Post-op Instructions – Dentures

• Keep your dentures seated in place until you see the doctor in 24 hours.
• Do not remove your denture. It acts like a band-aid and prevents swelling and bleeding.
• Rest at home today.
• Take medication as prescribed by your doctor.

Bleeding: Most of your bleeding will have subsided by the time you leave the office. It is expected that some oozing will occur for the first 24–72 hours after surgery, especially if you have been taking aspirin or a blood thinner. Once you arrive home, change the absorbent gauze pads every 30 minutes until bleeding is minimal. Keep your dentures gently and firmly together to help stop bleeding.

Denture Removal: Do not take your denture out at home. You will be seeing your dentist for removal and possible adjustment of the denture during the first week after surgery. If you remove the denture early, you and/or your dentist may be unable to reinsert for several days.

Mouth Rinse: After 24 hours, rinse your mouth with slightly salty (1/2 teaspoon of salt in a tall glass of warm water) to dislodge any food particles from around the denture. Once you are allowed to remove your denture, you will want to begin rinsing the extraction sites/stitches 3–4 times per day.

Swelling and Bruising: Swelling and bruising often occurs after surgery and are completely normal. Swelling typically increases for the first 3–4 days and then gradually subsides over the following 3–7 days. Applying cold/ice packs the entire day of your surgery is very helpful to minimize the amount of swelling you will experience. Keep the cold packs against your cheeks for 30 minutes, and then chill them in the freezer for 30 minutes before re-applying.

Discomfort: Following oral surgery, you can expect some degree of discomfort. This typically last 2–6 days and is much like a crampy tenderness. The degree varies depending upon the difficulty or extent of the surgery. By the end of the first week, you may develop a tender denture sore where the new denture is a bit tight or is rubbing. Your dentist may need to adjust the denture to eliminate these sores periodically while the denture settles over the first few months.

Medication: Take the medications as directed on the bottle. The medication prescribed should keep you relatively comfortable and is best taken with fluid or food in your stomach. For mild discomfort, Tylenol® or Advil® (ibuprofen) may be used. Some pain medications can cause dizziness; do not drive. Antibiotics should be taken until the full prescription is used. Women need to be aware that certain antibiotics can decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptive medications.

Diet: Most people can begin drinking fluids once they get home. Do not wait for the numbness to wear off. Start with clear fluids initially and progress to soup (such as chicken or beef broth), fruit, or vegetable juice. The evening of surgery is fine to start milk products, such as milkshakes, yogurt, and pudding. Drink as much as you are able. Small amounts should be taken frequently. A vitamin supplement is a good idea. Protein shakes such as Boost® and Ensure® are very good.

Your eating habits will have to change. Before taking food into the mouth, allow the teeth to come together and swallow. This seats the dentures and brings the tongue into normal position. Now, open the mouth slowly, but only wide enough to receive a small quantity of food. Chew slowly on the side that is easiest to chew on, then the other side, and eventually, chew on both sides. Advance your diet over the next few weeks to include softer items such as pasta, scrambled eggs, well-cooked vegetables, fix, etc. Avoid straws or the first few days as the suction can cause bleeding.

ADJUSTMENT PERIOD

The adjustment period can last anywhere between a few weeks to few months depending on the type of denture you receive, your dental history, and other factors. Even long-term denture wearers will undergo adjustment periods with a new set of dentures.

Most new dentures require a breaking in period before they become comfortable. This length of time varies with each individual patient depending upon their ability, determination, and perseverance to learn how to use them. First, you must learn to keep them in place, and then gradually begin to use them.

At first, it’s normal to feel awkward with your new dentures. Your appearance will probably undergo a slight change, your speech may seem altered, and some areas of your mouth may feel too full. You may also experience excess saliva initially until your mouth is used to wearing dentures. Time, patience, and some training will soon bring about a relaxation of the facial muscles and begin to alleviate some of the apparent problems.

Sore Spots: Soreness from uneven pressure on the gums may develop at any time. This is not unusual and should be expected, especially if you have not worn a denture before. Sore spots are best corrected if the dentures are worn for at least 3-6 hours before returning to the office for an adjustment appointment. This will allow a more precise detection of the offending areas inside the denture, which are corrected by trimming.

Speaking: Learning to talk with your new dentures in place requires some patience and perseverance. Reading aloud is a very good way to learn to enunciate distinctly, especially those sounds or words that are not clear. Try to avoid any movements of the lips and tongue that tend to displace the dentures or cause them to click. Careful practice and repetition may help to hasten the process and produce a return to your normal, confident speech.

Eating: Start with soft foods. Take small bites, chew slowly, and try to overcome the difficulties as they arise. Keep the food distributed evenly on both sides and chew on the back teeth. To bite foods that normally require the front teeth, such as apples or corn on the cob, apply pressure backwards against the front when closing. If the denture begins to dislodge, biting with the side teeth may be an easier alternative. More difficult foods such as steak and carrots will require a gradual learning curve. Initially, it is recommended that you avoid eating sticky, hard, or chewy foods.

Looseness: If you have had teeth removed immediately prior to placement of the denture, it will soon feel loose, mainly due to the gum shrinkage that occurs as the gums heal. Complete healing of the gums and the underlying bone takes many months. During this period, a temporary liner may be placed inside the denture to keep it relatively snug. In addition, denture adhesives will help to retain a loose denture, once healing is complete, a permanent reline will be needed. In some cases, a new denture may need to be made for the best fit and function. There will be an additional charge for any necessary future denture relines or replacements.

Mouth and Denture Hygiene: It is extremely important to clean your dentures with a soft brush, a cleaning paste, or soapy water after each meal. Avoid using abrasive cleaners or bleach. Food particles that are trapped under the denture can cause inflammation of the gums and sore spots. Remove your dentures and rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash after each meal, if possible. If you had teeth removed immediately before insertion of your new denture, wear your denture day and night for the first 48 hours, removing only to clean them. Your denture will act as a bandage and promote healing. You should remove your dentures for at least 6 hours daily, usually when going to bed at night, to give your gum tissues a rest. During this time, the dentures can be cleansed and placed in a small tub of water to prevent them from drying out which can cause the denture to distort and not fit well. At least once a week, place them in an enzymatic or special denture cleaning solution to remove those otherwise insoluble stains and proteins. Because foods will stick to the soft tissues of your mouth, it is also beneficial to brush the roof of your mouth and your tongue daily. Massaging and stimulating these tissues will reduce the incidence of inflammation and sore spots.

Breakage: Dentures are made of acrylic (plastic) material and can break easily when misused or dropped. Never wrap your denture in a tissue or napkin and put it in your pocket or purse. When going outside of the house, keep a denture case or container to stow away your denture safely if you need to remove it for a short period of time. At home, keep your denture in a tub of water to prevent warping.

Regular checkups: Be sure to have your dentures checked at least once annually as changes in the mouth, such as, bone loss, and wearing of the teeth will inevitably occur. When supporting gums and bone change, causing your denture to become loose or uncomfortable, your denture may need to be adjusted, realigned, or replaced. Making sure careful maintenance of the dentures and the supporting soft tissues, will help to slow down these changes.

In case of any unusual disturbances, questions, or post-procedural problems, please call the office.