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Losing natural teeth and then having them replaced by dentures is a big adjustment. Perhaps the worst part of this is not knowing what to expect – prompting the all-important question: are dentures uncomfortable or hard to get used to?
Pre denture anxiety
A relaxed conversation with your prosthetist before you start can ease even the biggest worries.
Pre-denture anxiety is not a surprising reaction to having to replace your natural teeth with a denture. Even if it’s not your first time wearing dentures, you may still feel nervous about adjusting to a new one. Beyond wanting to know if dentures are uncomfortable and hard to get used to, you will have many other questions. Will I cope? What will I look like? How long will it take to get used to the new dentures? And while I’m adjusting, how will I know what is normal and what is not? Let me assure you, these concerns are quite normal.
What new dentures usually feel like at first
Imagine the anticipation, you’ve just collected your new denture, but then something doesn’t feel quite right. Your mouth feels overfull, the denture feels bulky, uncomfortable. You may feel your lips must protrude to cover the object in your mouth. Your speech is awkward and you trip over your words. You find eating is clumsy. Even worse, your gums feel tender and you’re producing so much saliva you fear you’re drooling.
Does this sound familiar?
Is it normal for dentures to feel strange?
Experiencing some of these phenomena - if not all of them - you might wonder if it’s normal for new dentures to feel so strange. I think it helps to remember the trauma your mouth has been through so you can reset your expectations. Patience is key - adjustment to a new denture takes time. Understanding that what you’re experiencing is a natural response and will eventually pass, helps you to deal with the discomfort. Having teeth extracted in readiness for a denture is significant. There is swelling, tissue damage, and wounds which must heal. It’s normal to feel anxious, not knowing what to expect: will you still look like you, still be able to enjoy your favourite foods, talk and laugh normally?
If you have immediate dentures fitted straight after your extractions, your gums will be sore. The denture will feel like a foreign object in your mouth - bulky at first until your cheek, jaw muscles and tongue get used to working with the intrusion. As your mouth adapts and your muscles learn to cope with this new presence, eating and speaking normally will follow. Excessive saliva is a natural response so that too, will settle in time.
Will dentures change the way I look?
Image credit: Kevin Manners Denture Clinic
Another major concern for new denture wearers is appearance. A glimpse in the mirror with your new dentures fitted may be confronting at first. If you have had recent extractions and an immediate denture fitted, then your cheeks, lips, and mouth may still be swollen. That overfullness you feel may be reflected in your appearance. Even replacing an old denture can change the way you look. Initially, your denture may look prominent until your facial muscles learn to accommodate the change.
Patience is a key factor in this process. As your denture settles into your gums and the swelling reduces, your face will look familiar again – only better. No more missing or unsightly teeth. For those replacing an old denture, that feeling of overfullness may also occur. Bone loss and shrinkage over time changes the facial structure, causing the lower part of your face to sag. A new denture can improve the way you look by restoring volume to your face, smoothing out mouth wrinkles making you appear younger, not to mention giving you a beautiful smile.i
How long does it take to get used to new dentures?
A daily note or two helps you see how far you've come – and helps your prosthetist help you faster if something isn't right.
We understand you just want to feel normal again and worry how long it will take. The adjustment period differs according to the individual, the type of denture (whether it is a partial denture or a full set), how many teeth have been removed and your recovery time. A general week-by-week account of what you can expect as you adjust to new dentures follows:
Week 1: The feeling of the denture feeling clumsy and too large for your mouth will diminish in the first few days. Swelling will reduce as your gums heal after extractions or your gum ridges become used to the new denture. Saliva production will slow and return to normal.
Week 2: Your mouth and tongue muscles learn to accommodate the new denture, making speech easier. Gum soreness may peak during this week.
Week 3: Speech continues to improve and eating soft food is easier as the tender gums improve.
Week 4: By now your dentures will feel more natural and you will progress to chewing harder foods
Tips to make the adjustment period easier
For practical tips on how to transit smoothly through this adjustment period as you learn to chew, and speak with your new denture see our guide on how to get used to new dentures.
What isn’t normal – when to contact your denture clinic
While some soreness and awkwardness are expected in the first few weeks, there are certain problems that shouldn't be ignored. If you notice any of the following in the first month, contact your denture clinic for advice.
