Dentalnews (en)

There are dentures and there are non-dentures!

Everybody knows the typical glass of water on the night-stand with Granny’s dentures floating in it.

Thanks to dental implants, it is now possible to get fixed dentures, but not all implants are affordable right away, as fixed implants cost money – so what can you do while you’re saving up?

Don’t despair, a good-quality total denture can work very well – find out more on this topic in the dental video lexicon!

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Here are some tips and tricks on getting used to your dentures:

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The first few days

Don’t be alarmed it your dentures squeeze or itch the first couple of days. Your mucous membrane has to get used to them, just like your feet have to get used to the hot sand at the beach. Eat soft foods and read out loud out of a book, this will help your muscles to “comprehend” the dentures.

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Pressure points
If you develop pressure points from your dentures, you should immediately go see a dentist, who can then check if these are static or dynamic pressure points. If the pressure points are dynamic, you will need a new set of dentures. Find out more on this topic here!

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Cleaning dentures – proper care
Dentures are worn for 23 hours and cleaned for 1 … meaning: after eating you should rinse out your mouth, and your dentures, with clean water. Clean the dentures with soap in the evening. Do not use abrasives such as e.g. toothpaste. The surface of the dentures should remain smooth, it is much easier for bacteria to settle onto rough surfaces. Leaving the dentures to soak overnight is also bad for their surface.
You should scrub your gums and tongue in the evening using a washcloth. Your tongue usually rubs against your gums, removing old mucuous membrane, this is not the case with artificial gums.

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Did you know ?
With only 2 implants in your upper jaw you can do without artificial gums altogether  – ask your dentist or watch a video on this topic!

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The cost of dentures
Most insurance companies pay a part of the total cost, how much you have to pay yourself varies from country to country. Ask your dentist. Additional costs for ceramics, transparent gums or metal grids can now be avoided, as modern high-quality plastics makes these extras unnecessary.

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Popularity: 23% [?]

Yesterday you read about bad teeth, and why some people have fillings in their upper jaw, especially in the spaces between their teeth – shown by the blue lines in the picture.

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There is a reason for this: the fact that the upper teeth have wide contact surfaces (the blue lines). The lower teeth have smaller contact surfaces (the blue dots). A toothbrush can usually get through the lower teeth – but not the upper teeth.
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This is why cavities tend to develop between the upper teeth, and if the fillings reach the dental nerve, you end up needing a root canal. Usually followed by a crown. Use an oral irrigator and/or dental floss, and clean your front teeth, as well as all other teeth, from the back!

Popularity: 43% [?]