Wondering if anyone out there can help me with some immediate denture questions???
1) How often did you have to go for adjustments during your initial healing process (post-extractions)?
2) How do they "refit" the denture once complete healing has been accomplished? Do they remake the entire 'gum' part of the denture to fit snug, or is it the same base but just fitted differently?
3) I have heard it could take up to 6 months to heal completely....is this true? I have seen several different time frames ranging from 6-8 weeks, to 6-8 months. What should I expect? (I should note that after only 2 weeks, my gums have shrunk so much that I have to use a major amount of adhesive just to keep the dentures in place...any alternatives? Liners maybe?)
4) Once the final refitting is done, will it fit so tight that I will not need adhesives? I'd hate to think that I'm waiting for my final reline only to have it fit less than "perfect".
5) Lastly, after the last adjustment I had done, I am getting a bad gag reflex in the morning when I put the dentures in...it lasts for about an hour, then subsides. Is this due to it still being such a foreign object in my mouth? I didn't have this problem even the first day after I had the upper plate. It seems to be getting worse as my upper gums shrink. They did file it down for me, but it did nothing for my gagging. Could it still need some adjusting?
Thank you for any advice you can offer.
scaredstiff70
The Following User Says Thank You to scaredstiff70 For This Useful Post: charmwebb (01-16-2011)
My bite seems to be WAY off....is this a normal part of the healing process? My front teeth come together, but my back teeth don't touch at all when I bite down. It doesn't seem right to me....but I am new to this. Any ideas?
1. Go for adjustments as often as needed. There is no reason for you to be in any unnecessary pain or discomfort.
2. There are 3 options after your gums have "healed" (see item 3). They are A) a hard reline B) a rebase C) a new set of "permanent" dentures.
3. "healing" could take as little as a few weeks. The gums will continue to shrink rapidly for the first 3 months or so. They may begin to stabilize at about the 6 month mark, everybody is different so times will vary with each person. This is when you can go ahead with the options in 2). During the period where your gums shrink the most you should be seeing your dentist about a soft reline. They will help keep your dentures in place with a decent bite while your gums are shrinking in the first 6 months or so.
4. After a hard reline, rebase or getting new dentures made, the dentures will fit well for a while. Unfortunately, the gums continue to shrink, albeit very slowly. Soft relines will be needed to maintain the "retention" and "stability" of the denture between future hard relines or rebases.
5. Gagging can be caused by a variety of things, a poor fitting denture being one of them. A soft reline may or may not solve the gagging problem. Either way, see your dentist about finding the cause.
6. The bite should be adjusted each time a reline is done.
My dentist will be out of the office for one week, so I am unable to go for any adjustments for at least 7 more days.
They also told me that they would like to see how long I can go between adjustments simply because my gums are shrinking so much during this initial phase. I was thinking of getting some drug-store soft liners to ease my transition, but unsure if I would be wasting my money? The front of the bottom denture doesn't rest on my gums due to (I'm assuming) the back gums still being swelled somewhat (I had a hard extraction on one side which is slow to heal). Would a soft liner help 'fill in' that space between the denture and my front gums?
Other than that, I can keep the uppers in all day with Fixodent, and the lowers tend to stay in for about 8 hours before the adhesive wears down. I'm just trying to get through this initial phase until I am ready for the final 'fitting', which seems to be a lifetime away.
I am getting the full denture -immediate placement like you? - in about three weeks.
I am scared stiff about the pain right after the extractions, and placement of the dentures. I've had so much pain. They call it Trigeminal Neuralgia, and I don't know if that will interfere with the proceedure.
Its all so much to arrange, my dentist isn't any help. I go for the "consult" tomorrow.
Did you have to pay about $1500 for the ectractions, and then about $1500 for the dentures too?
To answer your question - my other [previous] extractions have healed 'mostly' in about 6 weeks, but not finished healing for about 3 months.
