How to get used to removable dentures

Modern dentistry takes huge steps towards improving the quality of our lives. Today, even if you have lost all your teeth to one, you can easily replace them with removable dentures. Dentures have a lot of advantages - they restore chewing function, improve diction and aesthetic appearance. But the main difficulty lies not in the cost of prostheses and not even in their manufacture, but in the process of adaptation. You need to get used to even the most comfortable and high-quality prosthesis. Indeed, for an organism it is a foreign body. To make the process short and less uncomfortable, you need to know a few rules. In this article you will find out what difficulties you will encounter while getting used to a removable denture, how to solve these problems, as well as a lot of interesting information regarding dentures.

Dentures

Removable dentures can be either full or partial. Full dentures are used for complete loss of teeth - they can be general, that is, a specific model of the prosthesis is selected according to your shape and size of the gums. But partial dentures are made according to an individual impression, since in this case a complete match is absolutely necessary.

Dentures are made of acrylic, nylon, plastic and other materials. In each individual case, the doctor selects the material based on the individual characteristics of the patient. Teeth in removable dentures are made of hard material to provide chewing function. But the plate on which the artificial teeth are fixed is soft, which allows it to be better attached to the gums. After donning, the patient must close the gum with the prosthesis so that a vacuum forms between the structure and the gum, which will hold the prosthesis in place. Therefore, problems with holding the prosthesis in place, as a rule, do not arise.

For the prosthesis to become “native”, you need to go through several stages of the long process of prosthetics. First, the patient is examined, then a decision is made on further tactics of action. The oral cavity is prepared for prosthetics - if necessary, they treat caries, fillings, etc. Then they make an impression of the upper and lower jaw, after which a wax sample of the prosthesis is made on its basis. It is fully customized in all respects, its convenience, comfort, aesthetic component are evaluated, and only then on the basis of this wax impression do you make a real full-fledged prosthesis that will last you a long time. But after its manufacture, a difficult adaptation process follows, which will allow you to get used to removable dentures and not to notice them anymore. We will list some of the main difficulties that denture carriers face, and also suggest some ways to overcome them.

How to suppress discomfort and dry mouth

Sometimes, instead of actively producing saliva, a person, on the contrary, feels dry in his mouth.In this case, you need to drink more water - often, but in small portions. Another way to solve problems with dry mouth is to chew gum. Stop drinking coffee, strong black tea, and smoking cigarettes. These habits dehydrate the body and make you experience even greater dryness. Some dentists advise taking 10-15 drops of echinacea tincture to get rid of dryness for a while. Perhaps you should change the rinse aid - some alcohol-based products dry the mucous membrane.

It is very important to get rid of dryness in time, if this is not done, the dentures begin to rub the gums. If the discomfort persists, you need to see a doctor, there are some dental diseases, the first symptom of which is a constant dry mouth.

How to eat with a prosthesis

In the process of eating, a person with a prosthesis may experience several problems. The very first is the fear of chewing food. Many try to switch to soups, mashed potatoes and broths, making a big mistake. The adaptation process is the development of chewing skills in the prosthesis. To overcome the barrier, you need to start eating solid foods, but gradually. Cut slices of apples, carrots or cucumbers into a plate, take one slice and begin to chew thoroughly - slowly, without rushing anywhere. This will teach you to chew carefully so as not to damage the gums.

Another problem associated with eating is a decrease in the taste of many dishes. Since the prosthesis covers most of the palate, on which there are quite a few taste buds, a person ceases to feel the taste and temperature of products so intensely. However, they quickly get used to it, because the lion's dose of receptors still remains on the tongue.

How to reduce gag reflex

This is another common problem that almost all denture carriers face, especially with complete tooth loss. The fact is that the coverage area of ​​the upper sky is quite large. In this case, the prosthesis touches the active points in the back of the jaw, which respond with a gag reflex. Suppress this feeling will help time. A day after wearing the prosthesis, nausea will recede and you will want to tear less and less, and after 5-7 days there will be no trace of the symptom. To survive this time, you need to rinse your mouth with warm salted water, suck on mint sweets. Also try to breathe through your nose so as not to provoke a gag reflex.

