What to Expect During Treatment
Your treatment experience may be as follows:
- Preparing your mouth. Before getting a partial, you may need some other dental work. Teeth may need to be removed or reshaped. Bone may need to be built up. Then your dentist will take an impression of your gums and remaining teeth. Your partial will be made from this impression. You may wear a temporary partial while the lab makes your final one. If so, your dentist will advise you about when and how to take it out and clean it.
- Fitting your partial. Once your final partial is made, your dentist will make the first of many adjustments to it. He or she will check for pressure spots on your gums and make sure the look and bite are good. You will learn how to put it in and when to take it out. Plan to visit your dentist twice a year to have your partial checked and adjusted if needed.
Getting Used to a Partial
Your partial will feel awkward for a few weeks. It is likely to affect your speech and your mouth may water a lot at first. Keep wearing the denture. That way you will get used to it sooner. Here are some tips:
- Practice reading out loud until your tongue adjusts to the feel of the denture.
- Practice putting the denture in and taking it out. Never force it into position by biting down. That could bend or break the clasps.
- Eat soft foods at first. Avoid sticky or hard foods. Cut all foods into small pieces.
Care Over the Years
Your mouth naturally changes shape over time. To keep up with those changes, your denture must be adjusted. If it's not, it will feel less comfortable. Worse, it may irritate your gums and speed up bone loss in your jaw. To get the best results with a partial:
- See your dentist as instructed to have the partial checked and adjusted. Never adjust or repair it yourself.
- Take it out at bedtime to let your gums rest.
- Avoid gum problems and decay by keeping the support teeth especially clean. When cleaning the partial, hold it over water or a towel so it won't get damaged if you drop it.
Glick & Woods Dentistry is Tullahoma’s most popular dental experience since 1985. Please call us at 931.455.3917 or fill out our online Request an Appointment form to arrange your consultation.