Partial dentures are used to replace missing teeth. They use replacement teeth that are attached to a gum-colored acrylic base or held in place by dental implants. Wearing new partial dentures means getting used to a little bit of oral discomfort as one’s mouth adjusts to the dentures. Fortunately, the discomfort does not last for a long time.
Before discussing how to get used to living with partial dentures, it is important to understand the type of discomfort the patient will feel when they start using them for the first time.
The simple act of inserting and removing the dentures will take some practice before it can be done with ease. The metal clasps holding the dentures in place can be difficult to reach, especially if they are in the back of the mouth.
Chewing food will also be difficult at first. The artificial teeth are not connected to the nerves that the natural teeth were connected to. That makes it difficult to know how much pressure to use when attempting to chew food.
The partial dentures will also feel uncomfortable and bulky in the mouth. But, that can be fixed by asking the dentist to make adjustments to improve the fit.
The dentures will feel uncomfortable for the first few weeks. But, the patient will start getting used to them when the cheek muscles and tongue adjust and learn to keep them in place. There will also be some irritation and excess saliva flow at the beginning, but they will diminish gradually as the patient’s mouth adjusts to the dentures.
As previously mentioned, chewing food will be difficult for the first few weeks as the patient gets used to the dentures. Dentists recommend starting out with soft foods that are cut into small pieces. Then gradually moving on to other types of foods when they get more comfortable chewing with the partial dentures.
Chewing food is also easier when the patient uses both sides of the mouth to chew the food evenly. Even after they get used to chewing with partial dentures, dentists advise against eating hard foods and candy as well as staying away from sticky foods to avoid damaging their dentures.
Speaking with the partial dentures will also take some getting used to. But, most people learn to speak properly with the dentures in their mouths by reading out loud and repeating the words that are giving them problems until they can pronounce them properly.
To avoid damaging the dentures and to give the patient some time to rest their jaws, dentists recommend taking them out before going to sleep and putting them back in their mouth in the morning.
Partial dentures take a little while to get used to. But when you do, you can return to eating your regular diet and speaking without impediment. If you have a few missing teeth and want to replace them, then talk to your dentist about getting partial dentures.
Request an appointment here: https://www.yourdowntownmckinneydentist.com or call Sam Patel DDS, PA at (972) 638-5848 for an appointment in our McKinney office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
A bright, healthy smile can leave a lasting impression on one's confidence and oral health. Cosmetic dental services offer multiple benefits that extend to both physical and psychological well-being. Investing in your smile is not only a cosmetic choice but a transformative step towards a more confident, radiant you.One of the most immediate and noticeable…
During a dental practice visit, dentists assess the patient and then treat the issues scheduled for that day. It is a dentist’s responsibility to provide safe and extensive dental treatments. The patient goes home with a cleaner, healthier mouth and a better perspective about dental health. Each dental practice has its own set of steps…
Most people find root canal treatment frightening. This procedure has a bad reputation for being painful and unpleasant. But your dentist has the skills and instruments necessary to handle the process efficiently and with minimal pain. There is a possibility that a patient may have numerous teeth that require extensive treatment. The dentist can assess…
Cosmetic dental services are procedures people turn to when they want to improve the way their smile looks. Dentists can do various things to improve smile color, alignment, and proportions. This means those unhappy with their smile can do something about it. If you have considered cosmetic dentistry but want to know more, here is…