Deb,
I have an upper plate (my lower teeth are still real), and I understand your
questions and concerns. Though I can't answer all of them (like the adjustable
denture), I'll tell you what I can. I got my upper plate Oct. 19, so I'm nearly
7 months post-denture, and it has become a normal thing. It doesn't require any
thought to eat with it, talk with it, whatever. It was an immediate denture, so
my gums have shrunk and I need to get it relined, so I use adhesive to hold it
in place. I sleep with it in about 4 nights a week, and take it out to soak the
other 3 nights. I've slept in them since I got them, on my dentist's
recommendation. I guess to keep the swelling down, or something. Anyway, in my
mind it helped me adjust to them quicker. As far as foods go, at first eating is
a challenge. Not being able to feel the roof of your mouth was (for me) one of
the hardest things to get used to. Foods did taste different at first, but
that's because I was concentrating on the mechanics of
eating, and not the taste of the food. I can eat whatever I want (ok, I admit,
I'm not yet brave enough to bite into an apple!), and it's just... eating. Not
eating with dentures. Though I got a giggle the first time I ate chocolate...
the new teeth were so much sharper than my old ones, they PULVERIZED the
chocolate. LOL For me, I have come to a point where my teeth are not real, but
not false; they are simply my teeth. As far as brushing goes, I know you aren't
supposed to use actual toothpaste on them. They make a brushing paste for
dentures, but you are supposed to take them out to brush them. I would say take
them out to soak them, and while they are out brush your gums and tongue. In no
time your denture maintenance will be like putting on your makeup, brushing your
hair... just normal. I know not everyone has a positive experience with
dentures, but I'd just like to say that I had very minimal trouble with mine.
I'm 26, and the news that I needed a top denture DEVASTATED ME.
I was afraid that would make me old. But flashing my pretty new smile, and
feeling confident about it... good times. LOL Ok, this is long enough, but I
hope it helped. Take care!
Laura

deb <debhlv@...> wrote:
My name is deb, and I came looking for a group for denture wearers. I
get fitted for dentures next Thursday morn, after having the last of
my teeth pulled in December- had to use the last of my "chopper" money
to fix my vehicle, so didn't get my store-bought teeth for Christmas
as I had planned. <G>

I have so many questions- or, perhaps I should say I have so many
concerns. I hope you folk will be patient with me if I spout them
here, and also hope not to be a total bore. <G>

I hear many folk speak of how their dentures don't fit, cause soreness
in the gums and, as spoken of in the previous post, on the roof of
their mouth. Thanks for the tip on taking care of that, btw.

I have heard that the longer one waits from final extraction to
fitting, the better. I think it has to do with the gums doing a bit of
shrinking over the course of time? Is that correct? It's close to 5
months now, I'm hoping that is long enough.

The dentist (a great guy, very funny and my extractions were
painless!) told me the type of dentures he makes have some sort of
adjustable thing about them, to reduce the chances of them not
fitting. Does anyone know anything about this?

I have a dear love of food! I miss Reuben sandwiches! French Fries!
Heck, even the lowiy peanut has become an object of intense desire!
ACK!! I'm not overweight, but have dropped a lot of weght in the past
5 months- I am fully expecting my skinny butt to end up rather plump
in no time- Oh, I'm gonna love being able to eat again! <G>

I have also heard that there are some things one really needs to be
careful of, such as toothpicks used in sandwiches and such. That if
you don't know it's there, you could end up swallowing or choking on
it. Same caution with bones in fish and meat; the smaller ones,
anyway. Is this true? Is being able to sense these things an aquired
skill or something?

And, this might sound so petty as to be ridiculous, but do dentures
adversly effect the flavor of food? Are there any foods that one
should simply stay away from, in addition to the generally known ones-
corn on the cob and such? I am concerned about doing rude things such
as "spitting" bits of food or such when talking- is this a common
thing, or am I just being too nervous?

What are the best ways to clean them? Brushing? If I brush them, will
they also need to be soaked at night?

The last question (finally! <G>); is there a breaking-in period for
dentures? Such as wearing them for short periods at first, or somthing
along those lines?

One reason I'm asking all these questions is because, even though my
dentist is great, funny, and skilled, he's not exactly known for
giving out a great deal of information.

Thanks for bearing with me through all this- sheesh! Just glanced up
the screen! I did some yakking, now! Any wisdom someone is willing to
share will be greatly appreciated. deb




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