Partial & Denture Care Form
PLEASE NOTE: While we always strive for excellence, no medical or dental procedure is entirely predictable and that this includes prosthodontic treatment. It is critical to consider that all dentistry is an artificial replacement for natural teeth. Like all healing arts, restorative and prosthodontic dental results cannot be guaranteed, nor outcomes accurately predicted. While our treatment philosophy is evidence-based, the available scientific literature and our application of understanding is constantly evolving and being re-evaluated.
Long-term success of your treatment is care-dependent and depends in part upon the potential risk factors you personally face, such as:
Replacement of crowns or restorations have a cumulative pulpal trauma affect, possibly resulting in the need for root canal treatment.
Teeth that have been compromised by extensive caries (decay) may have a questionable restorative prognosis due to lack of remaining tooth structure. Additionally, restorative margins may end on tooth root surfaces, making teeth more sensitive to hot or cold.
Esthetics and function depends on healthy gums, bone and teeth. The fewer the number of teeth, the less bone supporting those teeth (quality and quantity of remaining teeth) can directly affect short and long term prosthodontic treatment.
Patient who exhibit high occlusal forces may be at greater risk for fracture or catastrophic failure of prosthesis due to stress concentration and applied forces that are beyond the capacity of the selected material to withstand.
Pre-existing implant positions may compromise restoration design due to material thickness, prosthetic requirements, etc.
Neuromuscular coordination, which may cause cheek, lip, tongue biting or difficulty stabilizing prosthesis during function.
Accommodation:
Comprehensive prosthetic treatment (dental rehabilitation) can make patients excessively aware of their bite or esthetics since it is new and different from the previous condition. Whether this is expressed depends on the patient’s ability to adapt to the new restorations and bite. Adapting to an artificial prosthesis is very individualized. Multiple adjustments may be required to help during this process. Reestablishing functional tooth contacts requires an adaptive period that varies from patient to patient (i.e. this timeline is not predictable for individual patients).
Initial Adaptation:
Wear Schedule: Begin by wearing your new dentures about 1-2 hours at a time, gradually increasing the duration each day.
Salivation: Expect increased salivation during the first few days of wearing your dentures. This is normal and will gradually decrease as your mouth adjusts.
Speech: You may experience slight changes in your speech initially. Practice speaking aloud to adapt to your new dentures more quickly.
Chewing: Start with soft foods and gradually reintroduce firmer foods into your diet as you become accustomed to chewing with your dentures. You may initially bite your lip, cheek, or tongue as you adapt to the slight change in position of teeth.
Daily Care:
Cleaning: Remove and rinse your dentures after each meal to remove food particles and debris. Brush them gently with a soft-bristled denture brush and mild soap or denture cleaner. Avoid using toothpaste, as it may be abrasive.
Oral Hygiene: Clean your gums, tongue, and palate with a soft-bristled toothbrush or gauze pad every morning and evening. This helps remove plaque and stimulate circulation.
Storage: When not wearing your dentures, store them in a denture cleaning solution or lukewarm water to prevent them from drying out or warping. Avoid hot water, as it can distort the shape of your dentures.
General Tips:
Adjustments: It is normal for your dentures to require adjustments in the first few weeks as your mouth adjusts to them. Contact your dentist if you experience any discomfort, sore spots, or if your dentures become loose.
Follow-up Appointments: Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments with our office to ensure proper fit and function of your dentures. Refinements may need to be made to optimize your comfort and appearance.
Food Selection: Refrain from chewing on hard or sticky foods (nuts, popcorn, hard candies, chewing gum, or tough meats), as they can damage your dentures or cause them to become dislodged. Certain foods, such as coffee, tea, red wines, berries, or tomato-based sauces, etc. can cause dentures to discolor over time.
Beware: Dentures can insulate the roof of the mouth, making it harder to sense heat. Avoid overly hot soups, coffee, or tea to prevent burns.
Regular Check-ups: Maintain regular dental check-ups to monitor the health of your oral tissues and ensure the longevity of your dentures.
Getting the best possible results:
Adhering to recommended follow-up schedule to monitor and maintain the level of health achieved with treatment
Perform the necessary hygiene procedures as directed.
Eliminating oral habits that can break or damage your restorations
Modifying diet to accommodate prosthesis (i.e. smaller pieces, chewing longer or bilaterally)
Patience and commitment to adapting after delivery
