Caring for removable dentures. Advice from professionals.

Several decades ago, removable dentures were called “teeth in a glass” because they had to be removed from the mouth at night and placed in a container of water. This was due to the need to maintain in good condition the manufacturing material that was used at that time to create such structures. Let's talk about whether anything has changed since then and whether it is necessary to take off dentures at night now.

How long does it take to get used to removable dentures?

On average, 30 days. At the beginning of use, removable dentures feel like a foreign body and can cause discomfort. They can interfere with the production of sounds (diction), cause increased salivation, changes in taste and temperature sensations, and difficulty biting and chewing food. Sometimes, when applying removable dentures, the urge to vomit may occur. It is also possible that the dentures do not adhere satisfactorily, or food debris gets underneath them, or biting the cheeks, lips, or tongue. All these phenomena decrease by the end of the first week of wearing the prosthesis and disappear after 3-4 weeks. After an adaptation period, the patient already feels more comfortable with prostheses than without them.

The main condition for quickly getting used to prostheses is their constant use. The rules and recommendations below will help you shorten the adaptation period.

Recovery after removable dentures: lifestyle and rules for caring for new teeth

Caring for removable dentures is very simple and does not take much time. The structures are easily removed from the mouth, which allows you to clean them both in the morning and evening, and after each meal. If you have conditionally removable dentures, their daily removal is not required. However, more thorough cleaning, including the internal surface, must be carried out every 3-4 weeks.

How to quickly get used to removable dentures

Naturally, each person is individual, and the duration of adaptation directly depends on the model and materials of construction. Conventionally, the process of addiction can be divided into three stages:

• irritation stage, which lasts about 7-10 days,
• stage of conditioned inhibition (duration – 3 weeks),
• the stage of full adaptation, when the patient completely gets used to the new artificial teeth (occurs after 30-40 days).

Immediately after installation, removable dentures may cause you nausea, increased salivation, changes or complete loss of taste, and difficulty eating. Diction problems also occur. But as you get used to the design, all manifestations disappear completely or are reduced to a minimum.

During the period of getting used to the prosthesis, you need to wear it constantly, without removing it while eating and sleeping. You should not use it in case of acute pain - it is better to consult a doctor to correct the design.

It is important to understand that any removable denture, especially if it is installed for the first time, will require regular correction. The gums sag along with the bone tissue, the position of the joint changes, the bite is corrected - all this

will cause the prosthesis to feel uncomfortable. One visit to the doctor and the position of the device will change - you will become more comfortable. Remember this and do not ignore your doctor's recommendations.

How to restore diction

To restore diction, it is recommended to speak as much as possible: read books, pronounce tongue twisters, while holding one or more sweets in your mouth (without sugar! 15-20 minutes, several times a day. Course duration - the first 1.5-2 weeks after prosthetics.

What hygiene products can be used

What to do if the prosthesis rubs and does not fit well

• use ointments (Solcoseryl, Metrogyl Denta) or sea buckthorn oil. Apply the oil to the gums for a maximum of 20 minutes after eating and cleaning the denture 3-4 times a day,
• It is forbidden to sharpen dentures yourself, after which you can simply throw it away,
• If there is acute and constant pain caused by rubbing of the structure, you should consult a doctor for correction. 2-3 hours before the visit, the denture should be in the mouth so that the reason why the structure is rubbing becomes visible.

If the device is not fastened well, then you should contact your attending physician - an orthopedic dentist. If the correction does not help, you will have to use special fixation creams: Protefix, Corega, Lacalut Dent. Choose the one that suits you - according to taste, consistency, fixation time. Try different options and choose the best one.

How to eat after installing structures

If the prosthesis is made of comfortable materials, if it suits you, then you will be able to eat well right away. Restrictions occur when little time has passed after the removal of living teeth, when you initially had gum inflammation. In such situations, pressure causes pain; you need to limit the chewing load to avoid discomfort and allow the gums to recover.

In general, during adaptation it is advisable to adhere to the following recommendations:

• give preference to soft and warm foods, exclude viscous foods,
• you need to chew carefully and thoroughly, cut food into small pieces,
• It is better to chew food on the side where the process does not cause pain,
• You should refrain from biting food with your front teeth.

After adaptation, when the prosthesis no longer causes pain, you can return to your usual diet. But you should exclude foods that are too hard, viscous, sticky, excessively hot and cold (drinks and soups should be warm, ice cream should be kept a little at room temperature).

