ADVICES

Because denture wearers, for the most part, come from the generation in which dentists tended to extract teeth rather than repair them, I thought it could be helpful to offer some advice on dental prostheses. This article will discuss how to maintain your prosthesis, how frequently you should visit your denturist and how to choose the right professional to assist you.

Denture hygiene

It is highly recommended that you always remove your dentures after every meal in order to brush them and massage your gums with a soft toothbrush to slow bone loss in your jaw. If you, like most people, have a denture brush, I suggest you replace it with a standard toothbrush; the bristles are less rigid, thus preventing the premature wear of your dentures. Do not use toothpaste but opt for a mild soap or the new foam cleaner (Polident) because soap is much less abrasive. This way, you can keep you dentures comfortable and well-fitted to your gums for a longer period of time. To remove the toughest stains, you can soak your dentures in a good cleaning solution (Novadent or Renew) overnight. In addition, just removing your dentures at night will help your gums to breathe and will greatly decrease the rate of bone resorption. Remember, the more bone mass you lose, the more your dentures will become mobile and uncomfortable.

How often should you see your denturist?

To keep your dentures looking like new, I strongly suggest that you come for a FREE polishing once a year. At the same time, I can check to make sure that everything is in good condition so your dentures remain comfortable for as long as possible.

During this follow-up visit, in the second or third year, it will be time, in some cases, to reline or rebase your dentures to fill the gap under the prosthesis caused by bone resorption (the jawbone shrinks about 1 mm per year).

Finally, I suggest that you replace your dental prosthesis every five to eight years to ensure a good fit and optimal chewing.

Choosing a denturist

You can be sure that your denturist is constantly updating his or her skills when it comes to implant-retained prostheses because there is no better solution for your health. Today, dental implants are the best solution to your problems. Even a very well-fitted prosthesis cannot compare to a prosthetic implant. The advantages of implants are a better appearance, improved chewing (and, by extension, better digestion), bone stimulation (to stop jawbone resorption), comfort and secure fit. And you thought you could never recapture the smile of your youth!

Repairing your dentures

You are strongly advised to always keep your old dentures because if you were to break your current dentures over a weekend, you can use your old ones until you find a denturist to repair the broken ones. Your old ones will certainly not fit as well as your current dentures, but with a little denture adhesive (Poli-Grip or Fixodent), you can live with them temporarily.

Recommendations when inserting your new dentures

• To gradually adapt to your new dentures, eat softer foods at first before progressively increasing the consistency of your diet.
• If you notice phonetic changes when speaking, I suggest that you read aloud or practice saying the words that catch you up most often.
• To prevent premature wear of your new dentures, brush them with a mild soap or foam cleaner (Polident).
• To stimulate blood flow and slow bone resorption of your gums, massage them using a toothbrush with soft bristles and toothpaste.
• To let your gums breathe, remove your prosthesis at night.
• To keep your dentures looking new, take advantage of the cleaning and polishing service that I offer free of charge each year.
• After two or three years, it will usually be necessary to reline your dentures to ensure a proper fit of the prosthesis to your gums.
• Finally, consider replacing your dentures every five to eight years to avoid chewing, digestive and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems.