Complete dentures are a treatment for total edentulism using removable oral appliances that carry artificial teeth, replacing lost natural teeth and rehabilitating bone structures that atrophy over time following tooth loss. Therefore, they not only improve chewing but also speech and aesthetics, which are significantly compromised in completely edentulous patients.
Since they lack attachment to the bone, these appliances experience some mobility when eating, especially the lower denture, which is easily displaced by the tongue even when speaking, because it does not achieve the suction effect that the palate provides to the upper appliance. Thus, when biting on one side, they tend to lift on the other, so you will need to learn to chew with both sides simultaneously.
An aesthetic limitation, derived from this instability, is that with complete dentures the upper anterior teeth cannot always “overlap” the lower anterior teeth, as normally occurs in natural dentition. Instead, the incisal edges in these situations must be at the same height as the occlusal surface of the remaining teeth. Therefore, when natural lower anterior teeth exist, the upper denture teeth are usually shorter than the original teeth, and being hidden under the lip, they simulate greater age than with natural teeth. Over time, the bone on which the denture appliances rest changes shape, causing them to loosen and potentially produce discomfort or ulcerations that require adjustment by the dentist, and replacement after a variable period with new ones.
Remember that complete dentures are a very complex rehabilitation (one of the most difficult). Therefore, your cooperation is very important until complete adaptation is achieved, which will require some time.
• At first:
You will notice a sensation of fullness or a foreign body, which normally disappears within a few weeks.
Your saliva production will increase, although it will gradually normalize.
Initially, you may experience a diminished sense of taste, which will recover after a few weeks.
Your speech will change slightly, and there may be phonetic problems pronouncing certain sounds. Therefore, you will probably need training to learn to articulate certain words; this learning is usually achieved within a few weeks.
It is likely that you will easily bite your cheeks and tongue, due to their tendency to enter the spaces where teeth are missing, but you will soon learn to avoid this.
You may notice some discomfort in the areas where the dentures rest, especially at the edges. If it increases or does not subside after four or five days, and if sores develop, you should visit the office.
The dentures will probably move a lot at first, especially when eating. You will need to learn to chew simultaneously on both sides, not just on one side as you would with natural teeth. With this, and with successive adjustments to the tooth occlusion that may be necessary, you will experience improvement, but the lower denture, except in rare cases, will never be held satisfactorily.
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.
Make an effort to remember that chewing must be performed with both sides simultaneously.
To treat sores caused by bites (generally very painful), you can use mouthwashes, ointments, or soothing and healing gels, about which your dentist will advise you.
If you experience intense pain when biting, or if sores appear, visit your dentist immediately so they can make the appropriate adjustments to your prostheses and, if necessary, prescribe mouthwashes, ointments, or soothing and healing gels.
You should also visit the dentist if you have tolerable discomfort that does not improve or resolve within four or five days.
There are products (mouthwashes, ointments, and powders) that promote retention and adaptation of the denture in your mouth. Before using them, you should consult with your dentist, but you should know that they are not “miraculous.”
When handling them, avoid dropping your dentures on the floor, as they can fracture, especially the lower one.
Complete denture appliances should be placed in position and always wet, inside the mouth, with your fingers. Never insert them and bite down on them without being properly positioned, as you may fracture them or cause sores on the gums. After removing them, also with your fingers, wash them and place them in a glass of water.
After each meal, you should rinse the dentures and your mouth.
Dentures should be cleaned at least once a day with a special denture brush (available at pharmacies) or a nailbrush with nylon bristles, and a little toothpaste or, preferably, soap, to prevent tartar formation and stain deposits. Afterward, rinse them thoroughly with water.
It is advisable to remove the dentures for sleeping, so that the mucous membranes rest for a few hours daily. In the case of the lower denture, it is essential to avoid choking during sleep. While you sleep, dentures should be kept in a moist environment, preferably in a glass of water, to which you can add disinfectant tablets marketed for this purpose.
Whenever discomfort appears in the gums, you should visit the office, although at first, since 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 should see the dentist.
If any problem arises, do not try to solve it yourself: See your dentist.
The gums, over time, undergo changes and this causes misalignments in the dentures that must be corrected by the dentist. Among the adaptive corrections that must be performed periodically (variable, depending on the case) are relines, which consist of filling with resin (plastic) the areas of the dentures that have lost contact with the mucous membranes, to
improve adhesion. Therefore, it is advisable to have routine check-ups with the dentist or oral surgeon every six months.
