Are Dentures Difficult to Get Used to?

More than 42 million Americans have dentures, an oral device that replaces missing teeth you can take in and out of your mouth. Many people find dentures uncomfortable when they first wear them. Dentures aren’t difficult to get used to, but you need to give yourself time to adjust.

At Solay Dental in Oldsmar, New Port Richey, and Brandon, Florida, Dr. Shiva Soleimani and the skilled dental team take a holistic approach to oral health by providing restorative services to improve functionality and aesthetics. We know everyone’s dental needs and experiences are unique and we want all of our patients to have a comfortable and stress-free transition to dentures.

It can take time getting used to dentures, so we want to provide some suggestions on how you can make the transition easier.

All about dentures

Dentures are replacement teeth attached to an oral appliance that’s removable. We use different types of dentures to address various oral health needs. 

The types include:

Full dentures

Full dentures replace the entire row of your natural upper or lower teeth, or both. Full dentures rest on the gums and require support from the palate and lower jaw.  

Partial dentures

Partial dentures only replace some of your teeth. Though a partial denture rests on your gums, it also has a clasp that attaches to your remaining natural teeth so you have more support for the dental appliance. 

Implant-retained dentures

Instead of relying on your gums and palate for support, implant-retained dentures attach to dental implants, a permanent tooth root placed in your jaw. You can remove implant-retained dentures, but they snap onto your implants, so they’re more stable in your mouth. 

Implant-supported dentures

Unlike the other types of dentures, implant-supported dentures are permanent and you can’t remove them. The replacement teeth attach to the dental implant, making it feel like natural teeth.

Common denture discomforts

Any type of denture may take time to get used to. Your new teeth may be awkward and bulky, making you feel insecure about eating and speaking. However, you may experience the most discomfort from the dentures that rely on your gums for support.

These dentures may rub on the soft tissue in your mouth, causing discomfort. They may also feel loose in your mouth and cause you to fear that they may fall out. 

Eating is also challenging with dentures. Your mouth needs to adjust to the new appliance, so you’ll have to relearn how to coordinate chewing and swallowing. Dentures make it harder to talk, requiring adjustments to the movement of your tongue, lips, and cheeks with your dentures when speaking.   

What you can do

Getting dentures is a major life change and it can take several weeks to adjust to them. Be patient with yourself. 

You can expect to have areas of soreness in your mouth when you first get dentures. The soft tissue needs a little time to adjust to the appliance. Try regular salt water rinses to ease any discomfort. If your pain is severe or not improving, we recommend coming to the office so we can make adjustments to improve the fit of your dentures. 

When eating with a new set of full dentures, cut your food into small pieces and have a glass of water so you can take sips to moisten the food before you swallow it. Chew up and down instead of side to side when chewing. 

Speaking with dentures takes practice. Saying words out loud and singing can help with this adjustment.

You also want to clean your dentures and mouth daily to maintain oral hygiene. Most denture-related problems are due to poor caretaking. 

Dentures are an affordable option for replacing missing teeth, but it can take time to get used to them. Are you considering dentures to restore your smile? Call us today at 727-516-9900 or request an appointment online.