How to clean dentures and remaining teeth

You need to brush your teeth exactly as you are used to: in the morning, in the evening and after every meal. But as for prosthetics, the recommendations will be as follows:

Daily care

• clean the structure in the morning and evening with a soft toothbrush using toothpaste without abrasives or regular soap (preferably baby soap). Pay special attention to the internal area that is in contact with the gum,
• Soak the denture daily in a solution of citric acid (1 teaspoon per 150 ml of warm water): soak it for 10 minutes to disinfect and loosen plaque. Carry out the procedure before brushing your teeth 2 times a day. Afterwards, rinse thoroughly with water. Change the solution every 3-5 days,
• after each meal, the structure is removed and thoroughly rinsed under running water,
• Additionally, you can use an irrigator, which will clean the microscopic gaps between the crowns of the structure,
• Be careful when brushing your teeth, especially if there are small parts - hooks, clasps, so as not to damage them.

Periodic care

• soak in a disinfectant solution - for this you need to purchase special tablets for removable dentures (Protefix, Corega, Lacalut Dent). Use up to 3 times a week while maintaining daily hygiene. Use according to instructions (keep in solution for 15-20 minutes),
• use products that suppress the activity of oral microflora (especially important several years after the installation of dentures, since more plaque accumulates on them). For example, “Tantum Verde” (spray, lozenges) - relieve inflammation and tension, freshen breath.

Modern equipment - ultrasonic sterilizers - can be used to disinfect dentures. They allow you to achieve ideal cleanliness of artificial teeth at home, cleaning them from bacteria and plaque. These devices can also be used to disinfect any other items - toothbrushes, baby bottles, etc.

Do I need to remove dentures at night?

Modern “removers” can be worn constantly and it is not necessary to remove them at night – especially during the first 2-3 weeks, while adaptation to the designs occurs. However, outside the oral cavity, dentures with a plastic base should NOT be placed in a humid environment, since favorable conditions are created for the development and growth of pathogenic microflora. This can lead to bleeding and gum inflammation.

If there are metal elements, the prosthesis must also not be stored in tap water, especially chlorinated water - this can lead to metal corrosion.

For storage and transportation, it is necessary to use specially designed protective ventilated boxes/cases in which the prosthesis will be kept clean and dry.

Why does increased salivation occur?

Salivation occurs due to the fact that a foreign body appears in the oral cavity, and it is quite massive - removable dentures, as a rule, cover the palate and completely hide the gums. Therefore, our body is given a signal that something has appeared in the mouth and it needs to be digested. Over time, restructuring will occur, but, unfortunately, at first this problem cannot be solved.

Is it possible to whiten dentures?

If hygiene is insufficient, dentures may change their shade. But, unfortunately, it is impossible to bleach it to its original state, especially if a lot of plaque has accumulated and the coloring pigments have penetrated deep into the pores of the material. The doctor can perform polishing - the prosthesis will be smoother, its top layer will be a little ground off, so the structure will be visually lighter. At home, you can try using special whitening tablets (for example, Corega), but you should not overuse them - they can damage the prosthesis materials.

How to know when it’s time to change your dentures

It is recommended to change dentures every 3-5 years or 5-7 years (depending on the material and type of construction).

When using removable dentures, the load from chewing food on bone tissue is only insignificant, which is fraught with its gradual resorption. The jawbone decreases in size, and not always evenly. This process takes from six months to several years and leads to a discrepancy between the shape of the prosthesis and the relief of the gums - the prosthesis is less secure and becomes less stable. This means relocation (if possible) or complete replacement of the structure is required.

In addition, materials wear out over time under the influence of saliva, nicotine, food irritants, and mechanical stress. Cracks appear on the structure, the surface becomes less smooth, which contributes to the accumulation of a large amount of plaque. If you have chosen crowns made of plastic (namely, they are in most cases used in removable orthopedic devices), it is worth considering that they wear down quite quickly, so after about 2-3 years the bite changes, which can affect the condition of the joint and the process of normal chewing food.

