POST INSERTION INSTRUCTIONS IN

COMPLETE DENTURE PATIENTS

MATHEW THOMAS MALIAELDAYANANDA SAGAR COLLEGE OF DENTAL SCIENCES , BANGALORE

EXPLAIN ABOUT INDIVIDUALITY OF THE CASE

From the first appointment , the patient must be given an idea of the final outcome of the treatment.

An attempt must be made to convince the patient that no matter how meticulously and painstakingly fabricated a denture is an artificial substitute and will never be the same as the natural oral structures.

Patient is asked not to share his/her feelings and experience with other denture wearers.

INSERTION AND REMOVAL OF THE DENTURE

The dentist must train the patient to insert and remove the denture.

APPEARANCE OF THE DENTURE

Initially the patient will feel strange .

He/she will have the feeling of cheek and lip fullness.

The patient may complain that the denture is bulky.

Here , the dentist must assure the patient that all these are temporary and as the patient gets used to the denture it will be normal.

Patient can also be asked to change their hairstyle or glasses to feel different.

SPEECH

Patient may have difficulties in speech .

Patient has to be motivated that this difficulty is temporary.

He/she has to be encouraged to speak more using the dentures. Read newspapers aloud.

In 2-3 weeks after constant practice and motivation the patient will overcome this difficulty.

MASTICATION

Patient will have excessive salivation initially . Patient is asked to avoid pooling the saliva as it can destabilise the denture.

Patient is advised to have a soft diet initially .

Patient is asked to avoid sticky and hard foodstuffs.

Patient is asked to cut foodstuff into small pieces and chew using the posterior tooth. Patient is asked to chew bilaterally simultaneously.

MAINTENANCE OF HYGIENE

Dentures tend to accumulate more food debris than natural teeth. Hence the patient is asked to clean them after every meal and before retiring at night .

It is recommended that the patient have two brushes , a denture brush for cleaning the denture and a soft tooth brush to clean the supporting soft tissue.

Tooth pastes are avoided.

Commercially available denture cleaning solutions and tablets can be used.

Ultrasonic cleaners can also be used.

STORAGE OF DENTURE

Patient is advised to store the denture in water or in a dilute medicinal solution , in an air-tight container.

NIGHT WEAR

Ideally the denture must be placed 8 hours outside the mouth , to provide rest to supporting tissues and reduce the rate of resorption.

Patient is advised against night wear.

MISCELLANOUS

Patient is advised to avoid mishandling of the denture.

Isolated sore may develop and patient is advised to visit to the dentist for relining.

In severe cases of soreness , patient is advised to discontinue use of prosthesis and consult the dentist urgently.

Patient is advised not to perform self adjustments or self repair on the denture.

PERIODIC RECALL

Regular recall is done to check for proper denture extension and occlusion .

The patient is recalled 24 hours after the insertion appointment to correct occlusal disharmony and to check for immediate tissue reaction.

Next visit is after a week to check for tissue reaction. Patient’s experience and comfort is also enquired and problems are corrected .

Then patient is recalled every 3-6 months to determine tissue reaction and amount of ridge resorption

Yearly recall visits to check the necessity for relining or rebasing .

Post insertion instructions should reinforced in every visit.

REFERENCES

TEXTBOOK OF PROSTHODONTICS ; DEEPAK NALLASWAMY PROSTHODONTIC TREATMENT FOR EDENTULOUS PATIENTS ; 12TH EDITION ; ZARB AND

BOLENDER . COMPLETE DENTURE PROSTHODONTICS ; 2ND EDITION ; JOHN J MANAPALLIL.

THANK YOU