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Unless the dentures are causing you pain then there isn't much point in having adjustments made until most of the swelling in the gums goes down. If adhesive is doing a decent job of keeping the dentures in (it sounds that way to me) and you can live with it for a week I wouldn't bother with liners. After a soft reline you're unlikely to need the liners again. In the months before your "final fitting" the dentures will fit very well with soft relines. You may need a few soft relines done in the first couple of months because your gums are shrinking quickly but the shrinking slows down dramatically after about 3 months.
I'm having my immediates rebased in early June which will be 6 months since my extractions. My last soft reline was in early March and my gums have changed very little since then (the fit and bite still feel right). The first 3 months of living with dentures are the hardest what with shrinking gums, relearning how to eat and, for some, relearning how to say some letters. Do your best to be patient during that time. Good luck!
My extractions were expensive...more so than the dentures themselves. All in all, the entire procedure was approx. $4800, with the dentures being $1300.00 of that. My oral surgeon wasn't covered under my insurance, so the charge was basically at their discretion. I am happy with the job done though. I hope your procedure goes well. Even with all these little issues I'm having, I would do it again in a heartbeat!
They never mentioned anything to me about "soft-relines" during any of my consults or even when I had some small adjustments made due to pain. I will be sure to speak to them next week about that. I do have some pain when chewing, mostly where the denture hits the bottom (or top) of the gums (vestibule is what they called it?). And then some pain and irritation in the site where I had the most traumatic extraction. That spot is sore and still swollen, so I know irritation is to be expected. Adhesive helps to keep the pain to a minimum for a while, but I have noticed when I eat (even something light like noodles or mashed potatoes), the adhesive on the bottom doesn't make it through the meal and the dentures start to float again. I suppose it's just something I need to deal with until this phase of healing is over. It seems that my gums have shrunk a great deal just in the past 3 weeks, but from what you have said, there's more to be expected...hard to imagine they will get even smaller than what they are
I sincerely appreciate your feedback on this issue. It's nice to have others to talk to that have 'been there, done that'. My 3 month mark will be July 22, which seems like a lifetime away. I am really trying to be patient with this new appliance in my mouth, but it sure isn't easy. Re-learning to chew and talk (I too have trouble with some letters) has been the hardest part of it all. I did graduate to a White Castle hamburger last night though, which tasted awesome http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bang.gif Finally some 'adult' food.
How are you doing with eating the foods you want? I'm still afraid that I will lose the food in my mouth and choke. It's definitely weird not being able to feel it like before.
Again, thanks so much for your replies. It's so good to hear from others who know what I'm going through.
My dentist never told me about soft relines until he actually did one. My first soft reline was at about the 3 week mark. They were as loose as a couple of marbles in an empty mason jar up to that point and I didn't use adhesive because I was afraid it might hinder the gums healing. Some dentists do soft relines often, some not so often. It depends on his/her "experience". Until you finally have a soft reline done, you'll have to take my word for it that it makes a world of difference. It's been 3 weeks since your extractions so you should be due for one soon.
The pain you're having sounds like, pardon the pun, normal "teething" pains. Loose dentures that bang against gums can cause irritation especially when eating. Those kind of sores will often go away once the denture fits properly. The swelling from the "problem extraction" shouldn't prevent a soft reline from being done but it would be best if the swelling did go down before a reline.
I had two "magic" moments in my transition to dentures. The first was when I had the initial soft reline. Up until that point I was always wondering "what is supposed to feel normal with these dang things?". After the reline I had my answer. That gave my confidence a much needed shot in the arm. I started eating more and different things. The denture felt snug on my gums and I worried less about the denture dropping out of my mouth. The second was at about the three month mark when I realized "I'm back to normal" and then did a second take "no, I'm better than back to normal". The most improvement seems to ocurr between the one and three month milestones. Your mouth slowly adjusts to the dentures. They will begin to feel like they take up less room in your mouth and even taste will seem like its coming back. With time you'll "feel" the food in your mouth again. I can eat anything that can be cut and chewed. I can bite into most foods too. Things I haven't tried are biting into an apple, corn on the cob or chomping down on a raw carrot but I couldn't eat them with my old bad teeth either so....
