Clean around each abutment using a fine toothbrush and water flosser. Inadequate cleaning may lead to tissue inflammation and potential bone loss around the implant. Be sure to clean the top of the abutment to prevent food debris buildup, as impaction can interfere with the proper engagement of the denture.
The nylon inserts will wear down over time and require replacement, with the frequency varying by patient. The doctor will assess their retention every six months and recommend replacement if needed. A fee applies for nylon insert replacement. Different colors indicate different levels of retention, and the doctor will help determine the best color combination for you.
While it may take some practice initially, most patients can easily remove their implant retained dentures using their fingers. However, if you have difficulty, you can use tongue depressors or a brand- specific removal tool. Please consult the doctor for instructions.
The abutment will show wear over time due to friction. Typical life span of a snap-type abutment is approximately 10 years, although this may vary by patient. Severely worn abutments can decrease denture retention and will require replacement. A fee will be applied for abutment replacements.
If you notice the abutment has come loose or has come off, please contact Moonglow Denture Specialists as soon as possible.
Immediately following extractions or surgery, your surgeon will insert the immediate dentures. Please keep the dentures in place until your 24-hour follow up with Moonglow Denture Specialists. Sleep with the dentures in. The immediate dentures will help control tissue swelling and reduce bleeding by applying pressure on the surgical area. If the immediate denture is removed too soon following surgery, the surgical area may swell, making it difficult to reinsert the denture. It is normal for the denture to feel loose or large after insertion due to the swelling and bleeding. The immediate dentures will be removed for the first time during your 24-hr follow-up.
Immediate Post-Op Period (24 hours after surgery)
-Your lip, tongue, and cheek may be numb for up to 24 hours.
-While you are numb, avoid hot food and drinks.
-You may have oozing or intermittent bleeding from the surgery site.
-If you received IV sedation or are taking prescription pain medications, for the next 24 hours, do NOT stay alone, drive, or operate machinery.
-It is advisable to have someone at home to assist you for the first 24 hours.
-Apply ice to the treatment area, alternating 30 mins on, and 10 mins off. Do this for the first 8 to 10 hours after surgery.
-Do not lie flat. Elevate your head with a pillow.
*Under certain circumstances, the surgeon may recommend not wearing your immediate dentures following surgery. In this case, the doctor will consult with the surgeon and provide appropriate treatment during your 24-hour follow up appointment.
24-hour post-surgery follow-up appointment: During this appointment, the doctor will remove your immediate dentures for the first time, and you will be allowed to rinse your mouth. The doctor will examine the surgical area to ensure the site appears normal (checking for bleeding, swelling, sutures). The doctor or staff will check and adjust the denture to relieve any sore spots in your mouth. The doctor will also assess and adjust your bite. Occasionally, if the immediate denture is excessively loose, the doctor may add a soft reline material to improve the fit. The doctor and staff will review post-operative instructions, home care guidelines, and address any questions you may have.
Initial Healing Phase (2-5 days after surgery)
-It is common to have swelling, bruising, and tenderness around the face
-It is common to have sore throat, cracking, or soreness at the corners of your mouth
-It is common to have bruising under your chin, down your neck, and bruising under your eyes. Use a warm compress to help the bruising go away
-Your level of pain and discomfort should decrease daily
-Expect blood-tinged saliva
Nausea
Nausea is common after having IV sedation or when taking prescription pain medications. Nausea may be reduced by eating a small amount of food prior to taking your pain medications.
Warm Salt Water Rinse
Starting on the second day after surgery, use warm salt water rinses after each meal or at least 2 to 3 times per day. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in to 1 cup of warm water. Gently swish and do not spit.
Brushing
If you have remaining natural teeth, avoid brusing your teeth for the first 24 hours. After the 24 hours, you can gently brush your natural teeth using a soft bristle toothbrush and toothpaste.
Smoking and Alcohol
Avoid smoking and alcoholic beverage during the healing period.
Activity
For your safety, have an adult stay with you for at least 24 hours after surgery. Limit you physical activities to a minimum for the first week after surgery.
Sutures
Commonly used resorbable sutures will dissolve 7 to 14 days after surgery.