Orthopedic dentist, 1st category

Ruzanova Svetlana Vladimirovna

How to quickly get used to new dentures

• Immediately after submitting the finished work in the dentist’s chair, learn how to remove and put on removable dentures yourself. At home, practice again, first in front of a mirror, then without it.
• Before applying, soak removable dentures in water or use a fixative.
• For the first one and a half to two weeks after the application of dentures, they should not be removed from the mouth, even at night. Take them out only for cleaning and oral hygiene.
• To reduce the gag reflex, try sucking the candy by placing it towards the roof of your mouth and holding it in this position with your tongue.
• Rinse your mouth often with warm water (8-10 times a day) or drink hot tea.
• Reading aloud in a calm, relaxed atmosphere for 2 hours helps to quickly restore correct pronunciation. In most patients, diction is restored quite quickly (after 5-6 days)
• For the first 2-4 days of wearing the prosthesis, try to eat soft foods and not load the prosthesis until you fully adapt to it. Try not to bite with your front teeth. Chew your food slowly and thoroughly.
• Chew food with your side teeth at the same time (left and right at once). Cut food into small pieces. Introduce more fruits and vegetables into your diet (this will allow you to switch to your usual diet earlier).

How to restore diction

To restore diction, it is recommended to speak as much as possible: read books, pronounce tongue twisters, while holding one or more sweets in your mouth (without sugar! For example, Sula with mint or sea buckthorn).
15-20 minutes, several times a day. The duration of the course is the first 1.5-2 weeks after prosthetics. Tongue twisters for restoring diction after removable prosthetics

What are the main rules when using removable dentures?

Dentures must be clean. After each meal, they should be removed from the mouth and washed thoroughly with soap and water.

Removable dentures should be protected from mechanical and chemical damage, as well as from exposure to high temperatures. If cracks or breakages appear in a removable denture, you cannot use it; you must consult a doctor for repairs.

Do not take breaks from wearing a prosthesis for more than one and a half to two weeks, because... this can lead to an initial discomfort that can make it difficult to fit the prosthesis exactly into place. As a rule, if a prosthesis is not used for more than a month, it becomes unusable and a new one needs to be made.

What are dental crowns?

The destruction of teeth in the oral cavity makes it impossible to perform their main function - grinding and chewing food. To restore the functional purpose of a partially or completely deformed tooth, a prosthetic procedure is used. It involves the installation of crowns, which are caps fixed to the supporting part.

The root of a damaged tooth can serve as a support, but only if it is fully suitable. If not only the upper part is deformed, but also the root has significant damage, then an implant is used.

The crown is made in a dental laboratory based on previously taken impressions. After this, it is attached to the root and becomes a full-fledged tooth replacement. With the help of crowns, chewing and speech functions are restored, in addition, a person gets the opportunity to smile freely.

What is prosthesis correction and when should it be done?

After applying removable dentures in the oral cavity, as a rule, pain appears in some areas underneath. This is due to the inevitable gradual subsidence (pressure) of the removable denture on the mucous membrane. This factor cannot be fully taken into account when designing these orthopedic structures, therefore, correction is necessary to eliminate unpleasant sensations. It consists of “undermining” the dentures in those areas where it presses on the oral mucosa.

The first correction must be carried out the next day after the start of using dentures. The next 3-4 corrections must be carried out over a period of one and a half to two weeks as necessary. You may need more visits to the dentist after completing your work (up to 10).

In case of severe pain, you need to remove your dentures and put them in a special container or glass of water. Before going to the doctor for correction, you must wear dentures and walk around with them for at least 3-4 hours. This will allow the doctor to see a clear imprint on the mucous membrane and correct only the place that is rubbing the gum. Bringing a denture in your pocket and pointing your finger in your mouth is useless. In removable dentures, every centimeter, and sometimes even a millimeter, of the supporting surface is of great importance. If the correction is inaccurate, the fixation of the prosthesis may be impaired. This is exactly what happens if you try to grind or file dentures yourself. After correction (adjustment) of removable dentures, you must not use them for 1 day. During this period (during the healing period of the namin), it is advisable to rinse your mouth and make baths (hold the solution in the mouth at the site of the namin) with herbal decoctions. Use a decoction of chamomile flowers, oak bark, etc. For example, take 0.5 tablespoons of dry oak bark, brew in one glass of boiling water, cool, apply the decoction 3-5 times a day. You can also use medicines, for example Kamistad gel, sold in pharmacies.

Feel free to visit your dentist for adjustments. Removable dentures, even if they are made in the most careful manner, require correction. Even if you do not experience any pain or discomfort, you should visit the dentist for an oral examination.

WARNING : Do not attempt to straighten dentures yourself with a file or any other tool. This can lead to breakage of the prosthesis and disruption of its fixation. Moreover, after such “repairs” it is no longer possible to do anything with the prostheses in the clinic. As a result, all that remains is the manufacture of new orthopedic structures.