It sounds like you're doing great with better than average progress. Be patient, that's half the battle. The other half of the battle is to keep a positive attitude. The third half is to hang on to some of your sense of humor. Wait a minute, how many halves in whole? Never mind. It doesn't matter :-)
If you want to read more about dentures or discuss denture topics there are denture groups on the major web portals. Good luck!!
It does get discouraging, but, I know there's a light at the end of the tunnel and I will eventually be 'back to normal'...or with any luck, better than normal like you. I guess with my bad teeth prior to the dentures, I missed out on so much food. Now that I have good teeth, I'm still missing out on alot. It's so very hard to be patient, but, I don't have alot of other options now do I?
Your posts have helped me a great deal, esp. with the humor part. That is essential when dealing with these darn things! So, thank you very much for your help.
scaredstiff70
PS: what search engine is the best for the discussions on dentures?
I'm wondering, do I need to call my dentist and inquire about a soft reline? Before they went on vacation, they basically told me to "call if you need anything" and never mentioned another appt. for a reline. I don't want to do it too soon, but, I wouldn't know what too soon is anyhow
Thanks again for all your help!
scaredstiff70
PS: How can you tell the difference between bone fragments working their way out, and a sore spot? Both are painful, so how do you know which is which?
[This message has been edited by scaredstiff70 (edited 05-15-2003).]
Well, my last post is still there and I'm still here so I must not have done wrong by mentioning the groups
A soft reline should all be included as part of your treatment plan. The dentist mixes together a powder and liquid from a kit to the consistancy of cake icing, spreads it on the denture and then presses it into your mouth. This is where he will adjust the bite. It only takes a couple of minutes for the liner material to set. The entire process takes less than 15 minutes so it isn't anything the dentist needs to prepare for. As I mentioned before, my dentist didn't mention soft relines either. I was seeing him every few days and then he just did it. It seems that he waited until sore spot issues were resolved and the dentures were real loose. It wouldn't hurt to call and ask about it but if you're going in to have an adjustment done soon you could wait and ask then. My guess is that "too soon" is any time before the dentist thinks is the right time but I'm sure that if you ask nice and tell him you would like to get on with eating real food again he might oblige you I hope you get one soon because it does make a world of difference.
I never had any bone fragments so I can't tell you anything from personal experience. In the denture groups I've read of people who plucked them out themselves with tweezers so the bone fragments had to be visible to do that. If they are under the gum they might feel sharp or hard while sore spots aggravated by the denture might be soft and tender to the touch. The bad news about bone fragments under the gum is that dentists seem reluctant (understandably so) to cut open the gum to remove them. I'm not sure that bone fragments "work their way out". The theory I heard is that the bone shrinks so the fragments will too and just settle down under the gum. Sorry I'm not much help with that question. I hope those sores, whatever they are, aren't causing you too much grief.
[This message has been edited by Yos (edited 05-15-2003).]
Hi Yos,
No, not much grief with the "spots" I have. It feels realy hard like a bone, but hasn't given me any pain so far, thank goodness. The oral surgeon did tell me that fragments tend to work their way out and they usually don't have to open the gums to get them. Whew!
I think I'm going to have to call next week about an adjustment though. It seems in just the last day or so, when I chew the denture is hitting the top and bottom vestibule and causing some discomfort. It happened almost overnight, or at least feels that way. Hopefully, they will do the soft reline then...I would love to experience some degree of normal.
I've also noticed by the evening, my gums start to 'itch', and it drives me crazy! Did you ever feel that with yours? It's almost as if the dentures are screaming to get out for a while. I take them out at night because I grind my teeth badly, which helps the itchy feeling, but was wondering if it could be healing, or just that my gums are trying to tell me, "hey, let me breathe!!"
At any rate, another thank you to ya for all your helpful words and humor. You have made it much easier on me knowing that what I am going through is the norm for dentures.
I have one spot on my gums that is still a tad sensitive when I touch it with a finger. I don't feel it at all when I wear the denture. It's been that way since day one after the extractions (the dentist knows about it) but nothing was done about it because it didn't cause any pain or discomfort. We decided to leave well enough alone.
The vestibule? Hmmm. I'm not up to snuff on my oral terms. You mean the little piece of skin between the inside of the lip and the gum right? My bottom one became irritated but that was because they didn't make the V in the denture deep enough or wide enough. In your case, the V probably was deep enough but isn't now because of the gums shrinking. One of the most important facial dimensions to maintain in denture wearers is the vertical nose to chin dimension. It's the thickness of the reline material that makes up the difference between the denture and the gums to maintain that distance. If that distance is off (as it probably is in your case) the bite will be way off (which you say it is ). Add loose dentures to that and it's no wonder new denture wearers have so much trouble eating and speaking.
Your guess is as good as mine about the "itchy" gums. I can't say that my gums have really itched. Heck of place to hafta scratch eh! My dentures are really comfortable and I could wear them overnight if I had to. But about half an hour before bed I like to take them out and let the gums relax.
I hope those vestibules of yours don't get too irritated this weekend. If it's been more than a week since you last saw the dentist it might be a good idea to see him even if it's only to complain about the dentures being real loose and the bite being way off. I can't see how the bite can be corrected without a soft reline.
Hi Yos,
I think I will be making that appt. next week. That's really the only spots that are bothering me (the vestibule--yes, you were right about the location). They feel 'long', and like they are cutting into the skin that meets the gum, but only when I chew. So, I've been really trying to avoid the foods that will cause me to bite down with alot of force(well, not alot of force, but you know what I mean). At least until I can get back to the dentist. (Gosh darn it I'm getting so hungry though!)
As for the itching, doesn't happen all the time, but when it does, Whoa BOY does it ever drive me insane! Just wondering if it might be a particular brand of adhesive, so I may try another this weekend.
Yeah, I think I will be calling the dentist Monday. I would like to be 'somewhat' normal for Memorial Day weekend. I am determined to have something off the grill, even if I have to cut it up!
They've adjusted the length of the dentures once already, but not a whole lot because they didn't want to over-correct it and have the dentures too short (I have a small mouth with a very small ridge on the bottom). But, I think I will let them know how uncomfortable this is for me right now and see what they suggest...if they don't suggest a soft reline, then I certainly will.
Will let you know how it goes at the dentist, that is, if they can get me in after their long vacation...surely they have millions of appts. waiting on them.
Enjoy your weekend!!!! I am certainly going to try!
This might be a dumb question, but.....when people get immediate dentures, (I know you have to keep them in for the first 24 hours), are they usually told to keep them in pretty much all of the times? Or do most people take them out at night?
Or do some people get false teeth and never take them out at night? Or is it usually best to remove them every night?
MMMarie,
To answer your questions......
I didn't exactly decide on my own to get dentures, although I had thought about it a few times over the years due to having so many problems with my teeth. I would ponder the idea for a while and then forget about it until my next horrific toothache. When I finally had enough of the terrible pain, 8 years of infections and toothaches, I made the appt. (I am the queen of chicken when it comes to dentists) The dentist told me I could save only 4 bottom teeth and even then it would be a long battle to keep them. I decided to just get them all pulled. I was upset at first, but on the drive home, I started thinking about the benefits of dentures, compared to the downside of my natural teeth giving me such fits all the time. It was really a no-brainer for me.
I was scheduled to have both uppers and lowers done the same day, but, I had a rough go of it with my uppers. The appt. was for 2PM, and I was told no food or drink after 12 midnight prior to my appt. Needless to say, my tummy was very empty, I was nervous, and I was being sedated. When it came time to 'wake' me so I could use the restroom and get set for the lowers to be done, my tummy wasn't very accepting of the juice and well, that was the end of that appt. My body's way of telling me "hey, get me out of here, I'm tired of this place today".
I went home with an appt. for the next week to have the lowers done.
During that week, the first few days were the hardest. I didn't take them out for 48 hours, although it would have felt great! I only ate cold things, and drank alot of ice water. By the 5th day, I tried my hand at a hot dog, cut up very tiny. I actually ate it! The feeling was really weird. Not really any sensation on the top at all, except for some pressure when chewing. My tongue had this weird coating on it that looked like fur almost...gross huh? But, I have to say, I did adjust to the uppers quite fast. They weren't as awkward as I thought they would be. Even now, I could wear them 24/7, but choose not to simply because I want my gums to breathe and rest overnight.