Diet
Initially after surgery, be sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat soft, nourishing foods. Protein shakes are recommended. Avoid hot foods or hot drinks for the first 24 hours after surgery. Avoid foods that are spicy, acidic, or have sharp edges (e.g. nachos). Do not skip meals. Eating regularly will help you feel better and heal faster. See list of soft food suggestions.
To minimize post-op infections, finish the antibiotics prescribed by the surgeon.
If you are experiencing ongoing pain, bleeding, persistence nausea, increase swelling, or fever, please contact your surgeon immediately. If you are experiencing a life threatening emergency, please call 911.
The most important thing is to keep the dentures in during the day AND night for the first week after surgery. Only take the dentures out for cleaning after a meal.
One-week follow-up appointment: During this appointment, the doctor will check the progress of your healing. You will have developed more sore or pressure spots from the denture. The doctor or staff will adjust these sore spots as well as your bite. The doctor will also assess how you are adapting to your immediate denture and address and questions or concerns you may have.
After the first week, if you are healing normally, the doctor will advise you to keep the denture out at night time. Please refer to the general Denture Care Instructions.
One-month follow-up appointment: By this time, your gums and tissue will have healed significantly. The doctor will assess the healing status. It is normal for the denture to feel considerably loose at this stage. The doctor will perform a soft reline on the immediate denture to help it re-adapt to your healed gums.
For the next several months (up to 6-9 months after surgery), your gums will continue to shrink and change. The doctor will periodically evaluate your healing progress and the fit of the immediate dentures. As your gums heal and change, the doctor will add new soft reline materials to ensure a better fit.
Post Operative Soft Diet Suggestions
During the first few days after surgery, the tissues in your mouth will be tender. You may choose to stick to very soft foods and soups at a moderate temperature until the tenderness resolves. The time it takes for the tenderness to subside varies from person to person. You may advance your diet as tolerated. Chewing food with a new prosthesis may feel strange or difficult at first. It may also alter your taste sensation temporarily due to the denture covering certain parts of your mouth. This will improve over time as your mouth heals, dentures are adjusted or relined, and most importantly, as the muscles of your mouth adapt to the new denture.
The following is a list of suggested types of food you can eat after surgery:
-Anything pureed
-Blended foods
-Applesauce
-Soft fruits: watermelon, kiwi, avocado, bananas
-Any steamed, well-cooked vegetables
-Mashed potatoes
-Grits/cream of wheat
-Soups with small, soft pieces of vegetable or very tender meat (no crunchy vegetables)
-Jell-O/pudding, yogurt
-Protein shakes/smoothies
-Broth
-Scrambled eggs
-Ice cream
-Cottage cheese
-Hummus
-Oatmeal
-Eggs of any type
-Pancakes
-Tender fish
-Pulled chicken/pork
-Ground chicken/pork
-Tofu
-Canned meat
-Soft brownies
-Pasta
-Rice
-Cake (no nuts or sprinkles)
You are not limited to the food mentioned above. You can have food items that are fork tender.
Foods to Avoid:
-Ice, raw vegetables, hard bread, apples, corn on cob, steak, jerky, dried fruits, nuts, seeds, chips, pretzels, popcorn, caramel, gummy bears, toffee, chewing gum
Remove the dentures after each meal (or at least 3 times per day). Rinse with running water to remove large debris or food particles. Gently scrub and clean the dentures (inside and outside) using a denture brush (or a medium coarse toothbrush) and Dawn Platinum foaming dish soap (or equivalent unscented dish soap). We recommend the dentures to be cleaned over a sink or a countertop to prevent accidental drops to the floor.
While the dentures are out of the mouth, gently clean the tongue using a toothbrush and toothpaste. Thoroughly rinse the mouth using mouthwash. If denture adhesive (e.g. Poligrip or Fixodent) is used, thoroughly clean the gums with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and warm water.
Before going to bed, once the dentures are cleaned with dish soap, place them in a container and completely submerge it in water. Drop one denture cleaning tablet (e.g. Polident) and allow to soak for approximately 15 mins. Then, remove the dentures from the solution and rinse with water.
