DENTURE CARE

Whether you have complete or partial, acrylic or metal dentures, proper care and cleaning is extremely important.

Dentures should be removed after each meal and rinsed to remove food which can lodge underneath and cause tissue irritation or infection, as well as potential decay of supporting teeth in the case of partial dentures.

• Ideally, dentures and partials should be removed before bedtime, brushed well with a denture brush and preferably left out overnight in a labelled denture cup for safe keeping. Hand soap and denture toothpaste are both good cleaners.
• Avoid any abrasive cleaner as it might roughen the acrylic allowing stain and tartar to form more quickly. Commercial soaking tablets can be used but they do not replace brushing as the primary method recommended for cleaning dentures.
• Plaque is invisible bacteria film that forms not only on natural teeth, but on dentures as well. Once the bacterial plaque hardens, it becomes tartar (dental calculus), which is very difficult to remove.
• Try soaking the dentures in white vinegar and water or in a product like Renew™ or Novadent ™ – both do a great job of removing stains and dissolving mineral deposits.

Dentures Don’t Fit?

• Your face, jaw and tissues change over the years, but your prosthesis does not. Your dentures are made of a stable and rigid material and cannot adapt to these physical changes. It is important to consider having them relined from time to time so that the fit is maintained.
• If too much bone has dissolved over time, unfortunately even a reline might not solve the problem. Sometimes a quality soft liner can help when there is a lack of bone and gum and if your dentures are chronically uncomfortable to wear.
• A soft liner can make an uncomfortable denture (mainly lower) more comfortable to wear as the liner provides a cushion. They last from 2-4 years before they need to be replaced.
• Denture adhesives can be used – make sure to use the minimum amount required as it can be very difficult to remove your dentures at the end of the day if too much is used.

Implants for Improved Denture Fit

• If you are not happy with the fit of your denture, you might consider having denture supported implants done. Most people who have chosen this option are very happy and will report that their dentures function very close to natural teeth. There are a number of dentists in Kelowna who specialize in this field. If you need help finding one, just give us a call.
• The dental implants must be brushed and cleaned as if they were natural teeth twice daily.
• There are many dentists who are trained in this procedure and they will work closely with the dental lab or the denturist for the final result.

Denture Labeling

• Most dentures look alike! If you are having new dentures made or are seeing your denturist ask them to professionally label them with your name.
• It will last a life time if done at the time of manufacture and will prevent any mix-ups.
• The Fine Dental Hygiene team can provide an alternative method that can be done onsite with an engraver.