How do I clean my dentures?

This is our number one question! The answer to this is DO NOT USE TOOTHPASTE! Regular toothpastes contain an abrasive agent, which when used to clean dentures wears away the acrylic, leaving microscopic scratches on the surface that retain plaque and calculus and essentially make it harder to clean your denture. The best way to keep your dentures clean is to first brush your denture with a medium bristled tooth brush in warm soapy water. I recommend “Dish washing liquid”. Once the denture has been cleaned, drop in a denture cleaning solution such as Sterodent or Polident to kill residual germs and bacteria. Do not scrub your denture hard, just lightly brush but try to clean after every meal. As with natural teeth calculus will eventually buildup and will need to be professionally cleaned, about every 12months.

Who is the best person to make my Dentures? A Dentist or a Dental Prosthetist?

The best person to make your next set of dentures is a Dental Prosthetist – they are the ones who specialize in the fit and construction of dentures. The advantage of using a prosthetist is that they perform all stages of the process: they meet with you, discuss your requirements, take a series of impressions, make a wax model of the denture, try it in and make any changes that you require, and then process it into a hard acrylic denture.

Essentially, the prosthetist both meets the patient and makes the denture, unlike a dentist who takes the impressions, then sends them off to a dental laboratory for a technician to fabricate a denture, which is then sent back to the dentist. The downfall of this is that the technician who makes the denture has never met the patient and does not have the same understanding of specifically what the patient requires. They also have not had the opportunity to assess the facial features of the patient and match these to the type of teeth they select to use in the denture, which plays a big role in making natural looking teeth.

When should I get new dentures?

It is advisable to get a new set of dentures every 5-7 years to keep the Face supported and reduce age lines and ensure any deterioration and wear to the dentures does not affect their function. However, a regular 12 monthly check up is advisable to avoid any unforeseen problems and to check the underlying tissues supporting the denture for signs of infection or sore spots.

Why do lower dentures move more
than uppers?

Full lower dentures may feel loose because unlike like the full upper denture, it does not have a large area of tissue available to use for suction, which gives the denture stability and retention. As you know, upper and lower dentures are very different shapes. This is because the upper denture extends all the way to the back  to the soft palate and creates a palatal seal, while the lower denture is in the shape of a horseshoe to allow room for the tongue and all of its attaching muscles. As a result, we are not always able to create suction which in turn prevents proper retention, this means we need to aim to achieve as much stability and comfort as possible.

Should I wear my dentures at night?

The answer to this is: it’s up to you. While ideally you should leave them out at night to allow the gums to recover, many patients do not like to be seen by their partner without their dentures in.

I encourage patients to leave their dentures out at night to give their gums rest. When you are sleeping you may “grip” your teeth together harder than you would when awake - this can cause sore spots and make your dentures uncomfortable. But it is up to you.