DENTURE POST-OP INSTRUCTIONS

An immediate Denture is a complete denture or partial denture inserted on the same day, immediately following the removal of natural teeth.

Dentures are removable appliances that can replace missing teeth and help restore your smile.

Immediate Denture: 

Follow these guidelines unless otherwise instructed.

• For the first 24 hours your immediate denture is NOT to be removed from your mouth. If the denture is removed, swelling may occur that will make it difficult or impossible to replace the denture.
• After 24 hours, you will see your dentist for a check-up. You will continue to see your dentist regularly for check-ups throughout the healing process. 
• Your immediate dentures not only replace your missing teeth, but it is acting to protect the surgical site, control swelling, and bleeding. The denture needs to be in place to be effective.
• After extractions, do not rinse, spit, smoke or suck on a straw. Do not rinse your mouth vigorously. Do not drink any hot beverages or carbonated beverages or alcohol.
• After 24 hours, you may rinse your mouth with warm salt water (1 cup warm water to 1 teaspoon salt)
• Wear your dentures over night for the first 2-3 nights. After that, it is advised that the dentures be removed every night and placed in a cup of water. After the first 2-3 days, you should clean your new dentures daily with liquid soap and water.
• Ice packs (or bags of frozen peas or corn) can be applied to the side of the face for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off to help with swelling and pain.
• The fit of your immediate dentures will change as your mouth heals from the extractions of your teeth. As healing occurs, the dental ridges may change shape – and they generally shrink in size. An immediate denture is often only a temporary denture which will require a permanent reline after continued healing of the mouth.
• The immediate denture will need to be adjusted regularly. A temporary soft liner will be placed to help compensate for changes that will take place in your mouth as gums heal. (Do Not soak dentures with soft liner in a denture cleaner, just plain water) You will be instructed by your dentist to return for periodic appointments, usually annually, to monitor your mouth for changes that require denture adjustments.
• Dental extraction sockets take at least 6 months to heal and fill in with new bone. At that time, your dentist will speak to you about adding a permanent hard reline to your dentures.

The following will help you to use and properly care for your new denture.

• It is normal to experience some discomfort, sore spots and speech problems while getting used to your new dentures. Your dentures will need a few adjustments until you are comfortable.
• To help with speech, read aloud for a few minutes every day. Your mouth will adjust, and your speech will improve. • Your bite will need to be adjusted as your dentures settle.
• You should take the dentures out every night and keep them in a clean container filled with water or denture cleaning solution. Soaking your denture once a week in denture cleaner (Polident) will keep them clean.
• Clean dentures thoroughly with a brush and water before putting them back in your mouth.
• You should leave your dentures out for at least six hours to allow your gums to rest. Food particles trapped under the denture cause inflammation and sore spots. Brush the roof of your mouth as well as your gums and tongue. This will help keep your mouth healthy.
• You should return to have your dentures and mouth check at least once a year. As changes in the mouth occur with further bone loss and wear on the teeth. These changes will make the denture not fit right thus causing trauma to your gums and bone leading to continuing damage.

With proper care we expect you to have years of satisfied use of your dentures. However, overtime, there are changes in your jawbone and gums. When this occurs, your dentures will feel loose and may require relining. Wearing ill-fitting dentures for too long without refitting can cause severe bone loss and very serious oral disease. Please call our office if these symptoms occur.