Always store the dentures in a water-tight carrying case with clean, plain, water overnight (Do NOT let the dentures dry out).
If you experience sore spots, remove the dentures and rinse with warm salt water (1 cup of warm water + 1 teaspoon of salt) 2 to 3 times per day. Swish around for up to 30 seconds then spit. For intense sore spots, apply a small amount of Benzodent cream or OraJel on the sore spot as directed. Contact Moonglow Denture Specialists to schedule for an adjustment. Do NOT attempt to adjust the dentures yourself.
In case of fracture or loss, contact Moonglow Denture Specialists to schedule an evaluation. Do NOT attempt to attach the fractured segments yourself.
You may choose to use a small amount of denture adhesive to increase the retention. There are different types of adhesives on the market (paste, powder, pad). Consult with the doctor to find the best one for you. Do NOT use excessive amount. Be sure to clean off the adhesive thoroughly each day after use.
The dentures may become sore fairly soon after fitting (typically 1-2 days after delivery). This is a normal occurrence even for well made ones. If you find they are too sore to wear, leave them out and revert to your previous set of dentures. However, please try to wear them for one or two days before coming for your follow-up appointment. This will help the doctor identify pressure points and make precise adjustments.
New dentures can feel somewhat loose at first, as you are adapted to your old set. A key part of wearing dentures is allowing your lips, cheeks, and tongue to adjust to the new dentures. Over time, your neuromuscular control will improve, helping to stabilize the dentures. This adjustment period can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months, depending on the patient. Some patients may require denture adhesives in order to keep the dentures more secure. Although not common, it is important to know that this may be necessary.
Dentures are removable mechanical substitutes for missing teeth and gums. Therefore, it will exhibit a small amount of movement when in the mouth, especially when chewing food.
Initially, the dentures will feel strange and bulky in your mouth and will cause a feeling of fullness in the lips and cheeks. Your lips will not adapt immediately to the fullness of the denture, but it will improve over time. If needed, the doctor can make adjustments to the contour of the dentures to help with lip adaptation.
The new dentures may extend slightly further back in the mouth compared to the old set. This added extension is essential for stability and retention of the dentures. Most patients will adjust to the changes and appreciate the improved support. However, if you have difficulty adapting over time, the doctor can adjust the borders, though this may reduce overall stability.
Initially, the dentures may cause you to produce more saliva than normal. However, this gradually reduces over time.
Some patients may experience difficulties with speech following the fitting of new dentures. In most cases, patients adjust over time (anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months). The doctor may make adjustments to the dentures as needed to help with speech adaptation.
Learning to chew satisfactorily with new dentures takes time, typically 6 to 8 weeks, but sometimes longer. New memory patterns must be established in order to for the muscles of the tongue, cheeks, and lips to keep the dentures in position. First, start with softer foods and chew slowly until you get used to the new teeth. Cut the food item into smaller pieces. Then, work your way up to firmer food items. Try to chew on your “back teeth” on both sides at the same time. Since most people are accustomed to chewing on one side, this may take some practice. Initially, you may experience biting your cheeks, lips, or tongue, but this usually improves over time. The doctor may make minor bite adjustments as needed to help with the adaptation.
Every mouth is unique, and each patient with new dentures has a different experience. Therefore, experiences with new dentures cannot be compared to those of another person.
Patients often ask how long their dentures or partial dentures will last. On average, they are expected to last between 5-10 years, but it is difficult to predict this accurately. Our doctor and lab technician perform their work to the highest standards, using the highest quality materials along with many years of training, experience, and expertise. However, over time, your jaw bone will change, denture teeth will wear down, and the materials will age. For partial denture wearers, you may lose additional teeth over time. Additionally, some patients apply more pressure on their teeth than others, which can cause parts of their dentures to wear, chip, or become loose sooner. Once the treatment is complete, the prosthesis is covered under a one-year warranty for defects or damages NOT caused by the fault of the patient (e.g. dropping, losing, or tooth loss). After this period, fees will apply for services such as repairs, refurbishments, or replacements.
If you experience any difficulties at all, please do not hesitate to contact Moonglow Denture Specialists. We are always here to help you.