Getting dentures for the first time can feel intimidating. You’ll have to adjust to wearing and eating with a prosthetic, something that can feel strange and awkward if you’ve never done it before. You may even question whether you’ll be able to adapt.
Fortunately, there is good news for you. Dentures today are more comfortable and reliable than ever before. Thanks to modern dental technology, denture wearers enjoy a better fit and better support, and many enjoy a healthy and fulfilling life with their new prosthetic.
Custom Fitting for Comfort
All dentures are custom-made to fit the wearer’s unique oral structure. The first step is to take impressions of the mouth. Traditional impressions use a putty-like material to create a mold. Many modern labs and practices also use digital impressions, which create a 3D rendering of your mouth that the lab can use to craft your prosthetics.
In most cases, the waiting period between fitting and receiving dentures is two weeks. Some practices provide same-day or immediate temporaries, which allow you to eat and speak while waiting for your customized prosthetic to be completed.
Adapting to Life with Dentures
Even with prosthetics that are custom-crafted for you, it will take some time to adjust. Your lips and tongue need time to learn how to move around the dentures. Eating and speaking with them will also take some practice.
It’s recommended that you start out eating soft foods, allowing you to get a feel for how the dentures function and feel. Eventually, you can move to hard foods, and enjoy a mostly unrestricted diet. Caution is advised, however, when eating foods that are tough, stringy, or sticky. Hard foods like certain nuts, hard candy, or ice cubes may cause damage and should be avoided.
Your Dentures Over Time
Your bone structure alters gradually over time, which affects the way your dentures fit. The dentist will monitor the fit at your regular checkups and fine-tune them as needed. If the fit has majorly changed, a new pair may eventually be needed.
Embarking on life with dentures may feel strange, but they offer many positive benefits that help you enjoy a full, normal life. If you think you may need dentures, contact Denture and Implant Center of Fresno and schedule a consultation today!