The lowers are definitely harder to master...haven't done that yet. I won't go into that since you aren't getting those anytime soon. If you want to know my experience, feel free to ask, and I will be happy to tell you how the lowers have gone thus far (approx. 3 weeks).
As for your other questions....
I was told it's more healthy to take them out at night, or for at least 8 hours a day to allow your gums to breathe. So, that's what I do. I also grind my teeth at night, and don't want to grind my dentures for fear of breaking them, and/or causing more sore spots. My father rarely takes his out. He's one of those lucky ones that hasn't used an ounce of adhesive since he had them placed when he was 20 years old. My step-mother has only lowers and takes hers out every other day or so. My grandparents always took them out before bed and put them in first thing in the morning. For me, it's a relief to get the out of my mouth for a while.
Food.... it's hard to describe the sensation, or lack of. Just chew slowly until you get used to the 'feeling' of your new teeth. It will take some getting used to, but, you will with time and determination. Just remember to go slow at first and gradually re-introduce yourself to more and different foods as you become accustomed to your new teeth.
I am in my early 30's, so gettig dentures is a big deal to me. I always thought it was older people who had to get them. Boy was I wrong. I have to admit, I won't willingly tell people I know that I have them. It's still embarrassing to me, but, that's my own personal problem that I need to overcome...and I will. I absolutely LOVE my new smile though, and find myself more confident and alot happier each day. And yes, it's cool to be able to take them out when they bother you, or just hand your teeth to the dentist and say "it hurts here--fix it please".
All in all, once you become accustomed to your dentures, you will be so much happier. I know I am, and I'm not totally used to mine yet. When problems do arise, I know help is only a phone call away, and it's easier to fix sore spots than it is to make a toothache go away. Boy, how glad I am that those are in my past!!!
You will do fine, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to come back here for some advice/support. Yos is a wonderful person with alot of knowledge on this subject. I can lend my ear and some advice as well.
I wish you nothing but the best, and please let us know how it all goes for you....ok?
Originally posted by scaredstiff70: MMMarie, To answer your questions ........
My tongue had this weird coating on it that looked like fur almost...gross huh? ........
I was told it's more healthy to take them out at night, or for at least 8 hours a day to allow your gums to breathe. So, that's what I do. I also grind my teeth at night, and don't want to grind my dentures for fear of breaking them, and/or causing more sore spots. scaredstiff70
Did they figure out what the furry stuff was? ewww I'd have to agree that yes, it does sounds quite gross! lol yuck.
My older sister has dentures and she is the worst at grinding her teeth in her sleep. Anyhow, originally she only had one denture (I forget if it was the top or the bottom) and she tried to sleep without the denture, but ended up grinding her teeth into her gums and would wake up with bleeding gums. Yuck. So she then had a mouth guard for a while.
She now has upper and lower dentures and has already had an instance of snapping the plate in half.
As for getting a bottom plate ----- I am going to try my darndest to hold onto my bottom teeth. It seems that people have a much more difficult time with lower dentures than with upper. So, I really hope I'll be able to do that.
I never did ask about the coating, but instead, started using a tongue scraper which helped a great deal. As near as I can figure, I'm guessing it was from this big piece of plastic in my mouth which was causing my tongue to react in a weird way. It's all gone now, and only lasted about 4-5 days, wasn't painful, just gross. I think getting used to the denture and using the tongue scaper helped a great deal.
Yes, the bottoms are hard to get used to. Mine are so loose right now, they will float around and pinch my tongue if I don't use a huge amount of adhesive. I have an appt. next week, and hoping I can have a soft reline done then. According to Yos, it makes a world of difference. My bite is off, and the more my gums shrink, the worse it gets. So, yes, bottoms are definitely a huge adjustment. I wish I could have saved my bottom teeth. But, it wasn't in the cards for me, and I have to play the hand I am dealt.
You will do great. Try not to stress so much. I know it's hard, and your mind plays amazing tricks on you when you're scared. But, you will be just fine.
