What is the difference between a denture and a partial denture?

When someone talks about dentures, they typically talk about a complete set of dentures for either upper or lower dentures. These comprise all your teeth. On the other hand, partial dentures replace some of their teeth while they still have some healthy teeth.

A smiling couple who use permanent dentures

Will dentures impact how I eat?

Eating with your new dentures is also a skill you must master. Eating with your new dentures is also a skill you must master. It will take a few weeks up to a few months to develop, depending on the food you are eating. The most problematic foods are corn on the cob or apples; some people never fully master these.

Here Are Some Tips for Eating with Dentures

It takes more time to eat a meal with new dentures. You will not notice this issue as you get more comfortable with your dentures. After you first get your dentures, choose easy-to-chew foods. This will benefit you in two ways. First, it will allow you to develop new muscle coordination for your lips and tongue. These are now needed to manage your dentures while chewing. Second, it will slowly “toughen up” your gums. As your gums get stronger and more useful to the dentures, you can move on to more challenging foods.

What is the best way to clean dentures?

We will go thru the best cleaning procedures in one of your appointments. We recommend a cleaner with the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. Each manufacturer has product instructions, which we suggest you read thoroughly if you don’t mind.

How will dentures impact the taste of food?

All of your taste buds are located on your tongue. Therefore, making changes to the composition of your teeth should not have any impact. On rare occasions, clients complained that they couldn’t taste food as well with their new dentures. This issue always resolves itself with time.

Do you need help getting adjusted to wearing Snap-On dentures?

Most people report that the biggest issue with new Snap-On dentures is getting used to how they feel in your mouth. Some report that they have a mouthful of a foreign object. Their lips are being pushed forward. The teeth feel too big. These typically subside as you wear them in a matter of weeks. Some people experience an increased amount of saliva in their mouths. This is common. It, too, will slowly return to what you consider normal in just a few days. Others report that their upper or lower dentures feel looser than the other dentures. This, too, is normal. We will discuss this further below. The best way to get accustomed to your dentures is to wear them 24 hours a day till the adjustment period is over. After that, you should follow your doctor’s recommendation for a wear schedule that allows your mouth to rest adequately. Most dentists will suggest that they are removed at night while you sleep.

Why are my lower dentures looser in my mouth than the upper dentures?

We do our best to achieve stability and firm fit on your upper and lower dentures. It is standard practice not to fit lower dentures as tight as the upper ones, and they should be able to be “lifted out” with your tongue. We suggest you allow time and patience as a new denture wearer; getting used to wearing and using dentures always takes time.

Is it common to have sore guns from dentures?

Getting sore gums from dentures is common until your dentures are adjusted. This is typically caused by high spots that do not fit as well. These spots will put extra pressure on your gums, which can cause a sore spot. Our patients typically have this issue in the first few weeks. We always ask our patients to return for a follow-up when they have this issue, as it is an issue we can quickly address. It is essential to wear your dentures for at least 24 hours before an adjustment appointment so that sore spots are easy to identify and fix. Without this feedback, the break-in period is longer as we cannot find the high points on your dentures on your first visit.

Will I be able to speak the same with permanent dentures?

You will quickly learn that your tongue location with dentures is different from natural teeth. Sometimes this will cause a whistling sound when you speak. Most patients rapidly adapt to new dentures, and the whistle stops. We recommend that our clients start to read aloud to train themselves to adjust to the new location of their tongue. S, SH, TH, and CH are the most problematic sounds. I don’t recall a single client who has followed this advice to have a speech issue for very long.