How Long Does it Take to Get Used to Partial Dentures?
People can lose teeth for various reasons, such as trauma or tooth decay. There are teeth replacement procedures like partial dentures that can help fix the problem.
Partial dentures are replacements for missing teeth. It’s an ideal option for patients missing one or more teeth in the lower or upper jaw and those who don’t want to get dental implants. They replace missing teeth and also improve the patient’s chewing and speech.
How Long Can It Take to Get Used to Partial Dentures?
It takes time to adapt to having partial dentures. It takes some effort for certain patients to adjust mentally to having that dental appliance and start new habits for good dental hygiene. If you want to get dentures, our dentist in Daphne, AL, can give you tips on how to cope with them.
Partial dentures can feel unusual and bulky when people get them for the first time. Getting used to having them can take about three to nine weeks. The period may be even less if your partial denture replaces a few teeth instead of an entire arch.
Patients must familiarize themselves with how dentures feel in their mouth, removing and inserting them back, eating and talking with them, and cleaning them.
The first week after getting dentures will feel very strange. While it may take three days for some people to adjust, for others, it could take weeks for them to adjust.
Certain factors can help determine the length of the adjustment period, including age, the individual, the type of partial denture, previous experience, and the number of teeth that need replacement.
How to Make Your Dentures More Comfortable?
When you are at the dentist’s office, talk to them about how your dentures fit you. They will offer suggestions on how to get rid of any discomfort you are experiencing. New partials or dentures may require minor adjustments to fit correctly.
One sign that your dentures need adjustment is developing sore gums.
Using a denture adhesive can improve the comfort of your partial dentures. Try different adhesives to see which works best for you. Your dentist can also give you insight into which brands will work best on the materials present in your dentures.
Cleaning your partial dentures and keeping them in good condition helps to keep them comfortable.
Book an appointment with Milestone Family Dentistry if you want new partial dentures.
How to Cope With Partial Dentures?
1. Eat foods that are denture friendly
During the first few days eating while wearing dentures can be a challenge. It may also feel uncomfortable. As you try to adjust to how your new dentures feel, make sure you eat soft foods like soups, warm cereal, eggs, cooked vegetables, and fish.
Soft foods will give you the nutrients you need and put zero pressure on the gums that adjust to dentures and healing.
During the first few days, avoid sticky or hard foods. They can make your artificial teeth break, chip, or crack. It would help if you avoided caramels, popcorn, steak, and peanut butter.
2. Take small bites
When you are ready to start eating tough foods, cut them into small pieces you can chew easily with your back teeth. During chewing, the jaw moves up and down and side to side. You must accustom yourself to those motions and modify the pressure when chewing until you can chew without dislodging the dentures.
3. Rinse with salt water.
When there’s a foreign object in the mouth, for example, partial dentures near you, you will overproduce saliva. Rinsing the mouth with salt water is an excellent way to stop excess saliva production. That can also reduce the soreness that comes with wearing partials.
Using salt water helps to clean the areas with irritation and alleviates swelling in the gums.
4. Take pain relievers
The dentist will prescribe painkillers that will help alleviate the pain. If the pain or discomfort persists for weeks or months, immediately book an appointment with the dentist.
5. Follow the dentist’s instructions.
After getting partials, it’s essential to adhere to the instructions the dentist will give you. Know how to wear your dental appliance and care for it.