Dentures are removable prosthetics – artificial teeth and gums made from acrylic, nylon or metal – used to replace missing teeth and are supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavities in the mouth. They can be partial or full dentures.
Common problems with dentures
Transitioning from having natural teeth, even if they are failing or missing, to dentures can be quite challenging:
Dentures can be quite uncomfortable, especially in the beginning, when you’ve had your remaining teeth extracted. The dentures can rub on the gums, causing irritation and soreness, which can only be resolved by removing the dentures and rinsing the mouth with salt water.
Unlike natural teeth that are naturally anchored in your gums, dentures are kept in place by the muscles in your mouth.
This means that they can easily dislodge and slip, particularly in the first few days and weeks, or when you are eating or talking.
You will need to constantly keep repositioning them to get them into the correct place.
If it doesn’t resolve itself, then you may need to start using adhesives, or you will need to speak to a dental professional.
Having dentures can affect the way you speak, especially in the early days, as your mouth will initially feel a bit strange once the dentures are in!
You will need to learn how to use your tongue and different muscles within your mouth – something which can take a bit of time for you to get used to.
Speaking often, or singing, will help.
As dentures are a ‘foreign body’ in your mouth, this can lead to the body’s natural saliva production to increase, as it will think that you have food in your mouth. Time will resolve this, as eventually the excess saliva production will return to normal levels.
Sore gums and the feeling of the dentures in your mouth can actually hinder you when it comes to eating.
Dentures can constantly slip out when you’re eating and you may find that certain foods, such as seeded breads or hard toffee, will be impossible to eat or will end up underneath the dentures and rubbing against your gums.
You may have to start on soft foods and liquids initially, before moving up to more solid foods after a few weeks
If you have been told by your dentist that dentures are your only option for replacing your missing or failing teeth but you would prefer same day dental implants that will give you your self confidence back, then EvoDental are here to help.