Prosthesis replacement technology

If the need to replace the prosthesis is identified, then the procedure involves performing the following actions:

1. Removal of the old crown and production of a temporary prosthesis. It is made using a silicone key.
2. Assessment of tooth condition. If the root is in order, then it must be cleaned, processed to give it the correct shape, and also remove possible caries.
3. Impressions are taken to make a new crown and sent to a dental laboratory. The duration of production depends on various factors, but in any case, the patient does not walk without a prosthesis. On the same day, a temporary cap is installed.

Upon completion of the crown, the doctor informs the patient about this. At the appointed time, the new prosthesis is installed. All types of products (even the most expensive ones) have a certain resource, so it is important to understand that sooner or later there will be a need to replace them. It is especially important for people with crowns to monitor the condition of the oral cavity and regularly visit the dentist for preventive examinations.

How to care for removable dentures

Proper care of them is of great importance for the period of adaptation (adaptation) and the service life of prostheses. Removable dentures require regular cleaning. The best option is to clean dentures daily after each meal under running water. The obligatory minimum is cleaning the prosthesis before going to bed. The main criterion is that the prosthesis must be as clean as on the first day. The cleaner the denture, the more comfortable you will feel it in your mouth.

When cleaning a denture with whitening toothpaste, scratches may form on it, which contributes to the rapid accumulation of plaque on the denture, because Such pastes contain abrasive substances, so for daily care you can use a weak soap solution.

Dirty removable dentures cause rapid wear and tear and inflammation in the oral cavity. If there is inflammation of the mucous membrane in places of contact with a removable denture, pain, or burning, you should immediately consult a doctor. From strong tea, coffee and smoking, removable dentures lose their appearance, turn yellow, and a brown coating appears on them. With good care, removable dentures retain their color and shine for a long time.

An indicator of good care is the absence of food and plaque on the prosthesis. To remove age spots from coffee and nicotine, etc., which may appear over time, you should consult a doctor. The dental technician will restore the necessary polish and shine.

To clean dentures, you can use special cleaning agents sold in pharmacies (President, Corega, Protefix). They also help get rid of plaque and destroy bacteria that cause bad breath. The prosthesis is placed in a glass of clean water and a tablet is lowered; the prosthesis is kept in the solution for a certain time recommended by the manufacturer.

Reasons and indications for replacement

When to change dental crowns? Replacing dentures may be required either much earlier than the end of the dentist’s warranty or official service life, or a little later. This can happen for the following reasons, which become indications for replacement:

• destruction of supporting teeth is one of the most common reasons for the need for replacement: it can occur due to weak support, the development of caries or excessive load on the root,
• destruction of the fixing cement with which the prosthesis is attached to the support: due to poor-quality material, errors when mixing or applying it, as well as due to chewing hard objects, the use of toothpicks or powerful ultrasonic brushes,
• breakage of a denture,
• inflammation of the gums or allergies,
• loss of gum in the area of ​​the artificial tooth, change in its color (due to low-quality metal), which cannot be corrected,
• exposure of dental necks and roots, food getting stuck under the denture: this not only spoils the aesthetics and causes an unpleasant odor, but can also lead to tissue inflammation,
• pathologies in the area of ​​the root apex - cysts and granulomas, which require complete removal of the support along with the root,
• galvanism: the appearance of an electrical impulse between prostheses made of dissimilar metals, leading to galvanosis,
• poor-quality manufacturing of the crown: when it is “above” or “below” the bite, or has uneven edges that injure the gums or neighboring teeth.

Are crowns on teeth changed at the request of the patient? This can indeed be done if, for example, you are not satisfied with its shade - in particular, when a person has whitened neighboring teeth and they look lighter than the restoration.

How to improve the fixation of removable dentures

The anatomical conditions in the oral cavity do not always allow for the creation of good fixation for removable dentures. This especially applies to prosthetics for the complete absence of teeth in the lower jaw. Under unfavorable conditions, special fixing agents in the form of creams, fixing pads, and powders are used to keep it in the mouth. They are sold under the brands “President”, “Corega”, “Protefix” in any pharmacy.

The fixing cream is applied in a thin broken line to the prosthesis. Before applying the cream, removable dentures must be dried, for example with a cotton swab. Fixing powder is used for low salivation. It is applied in a thin layer to the wet denture, after which the removable dentures can be put on. Your dentist will help you decide on the choice of fixative.

addictive

A person develops the habit of wearing orthodontic appliances within a month (on average). There may be noticeable discomfort at first. The system feels like a foreign body in the body that you want to get rid of. At first, it may even disrupt the coherence of diction - this is mainly true for people who communicate a lot. Soon the patient gets used to it, and speech is completely restored.

