Are Dentures Difficult to Get Used to? 

If you have an older friend or relative who has worn dentures for a long time, chances are you are familiar with some of the old pitfalls of denture wear. Fortunately, the days of ill-fitting dentures that slip and slide are a thing of the past. While dentures have changed dramatically over the years, it’s natural to question how difficult it is to get used to wearing dentures.

In this blog, Ginger Rome, DDS, and the compassionate, skilled dental team at The Dentists at North Cypress in Houston, Texas, share their insights on what to expect after getting dentures and, more importantly, how to make the adjustment period smooth.

Getting dentures

Let’s unpack this discussion by reviewing how getting dentures plays out. First, you meet with your dentist for an initial consultation. During this appointment, your provider examines your teeth and gums.

Your provider recommends full or partial dentures or bridges based on how many teeth you are missing. Your provider offers treatment options or recommends extraction to address issues before denture placement if the exam reveals oral health concerns like gum disease or teeth that need saving.

If everything checks out, the next step is to take an impression or mold of your mouth and measurements of your jaw. Our dental team sends this data to a dental laboratory along with color-match information and material selection that you and your provider discuss. The dental lab uses this information to fabricate your custom-made dentures.

When your dentures return from the lab, you visit the office, where we double-check the fit and make any necessary adjustments for comfort. Your provider sends you home with recommendations on things you can do to make the adjustment period easier.

The timeline for getting dentures may get stalled right before the impressions stage if your provider recommends extractions to remove unhealthy teeth. Getting accurate measurements for an impression, which leads to properly fitting dentures, depends on fully healed gums. If your gums don’t heal and swelling remains, the impression won’t be accurate, and your dentures won’t fit well.

Although every patient heals at a different rate, a good rule of thumb is to factor in six to eight weeks to allow your gums to heal. The good news is that the materials, labor, and advanced technology used today to create impressions have made dentures better fitting, more comfortable, and more natural-looking than ever before.

Be patient and take it slow

The first 30 days of your new dentures may be challenging for many patients. Think of it as a breaking-in period, and exercise some patience. You work through an adjustment period using a new oral appliance in your mouth, which simultaneously works through some discomfort. You have to grow accustomed to eating and speaking with your new dentures. Follow post-procedure instructions from your dentist, and if something feels off or the soreness or discomfort lingers after 30 days, contact your provider.

Slowly make additions to your diet

There are several tactics to help adjust your dentures more smoothly. Chief among them is slowly transitioning from softer, comfort foods like pasta, soft cheeses, and canned fruits to more substantial foods like meats and fresh vegetables. As much as you may like to make a reservation at your favorite steak restaurant, it isn’t a good idea the day after getting your new dentures. Instead, think of easy foods to bite and chew.

Start with a soft mechanical diet like skinned cooked and mashed vegetables or thinly shaved or ground meats. As healing progresses, slowly add more foods that require more aggressive chewing. Before you know it, you are enjoying all your favorite foods again while loving your new smile.

If you are missing teeth and want to learn if dentures are best for you, contact The Dentists at North Cypress for a consultation by calling or scheduling an appointment online today.