Overdenture Instructions

Description

An overdenture is a treatment to replace missing teeth using oral appliances carrying artificial teeth that cover fixed elements. These elements are anchored to root remains, teeth, or implants, where the retention components are located. It allows for the recovery of chewing, speech, and aesthetics in a manner similar to full dentures, though with greater security, providing increased confidence and stability thanks to improved retention.

Limitations

Overdentures are not suitable for crushing very hard foods.

Over time, the bone supporting the prosthetic appliances changes shape, causing them to loosen. This may lead to discomfort or ulcerations that require adjustment by the dentist and, after a variable period, replacement with new ones.

Furthermore, the fixed part resting on the roots is very delicate, requiring meticulous hygiene and regular check-ups and maintenance visits to the dentist. Additionally, root fractures or irreparable endodontic failures can occasionally occur, necessitating extraction.

Adaptation and Adjustment

Initially:

You will notice a sensation of fullness or a foreign body in your mouth, which usually disappears within a few weeks.
You will produce more saliva than usual, but this will also gradually normalize. Initially, you will experience a decreased sense of taste, which will recover after a few weeks.
Your speech will change slightly, and there may be phonetic difficulties in pronouncing certain sounds. You will likely need to practice vocalizing certain words through training, although the problem normally disappears within a few weeks.
You are likely to bite your cheeks and tongue easily at first, but you will soon learn to avoid this.
You may notice some discomfort in the areas where the dentures rest and along the edges; this usually disappears quickly as the mucous membranes become accustomed to the pressure.

Recommendations

During the first few days, try to close your mouth and chew carefully to avoid biting yourself and overstressing the gums.

For the same reason, it is advisable to initially chew soft, non-sticky foods gently, gradually moving on to products with a firmer consistency.

To treat bite wounds (which are generally very painful), you can use mouthwashes, ointments, or soothing and healing gels, as advised by your dentist.

If you experience intense pain when biting or if sores appear, visit the dental clinic immediately so the dentist can make the necessary adjustments to your dentures and prescribe soothing and healing mouthwashes, ointments, or gels, or suggest the use of adhesives for this type of prosthesis.

When handling your dentures, avoid dropping them on the floor, as they can break, especially the lower one.

Care and Hygiene

You must always use your fingers to place the denture. Position it correctly and then press with your fingers until it reaches the proper place, at which point a “click” is usually felt. Never force the denture or bite down on it to seat it, as the force applied can damage components of the appliance (especially the attachments, which are very delicate) or injure the mucous membranes.
To remove the dentures, pull from both sides simultaneously (never from just one side!), hooking the fingernails of your index fingers from both hands onto the plastic edges of the denture (take special care not to scratch the gums).
Oral and denture hygiene must be performed after every meal, and especially thoroughly before going to bed, because less saliva is produced during sleep, reducing its protective effect against cavities and periodontal disease.
Cleaning the fixed element should be done by horizontal brushing with a soft-bristled brush around the teeth, roots, and the attachment elements cemented to them. If there are bars, it is advisable to use dental floss or tape between them and the gum. The removable part should be cleaned outside the mouth thoroughly at least once a day. In any case, even if you cannot clean it after every meal, you should at least remove it to rinse it and your mouth.
To clean the removable appliance, use a special denture brush (available in pharmacies) or a nylon-bristled nail brush, along with a little toothpaste or, preferably, soap, to prevent tartar buildup and staining. Afterward, rinse very well with water.
It is advisable to remove the dentures while sleeping to allow the tissues to rest for a few hours daily from the pressure they may be subjected to.
While sleeping, the dentures should be kept in a moist environment, preferably in a glass of water, to which you can add disinfectant tablets marketed for that purpose.

Check-ups and Incidents

Whenever discomfort appears in your gums or teeth, you should visit the clinic, although initially, as this discomfort is normal, you can wait four or five days. If it has not disappeared after this time, or if it worsens over the days, you must see the dentist. You should also visit the dentist whenever you detect any anomaly, especially if your gums bleed when brushing or if the attachment mechanisms loosen.

If a problem arises, do not attempt to resolve it yourself: see your dentist. Over time, the gums undergo changes, leading to misalignments in the dentures that must be corrected by the dentist. Among the adaptive corrections required periodically (varying by case) are relines, which involve filling the areas of the dentures that have lost contact with the mucous membranes with resin (plastic) to improve adhesion. Therefore, it is advisable to have routine check-ups with the dentist every six months.

Do not allow anyone other than your dentist to adjust your dentures. As the practitioner who prescribed them, they are the only one qualified to do so.