Questions to Ask Your Dentist About Dentures

23 February 2016
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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Most people would admit that they don't look forward to getting dentures, but these may be needed if you're missing too many teeth to replace with implants or a simple bridge. Dentures can also give you a beautiful smile while supporting the bones in your jaw and mouth and allowing you to eat your favorite foods comfortably and easily. Both before and after you get dentures, note a few questions to ask your dentist about their overall care for dentures and your own oral health.

1. Ask about symptoms to look for when it comes to poor-fitting dentures or other problems.

Your mouth might develop sores once the dentures are first fitted, and this is not unusual while the gums adjust to the fit and feel of the dentures. These sores usually go away after a little while, but always ask your dentist about symptoms of serious problems with your dentures. If those sores persist, or if the dentures make your mouth very uncomfortable and even painful, this can be a sign of dentures that are not properly fitted to your mouth. You may also have an allergy to the denture adhesive you're using, and your dentist can advise you on a different product.

2. Ask how often you should visit the dentist once you have the dentures in place.

This often depends on your overall oral health and why you got dentures in the first place. If you lost all your teeth due to an illness, you'll want to follow your dentist's recommendations for follow-up care with your dentures. If you lost teeth simply due to age, you may only need to visit your dentist as often as you normally would. Don't assume that having dentures means that you don't need to visit your dentist as you did before; always ask about follow-up care and routine checkups.

3. Note when dentures should be replaced.

Your dentures are not going to be permanent; the shape of your mouth will change over time and you will need to have the dentures replaced with a new set. Your dentist may need to examine your mouth and jaw line in order to determine if you need new dentures, and this may also rely on the type of dentures you get and the quality of the material from which they're made. Ask how often they will need to be replaced so you know what to expect.