How to restore normal speech

Diction dysfunctions are another common problem for denture carriers, since teeth are involved in the pronunciation of many sounds. Some patients make the mistake of simply shutting up and not participating in conversations. This is an adaptation process and it will be faster if you train and get used all the time. Diction can be improved with simple exercises. Imagine that you are a small child who needs to learn to speak letters, syllables and words. Take the alphabet and try to slowly and quietly pronounce each letter. Do it measuredly, learn to speak in a new way. Then try to pronounce syllables, words. To improve the results, you can sit down and try to read books aloud. At the same time, you must monitor not only the correct pronunciation of sounds, but also to ensure that saliva does not scatter in all directions. This happens with a habit that terribly upsets the owners of prostheses during a conversation with others. You can cope with these problems, you need to train at home every day. Tongue twisters really help. They can be pronounced very slowly, the main thing is to be correct. Over time, you will learn to speak not only correctly, but also fluently.

How to get used to removable dentures

Here are some more tips to help you reduce the period of adaptation to dentures.

1. To make the gums better and faster used to removable dentures, you need to do massage. It improves blood circulation, promotes the healing of small wounds, makes the gums resilient and healthy. Daily morning and evening massage the gums with your index finger and thumb, clean with a soft brush.
2. Very often, in the initial stages of wearing the prosthesis, friction can be felt, wounds and abrasions appear. This is absolutely normal at the addictive stage. To wounds heal faster, you need to rinse your mouth with antiseptic compounds, a decoction of chamomile and calendula.
3. Some people use special gels and pastes to fix dentures. They are sold in pharmacies, are not visible to others and are absolutely safe. They are applied to the inside of the dentures after donning. In the evening before removal, it is necessary to remove the remnants of the fixing agent from the prosthesis and gums.
4. So that the prosthesis does not cause discomfort, the first time it should be worn in front of the mirror.
5. Experienced dentists advise you not to remove the prosthesis at night for the first time. At night, the tongue and gums do not move, and the mucous membrane of the mouth is still at the stage of getting used to. So the adaptation process will be much faster. Until the body gets used to it, removing the prosthesis is necessary only for cleaning.
6. Improper care can slow down the process of getting used to prostheses. If a piece of food remains between the gum and the prosthesis, this leads to microtrauma. To avoid this, you need to rinse your mouth after each meal, clean the prosthesis every evening using a special brush and paste. Periodically, dentures should be left in antiseptic formulations.
7. Sometimes the patient may have an allergic reaction to some prosthetic materials. This is manifested by itching and irritation directly in those places where the design is in contact with the mucosa. But sometimes an allergy is manifested by general malaise, dizziness, and nausea. Symptoms appear immediately after putting on the prosthesis. In this case, it is useless to wait for addiction - you need to make a prosthesis from another material.
8. In addition to the purely technical side of the issue, there is also a psychological aspect. If the patient is morally unprepared to wear the prosthesis, doubts their need and comfort, removes them at every opportunity - the adaptation is stretched for an indefinite time. If a person is sure that the prosthesis will obey him anyway, then it will be so. Sooner or later, he will finally cease to feel it in his mouth.

Many people wonder how long it takes to get used to the prosthesis. The question is very specific and depends on many individual characteristics. In any case, you do not need to set yourself deadlines and barriers - the body needs as much time to get used to as it takes. Do not rush things. It can only be noted that in the most successful scenario, addiction occurs in 2-3 weeks, on average a month and a half is required.

If you can’t get used to the prosthesis, it’s probably not made correctly. Be sure to consult your dentist. However, you first need to tolerate and carry the prosthesis three hours before admission, so that the doctor can assess the nature of the problem. Remember, a correctly made and installed prosthesis will be worn comfortably, you will not notice it. You just need to get used to it.

Video: Denture Care