- Severe or worsening pain around recent extractions It's normal for extraction sites to feel tender for several days, but intense, throbbing pain that gets worse after a few days — rather than better — can be a sign of dry socket. This pain may radiate to your ear or jaw and often doesn't settle with simple pain relief. If you develop strong, deep pain, bad breath or a foul taste in the first week, call your dentist promptly rather than waiting for it to settle on its own.
- Ulcers or raw areas that don't improve with minor adjustments Small sore spots are common with a new denture and are usually relieved quickly with a simple adjustment, especially in the first week or two. The concern is ulcers that become very painful, keep reopening, or don't improve after an adjustment and a few days of healing. Persistent traumatic ulceration can make it hard to wear your denture and should be reviewed.
- A partial denture that still rocks or feels unstable Many new partial denture wearers assume their denture is loose when, in reality, one or more clasps hasn't been fully engaged onto the tooth, so the denture isn't completely seated. This can cause it to rock or lift when eating or speaking. If you're unsure whether your partial is seating properly, or it feels unstable despite following your instructions, book a check. Your prosthetist can watch you insert it, confirm it's fully seated and adjust the clasps or walk you through a simpler technique if needed.
- Difficulty inserting or removing the denture despite having been shown how It's common to forget some of the instructions from your fitting appointment, especially when you're sore or anxious. But if you're consistently struggling to remove the denture, or you're worried about breaking something when you try, that's reason enough to come back in. Your denture team would much rather re-demonstrate insertion and removal and make small adjustments than have you force or twist the denture, which can cause damage. If you're not confident you're doing it right, please ask — there's no such thing as a silly question in the first month.
If you're ever unsure whether what you're experiencing is normal, the safest thing to do is call your denture clinic. Most problems are easier to fix when they're caught early, and a quick call can help you work out whether you need to come in.
Why a good denture fit makes all the difference
The transition from natural teeth to dentures can be challenging. If this is your first time wearing dentures, it’s natural to feel apprehensive and anxious. Even seasoned denture wearers replacing their old dentures with new ones, must undergo a denture adjustment period. Above all, comfort is a priority for denture wearers, and a well-fitting denture is the foundation of comfort. When your denture fits properly, it distributes pressure evenly across your gums, eliminating painful hot spots and allowing you to eat, speak, and smile without discomfort. A poor fit, on the other hand, createsii friction, sore spots, and constant awareness of your dentures, turning what should be a confidence-builder into a daily struggle.
How can I be sure I’ll be happy with my denture?
A small part of denture anxiety rises from uncertainty – that little voice in your head that asks: ‘what if I don’t like the new denture?’. This is why close consultation with your prosthetist is crucial. Research has found that patients experience reduced anxiety after communicating with their health provider. Your denture clinic team are here to answer any questions you have about getting a denture – and forewarned is forearmed when it comes to accurate information. Beyond being informed about what to expect, there are steps built into the denture manufacturing process that are designed to reassure you and avoid disappointment in the final result.
One such important step during the process of getting your denture is the ‘try in’ of a wax model of your eventual denture, complete with teeth. This is your opportunity to request changes or further advice if needed. While the denture clinic team is there to give professional advice at every point of the process, it’s a good idea to have a friend or relative with you - someone who knows you well and can give an objective opinion. After you have signed off on this final ‘try in’ only minor adjustments are possible.
A final word
In this article we have shone a light on the main issues making new dentures wearers unnecessarily anxious, emphasising comfort and ease of adaptability as being most important. We have defined the temporary nature of new denture discomfort and explained how to recognise when this becomes abnormal, and why, if this happens, it needs immediate attention. We have offered a general timeline for what to expect as you get used to your new denture, explaining how everyone adjusts differently according to their varied healing rates, the types of dentures, and oral health status.
Finally, we ask you to remember that adjusting to a new denture takes time, but you're not alone in this journey. If you have concerns about your new dentures, don't hesitate to contact Northern Rivers Denture Clinic in Tweed Heads. We're here to help you achieve comfortable, confident denture wear.
References
i https://www.nature.com/articles/4801321
ii Legg AM, Andrews SE, Huynh H, Ghane A, Tabuenca A, Sweeny K. Patients' anxiety and hope: predictors and adherence intentions in an acute care context. Health Expect. 2015 Dec;18(6):3034-43. doi:10.1111/hex.12288. Epub 2014 Oct 18. PMID: 25327397; PMCID: PMC5810713.
Disclaimer – Always consult your oral health professional for expert advice about your unique personal situation. The information given here is of a general nature and for the purpose of education only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your oral health specialist
