Immediate Denture (Some Information you need to know) 

1. Dentures are artificial replacements for natural teeth and a period of adjustment is required. Depending on the rate of bone healing and resorption, sore spots will occur on the soft tissues under the immediate dentures. Whilst the use of a chlorhexidene-based mouth rinse may give some relief, it is usually necessary to return to the prosthetist for adjustment to the dentures. Never use sandpaper or a knife to try to wear away the area which you think is causing the pain – this can damage the fit of the dentures. Just as with natural teeth, the dentures should be checked regularly by a prosthetist. 

2. At first, there can be a feeling of fullness in the mouth and difficulty in speaking. In addition, there can be an increase in salivary flow. These symptoms will disappear in time as the muscles of the lips, tongue and cheek relax. Speech can be affected because the tongue must adapt to the shape and bulk of the new dentures. Pronunciation of letters such as “s” ,:Sh” and “b” are usually the most affected, but reading aloud when alone will hasten the return to normality. The amount of saliva will also return to normal with time, even in the most anxious patients.  

3. As the healing of extraction sites progresses, you can experience rocking because different people have different bone resorbtion and that would create unbalanced fitting surface and rocking accordingly ,sometimes adjustment will solve the problem and some time you need to get visco-gel tissue conditioner placed inside the denture to get the better fitting before  the reline times in 3 month ,please ask your dental prosthetist as this service will charge separately per application for each denture,also as the healing of extraction sites progresses firmer foods can be eaten without pain but initially soft foods such as spaghetti, stews and casseroles are best. However, even when tissues have completely healed, chewing with dentures is different to chewing with natural teeth. Biting into a sandwich in the front of the mouth can be difficult, if not impossible and many people adjust by cutting sandwiches into small pieces. Similarly, it becomes very difficult and sometimes impossible to chew tough meats and bite into apples, bread rolls and submarine sandwiches. Chewing gum or toffees which stick onto the dentures may also dislodge them.

4. As with natural teeth, plaque can form on dentures and when eating food , it can sometimes get under the dentures. Ideally, dentures should be removed from the mouth and cleaned after meals but if this is not possible , clean them at least once a day. Use a soft tooth brush with a non-abrasive toothpaste and cold water, brushing both the internal and external areas and surfaces of the dentures. When cleaning, hold the dentures over a folded towel or a few centimetres of water in a washbasin to prevent breakage if you drop the appliances. The cleaned dentures can then be placed, if you wash, into a commercial cleaning solution according to the instructions on the product‘s packaging. However, these cleaners are not a substitute for brushing. Soaking the dentures overnight is 50/50 white vinegar and water once a week will help remove stains and the build up of hard deposits (i.e dental calculus).

5. When a full complement of natural teeth is present, the friction caused by the passage of food and movements of the tongue help keep the gums surrounding the teeth and the soft tissues of the mouth including the palate firm and healthy. When wearing full dentures, this stimulating effect is lost and these tissues can become very thin and soft, especially if the dentures are worn 24 hours a day every day for months or years. It is analogous to wearing gloves all the time when the skin of the hands will become very soft as compared to manual work causing the skin of the hands to become quite hard. Hence, it is advisable to leave the dentures out for a few hours each day –many leave the dentures out for some or all of the night. In addition, when the dentures are removed for cleaning, brush the gums and palate under the dentures with a soft tooth brush or rub them with a clean, soft towel or face washer. If the dentures are worn continually for many months, are not cleaned regularly and there is no stimulation given, there is a risk of denture bearing tissues becoming very soft and red due a fungal infection (candida). When the dentures are removed for extended periods they should be soaked in cold water to prevent dehydration and warping of the denture material. 

6. As the gums heal and bone resorption occurs, some patient find that using adhesive pastes are an aid. Only small quantities should be used according to the manufacturer’s directions-sometimes they can difficult to remove but tepid water and a face cloth with assist with cleaning.

7. Older patients should be warned that some drugs given for high blood pressure and depression can decrease salivary flow which can make the dentures difficult to wear or the lips stick to the teeth. In such cases, it might be necessary to use artificial saliva(Biotine). A completely dry mouth will make the wearing of dentures difficult.