It's been 14 days with an imediate upper denture, and I still can't keep it in my mouth for more than 30 minutes. :confused: I hear and read about so many people not having any trouble with an upper, so it looks as though I'm the exception.

I'm at a total loss here! Why can't I get used to the thing? :confused:
It gags me so bad. I'm ok for over an hour if I don't open my mouth, but as soon as I try to talk, drink, or anything that requires me to open I start gagging. I'm now to the point where I don't even try and wear it.

Could the denture be to long? I did notice there is about a half an inch of molding behind the back teeth. Is that normal?

The Dentist has told me I would just have to get used to it, and the gagging would subside. Is that the only answer?

Sorry for the ranting, I'm just really upset about this.

Willy

I was thinking too that possibly they were too long. I don't remember having trouble getting used to mine but I do know a few months ago I was sick with an absess on the bottom and I removed my uppers as it irritated it for about a week. This was the longest I had EVER gone without my teeth and when I put them back in the bugged the crap out of me. They felt like my mouth was full of something, and it wasn't pleasant... :) I took them out for another day and the next day tried again. It wasn't much better but after a few hours I got used to them again.

How do they seem to fit? I mean do they seem loose? When you open your mouth do they tend to fall? The fit could have a lot to do with it. Do you gag all the time or just periodically? I know my grandma has had uppers for about 50 years (she got them at a young age too) and every morning when she gets up she gags in the bathroom. I've never asked her but it's as if it's after she's brushed her teeth and trying to put them back in.

Dalesgirl,

Thanks for the quick reply.

Yes, I do gag all the time. If I keep my teeth clinched and swallow when I feel I'm going to gag then I can manage to keep them in longer.

The fit seems way too lose! As soon as I open my mouth they drop. :D
I haven't used an adhesive for the fear of gagging and not being able to get them out.

I guess I would start by trying poligrip or something like it. Your dentist has scheduled an appointment to check them hasn't he? They ususally wait until the swelling subsides and do a realignment.

Yes, I have an appointment Thursday. I've been in to see the dentist Twice already for some small adjustments.

I guess I'll take your advice and try some adhesive for now. Maybe I won't choke to death on them. :D

I had the same problem. I went back to the dentist and had them cut some off the back of the denture. He bitched about doing it, but hey, it's my mouth. I also found that as the uppers got looser, the back would drop and cause me to gag too. I use the poligrip powder on my uppers and they don't give me a problem any more. Hope this helps.

I'm going to tell the dentist to cut some off the back, they are pretty useless to me sitting in the medicince cabinet.

Thanks to your replies, I have been experimenting all day. I think the fit is what is causing most of the gagging. Using my thumb and holding the denture firmly in place seems to all but eliminate the gag reflex.

Thank you both for your suggestions.

Willy

I had some adjustments made yesterday. The denture with the help of some adhesive are staying put. The gagging is all but stoped, I still get one sometimes, but I can deal with that. I figure that will pass with time as I get more adjusted to having them in.

Thanks for everyone's replies.

Willy

About three weeks after I had my dentures (both top and bottom) I got claustrophobia like you wouldn't believe. For about 5 minutes, I was in a panic, felt like ripping them out of my mouth. Now, up until then, I never had anything like that happen. I actually think it was a mindset. I could have taken them out, but didn't, and decided to weather thru the storm, so to speak. That was the only time it happened. Most of the time (and it's hard), the least you think of them, the better. Glad to hear you are doing better after the modifications. I know the gag reflex is different than a mindset, but I would think after all you've been through, that it starts playing on your mind, and can be difficult. Good Luck!
Debbi

Debbi,

I don't know, but I think about 75% of it is mindset. Going to the dentist and having a little trimmed off the back probably put my mind at ease, and helped convince me I wasn't going to choke.

Thanks again for all the suggestions and comments everyone.

Willy