Other possible side effects:

• impaired salivation;
• problems chewing food;
• inaccuracies in assessing the temperature and taste of food.

The removable dentures themselves, their care, and proper use also require a certain habit. As a rule, it is produced within the first week, and a person feels more comfortable with a foreign body in the mouth than without it. Cleaning also ceases to cause any difficulties.

To get used to the system quickly, you need to leave it on for 1–2 weeks, even at night, and wear it constantly, overcoming the discomfort. Then you can get rid of it at night so that your gums can rest. During the habituation period, it is recommended to moisten the structure with purified (for example, distilled) water before use or use specially designed solutions, as well as rinse your mouth. If you have problems with diction, overcome them by reading books out loud - this will help you cope with troubles as quickly as possible. Practice taking the device on and off. If nausea occurs, suck a mint candy in your mouth and then repeat the action.

If the sensation of a foreign body, friction, or inflammation does not go away within two weeks from the moment the device is installed, then most likely you need a dentist’s consultation and correction. Do not tolerate discomfort for a long time - contact your treating orthodontist.

What to do if your prosthesis breaks?

During the use of removable dentures, a fracture of the prosthesis or its individual parts (tooth, clasp) may occur. In this case, you need to consult a dentist. If a tooth(s) on which partial removable dentures are held or supported are lost, it is possible to weld an artificial tooth to the denture in place of the lost one. Repairing a removable denture takes 2-3 days. Repairs are made without warranty.

In case of cracks, fractures, etc. Do not try to fix the denture yourself, even if urgently. Only specialists can repair the prosthesis.

Making new removable dentures takes about 1 week. The warranty period for plastic removable and clasp dentures is usually up to 1 year. During the warranty period, the prosthesis is repaired or altered free of charge. After the warranty period expires, the work is paid in full.

Care

If dentures are removed at night, it is recommended to perform the following care steps:

1. The structure is thoroughly washed with boiled water. Running water is not suitable for cleaning dental devices. It contains pathogenic microbes.
2. For cleaning, be sure to use an antiseptic liquid and a brush.
3. For storage, the devices are placed not in water, but in a special solution. The liquid used helps not only kill bacteria accumulated throughout the day, but also remove any remaining fixing cream from the surface.
4. Once a year, dental devices should be professionally cleaned, which is carried out in clinics.

If you do not carry out the above-described care measures, the following unpleasant phenomena will occur:

• The dentures will emit an unpleasant odor.
• Erosion and ulcers will appear on the mucous membrane.
• Caries forms on natural teeth.
• The taste sensations will not correspond to reality.
• A serious inflammatory process will begin on the gums, which will eventually lead to periodontitis.
• Over time, the denture will lose its original aesthetic appearance (the product will darken, stains and tartar will appear on it).

Dental clinic specialists can restore the product to its original appearance. With the help of tablets and ultrasonic washing, the product will regain its shine and well-groomed appearance.

In what cases is it necessary to contact a dentist?

If you notice a burning sensation in the mucous membrane, severe dry mouth, skin rash and other unusual symptoms, you should contact your dentist, who, if necessary, will refer you to an allergist for allergy tests.

Once a year it is necessary to reline the removable denture. The fact is that while wearing a prosthesis, atrophy of the mucous membrane and bone tissue occurs under it. Because of this, a void appears between the prosthesis and the mucous membrane and the prosthesis does not fit tightly to the prosthetic bed. To eliminate these negative aspects, the prosthesis is relined - plastic is placed in place of the void formed due to atrophy and a tight fit of the prosthesis is restored. If relining a removable denture is done at the wrong time or not done at all, the removable denture becomes unusable.

Visit your dentist at least twice a year, consult with him about the specifics of caring for your oral cavity, and use special devices and medications recommended by him, if necessary!

The main factors for the longevity of dentures

The service life of a prosthetic structure greatly depends on the quality of its material.

One of the factors influencing the service life of a denture is the professionalism, qualifications and experience of the prosthetist. This should always be taken into account when choosing a dental clinic and doctor.

To timely eliminate problems with the prosthesis, it is necessary to regularly visit the orthopedist who installed it.

Even after installing the prosthesis, the orthopedist will monitor its condition and eliminate possible problems in a timely manner, but for this you need to visit him regularly.

The condition of the denture and its durability depend on how its owner treats it. Moreover, it affects not only how he follows medical recommendations for care and use, but also the possible development of certain diseases. But careless care can reduce the life of a denture by almost half.