DENTURE CARE
- Careful daily removal of the bacterial biofilm present in the oral cavity and on complete dentures is of paramount importance to minimize denture stomatitis and to help contribute to good oral and general health.
- To reduce levels of biofilm and potentially harmful bacteria and fungi, patients who wear dentures should do the following:
a) Dentures should be cleaned daily by soaking and brushing with an effective, nonabrasive denture cleanser.
b) Dentures cleaner should ONLY be used to clean dentures outside of the mouth.
c) Dentures should always be thoroughly rinsed after soaking and bruising with denture – cleansing solutions prior to reinsertion into the oral cavity.
Always follow the product usage instructions. - Although the evidence is weak, dentures should be cleaned annually by a dentist or dental professional using ultrasonic cleaners to minimize biofilm accumulation over time.
- Dentures should never be placed in boiling water.
- Dentures should not be soaked in sodium hypochlorite bleach or in products containing sodium hypochlorite for periods that exceed 10 minutes. Placement of dentures in sodium hypochlorite solutions for periods longer than 10 minutes may damage dentures.
- Dentures should be stored immersed in water after cleaning when not replaced in the oral cavity to avoid warping.
- Dentures adhesives, when properly used, can improve the retention and stability for dentures and help seal out the accumulation of food particles beneath the dentures, even in well-fitting dentures.
- In a quality-of-life patient, ratings showed that denture adhesives may improve the denture wearer’s perceptions in retention, stability, and quality of life; however, there is insufficient evidence that adhesives improve masticatory function.
- Evidence regarding the effects of denture adhesive on the oral tissues when used for periods longer than 6 months is lacking. Thus, extended use of denture adhesive should not be considered without periodic assessment of denture quality and health of the supporting tissues by a dentist, prosthodontist or dental professional.
- Improper use of zinc-containing denture adhesives may adverse systemic effects. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, zinc-containing denture adhesives should be avoided.
- Denture adhesive should only be used in sufficient quantities (three or four pea-sized dollops) on each denture to provide sufficient added retention and stability to the prosthesis.
- Denture adhesives should be completely removed from the prosthesis and the oral cavity on a daily basis.
- If increasing amounts of adhesives are required to achieve the same level of denture retention, the patient should see a dentist or a dental professional to evaluate the fit and stability of the dentures.
- While existing studies provide conflicting results, it is not recommended that dentures be worn continuously (24 hours per day) in an effort to reduce or minimize denture stomatitis.
- Patients who wear dentures should be checked annually by the dentist, prosthodontist, or dental professional for maintenance of optimum denture fit and function, for evaluation for oral lesions and bone loss, and for assessment of oral health status.
*Journal of Prosthodontics 2011 by the American College of Prosthodontists
HYBRID CARE
In order to get the most out of your new restoration, it is very important that you take excellent care of it. While your new teeth give you new freedom to eat more, they can still break just like real teeth. The best way to help ensure the longevity of your restoration is to regularly follow these guidelines. The more you adhere to this list, the less chance you will need a repair. Here is a list of things to know as you regularly maintain your new set of teeth:
