getting used to, but after that, denture wearers enjoy smooth sailing. Dr. Saeghi is known for his caring approach, as well as his high level of expertise at diagnosing dental problems and creating customized treatment plans for patients. 

What does a denture evaluation entail?

First, Dr. Saeghi carefully evaluates your oral health before he determines whether dentures are the correct cosmetic dentistry solution for you. If they are, he discusses the different types of dentures with you and which is the most appropriate for your needs:

  1. Partial dentures replace a number of teeth and are anchored to a metal frame that gets connected to your own teeth or a crown. These are removable.
  2. Full dentures replace a whole jawline (upper or lower) of missing teeth. If you have extensive decay and need multiple extractions, for example, you can get immediate full dentures fitted so you have teeth right away after your procedure. Conventional full dentures are for after your extractions have healed completely. This typically takes 2-3 months.
  3. Overdentures are used when you don’t lose entire teeth; rather, they may be filed down and act as a foundation for your dentures. If this scenario plays out, bone is preserved and you get relief from pressure caused by chewing and biting of the gums. Overdentures can help to preserve bone and prevent facial sagging from missing teeth.

Dr. Saeghi helps determine what type of dentures are best for you, and believe us, this centuries-old dentistry solution remains a great treatment today! Modern dentures look amazingly real, and no one will suspect you're equipped with anything but your own pearly whites. 

You can be outfitted with dentures quickly, and they’re an affordable option for solving a widespread dental problem. 

But if I get dentures, how will they feel?

Dentures look great, but you may wonder about how they’ll feel when you first have them, and if they will be too distracting as you live your “real life.” As with anything new, your dentures will feel novel in your mouth, and eating and speaking may seem strange. Here are our top tips for becoming accustomed to your new dentures:

1. Proper follow-up care is critical

If you have extractions, follow Dr. Saeghi’s aftercare instructions to the T. This can go a long way toward ensuring your comfort as you get used to wearing your new dentures, as well as ensuring that you heal properly. 

2. Give it time

With a whole new oral situation, your dentures may feel loose in the beginning, but trust us. Your cheek and tongue muscles will take some time to learn how to do the work of keeping your dentures in place properly. 

Ditto for if you start to produce more saliva or experience soreness. These symptoms are relieved as your mouth learns to accept the new reality of dentures. 

3. Follow care instructions 

Taking good care of your dentures, and not skipping a beat with your oral hygiene allow your dentures an opportunity to feel more like you and not foreign. To care for your dentures properly, simply brush them twice a day as you would your real teeth, to put a halt to plaque buildup and staining. 

Remember to brush your gums, tongue, cheeks, and the roof of your mouth thoroughly too. 

Before brushing, rinse your dentures to remove food debris. If you’re not wearing your dentures, store them safely and soak them in water so they don’t warp.

Dentures may just be the best thing that ever happened to your mouth. By practicing what we advise here, you’ll get used to wearing them in no time, and proper care will ensure that they stay strong and sparkling.

Call the Modern Age Dentistry office most convenient to you to learn more about dentures, or book an appointment with us online. We’re here for you!

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