I am curious to hear how you have adjusted to the lowers. I had a full mouth extraction done on April 4th (I am 34). I am having the hardest time ever with my lowers. I have had one soft-reline already and am ready for another one.
The upper tends to make me gag, but not as bad as the lowers do. I have been told that it is because my tongue feels crowded. The lowers do float everywhere and I can't seem to keep them in one place. What happens with me is that saliva gets underneath the lower plate and it pops right out. Also, the skin where the tongue attaches to the gum will pop the lower out as well. I think everything pops the lower out for me.
To date, I have not been able to eat with my teeth in. I have had a problem with the lower since the beginning (mainly from a flaw when it was made) and really haven't been able to wear it the way that I should. I have gotten pretty good at eating without the teeth in, yet I know that isn't a good thing to do.
Is there any tricks of the trade that you have learned concerning the lowers, other than adhesive?
Oh yeah, and listen to Yos, he is one excellent dude!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/t_up.gif I have talked to him on other message boards and he is very knowledgeable and extremely supportive.
I hope that your appointment goes well for you.
I have to make one myself, but I am the queen procrastinator and haven't gotten around to it yet.
I have had trouble with my lowers since about the first week after I've had them placed. I cannot have them in my mouth without adhesive. If I don't wear any, they will float, pinch, pop out, and basically make it impossible to eat anything, even drinking is difficult. I haven't had a reline done yet, and I too wonder if there was a mistake when they were made. The backs (where the molars are) don't sit on my gums even with using adhesive. The sides of the backs don't rest on my gums and with the adhesive, I can still put my tongue under the denture in the back and lift it up. The part of my tongue that attaches to the gum has been a source of great frustration for me as well...no matter what I do, that muscle will pop the denture out everytime.
I don't have any tricks to share, although I so wish I did! Yos swears by the soft relines until it's time for the final hard reline. I haven't had one yet, so I can't speak on that.
I don't eat without my teeth. I just use an extremely large amount of adhesive right now. Even my uppers are very loose, and without 'glue', they will pop out too, and make me gag because they hang down, touching my tongue in that gag-reflex spot. The suction was good for about a week, then those started losing their grip as well. I get saliva stuck inside both the dentures, and it drives me crazy.
Have you spoken to the dentist about the fit of the bottom one? Maybe they can remake the denture for you? It seems if it was a mistake in 'production', they would have to fix it free of charge. (Of course that's the right thing to do, but will they?)
The lowers have definitely been difficult for me. But, the positive side is that I can go back to the dentist until the fit is right. Annoying yes, but, they will get it right, or get tired of seeing me.
I want to wait as long as possible before I have my first soft reline. It just seems like a waste of time to have it done too soon. But in your case, it does sound as though you didn't/don't have much choice. I would definitely ask them about remaking the denture if you believe there was a flaw from the start. You didn't pay all that money to have flaws...adjustment problems are to be expected, but not flaws.
It's been quite an adjustment for me, but I really wouldn't have it any other way. I had so many toothaches and so much pain, I was so tired of it all. Every month I would have a 4 day toothache followed by at least 2 very sensitive teeth (the one that caused the toothache, and the one next to it). I was getting so sick from the constant infections, and felt like I was on my death bed. Lost about 15 pounds and couldn't enjoy my life. Now, even with the nagging floater, and an upper that won't suction well, I wouldn't hesitate to do it again! It has changed my whole life. I can smile and laugh, and play with my kids now. I can eat just about anything, well, I will be able to soon It's been the best thing for me.
I would love to hear how your appt. goes once you get in there. Also, did your first reline help at all for any amount of time? And is there a reason you haven't tried adhesive? It helps me out a great deal. It can get messy, but, to me it's worth it just to be able to bite into a hot dog or a candy bar.
Please keep me posted on your progress. I'm only about 2 weeks behind you on the healing schedule (mine were done April 22nd-uppers, and 29th-lowers).
Immediate Denture Wearers....help please 
I hope you get one soon because it does make a world of difference.
My body's way of telling me "hey, get me out of here, I'm tired of this place today".
scaredstiff,
