Adapting to your new smile
Whether you are a first time denture wearer or a well seasoned expert. Each time you have a new set make you must go through an adaptation period. For some this period is as short as a week for others it can be a number of weeks. The most important factor is a positive attitude, patience and persistence.
How quickly will I adjust to dentures?
At first you may feel your new teeth are too big and your mouth and lips are too full. But your facial muscles and oral tissues will adapt to the dentures and you should soon feel quite comfortable with them. As new dentures settle onto your oral tissue and you begin to apply the pressures of chewing it is common for patients to develop a tender or sore spot. Should these spots persist for more than a day or two you should return to your practitioner to have an adjustment make on the fitting surface of your denture. No two patients are alike. Some may require only one such adjustment while others up to four. The bottom line is all soreness and discomfort must be resolved before we can consider the denture fully settled in. Upper dentures achieve this settling in goal generally in a couple of days. Lower dentures on the other hand require more time as your tongue, cheeks, and musculature on the floor of the mouth all must learn to work around your new denture rather than against it.
Will dentures affect my speech?
At first you may notice minor difference in your speech. Lisping is not unusual. Don’t be concerned. Soon you will become accustomed to the slight alteration in the shape of your mouth. Reading aloud to yourself is an excellent exercise which will more quickly restore your normal speech.
How will dentures affect my ability to chew?
Chewing is not a given and like every change in life you must relearn this skill. Start slowly with soft foods and small bites. Progressing to difficult foods too quickly will result in increased sore spots and frustration. As food will tend to go under a denture that is not yet fully settled in. Biting apples and corn on the cob require the greatest degree of skill to master. But with time and patience this is achievable for most patients.