At our practice we provide Full Upper and Lower Implant Retained Overdentures.

Dentures are an artificial appliance and you will need time to adapt to them because wearing dentures is a learned process, not an instinct with which we are born. This page aims to help you understand what dentures are and how to adapt to them.

Your tolerance, adaption, function and patience will be made much easier when you understand that any denture, no matter how well designed and constructed by your DP, is at best a substitute for no teeth, not a substitute for natural teeth. Dentures are designed to last for 5 to 10 years and just as with natural teeth, must be regularly serviced and maintained in order to achieve that lifespan.

Perseverance

The keyword to success with your new denture is “PERSEVERANCE”. Your DP will never expect you to tolerate pain or soreness, but it is important to leave your new denture in your mouth as long as you can for the first few days and not take it out for any reason other than it is causing pain or soreness, or that it requires cleaning. The first 48 hours are generally the most challenging and frequently determine your success with your new denture.

Read Out Loud

Speech is frequently affected by new dentures, but is also one of the easiest problems to resolve. Simply reading out load, or singing if you enjoy, will allow your tongue to find the correct position for enunciating your speech. If you find any speech impediment, simply slow down as you talk or sing and you will soon find a more comfortable pace that adapts to your new denture

Denture Adhesives

No denture, no matter how well made by your DP, will ever have the retention and stability of natural healthy teeth. If the only way you can keep your denture in your mouth is by the use of adhesives, then you almost certainly need either a new denture or a reline and should consult your DP. The continued use of vast amounts of adhesive would very quickly add up to cost the same as proper denture maintenance or replacement, so is clearly a poor choice.

It is reasonable to expect that suction may take time with your new denture. Your upper denture needs time to adapt to the palate, lips and cheeks and the denture needs to seat into the soft tissue at the  back of the palate. This process can take anywhere fro 1 hour to 24 hours depending upon the amount of soft tissue.

Your lower denture relies on the action of your tongue and cheeks working together to hold it in place. It is very important to understand that full lower denture will never have the suction that an upper denture can provide. With patience and perseverance from you wand with the support of your DP to relieve any pressure areas you will soon adapt to your new dentures. With teamwork between you and your DP, you will find success with your dentures.

During the early stages of adapting to your new dentures, it can be very helpful to drink more water in order to maintain moisture levels in your mouth or to remove any saliva that sometimes occurs. Many people have also found that sucking on a hard sugar free mint or drinking through a straw can help the suction of a new denture to become stronger.

Should dentures be left out at night?

Personal choice always rules in answer to this question. Most people only ever remove their dentures for cleaning, which must be done properly at least twice a day (see the brochure “Cleaning Your Dentures”), but others remove their dentures and leave them by their bedside overnight in a glade of water.
There is no definitive evidence that dentures should be left out for an extended period of time, but those who do promote leaving out will say that the supporting tissues need adequate massage and cleaning to ensure proper health.
On the other hand, simple eating with your dentures massages the gums whilst the natural anti bacterial benefits of saliva will counteract some of the other bacteria that may occur with wearing dentures.
Brushing your gums and tongue with a soft toothbrush every few days will assist the general health of the supporting tissue and brushing gums and tongue is equally important if you still have remaining teeth.

How long do dentures last?

As with most things we have, how long it lasts depends upon how well we look after it. Just as we need to service our natural teeth with regular check ups, we also need to check our mouths and dentures for wear and fit every year.
For the small cost of a consultation fee, your DP can provide you with a detailed assessment of the condition of your dentures and the cost of any recommended services.
With the proper care and maintenance, it is reasonable to expect your denture to last between 5 to 8 years, but only if you have regular check ups and relines as required.

Dry Mouth

Commonly prescribed and over the counter medications frequently affect the saliva flow and quality in your mouth. Saliva of course is important not only to the digestive system, but also to the proper functioning of dentures. Without proper saliva flow and quality, even the slightest movement of your denture can cause friction on the supporting tissues resulting in soreness. Discuss your medications and dry mouth treatment options with your DP.

Regular Maintenance of your Denture

Apart form the daily cleaning of your denture, it is important to have your mouth and dentures checked every year even if you have complete upper and lower dentures. For the small cost of a consultation, your DP will provide you with a detailed assessment of your dentures, the supporting tissue and a detailed quotation for any necessary service such as cleaning and high polishing of your dentures. Regular maintenance and check-ups not only ensure health of your mouth and supporting tissue, they also ensure the maximum life expectancy for your denture.

Neville and Joseph Spencer take great pride in their work. Their belief is that “word of mouth” is their best asset. The Spencers have been in the profession, offering a caring and attentive service for three generations.

Harry Spencer, Neville’s father, started as a dental technician in his youth. He was very innovative, and started his own range of individual denture teeth. Neville could tell you of his early days working with his father; apparently Harry was very specific in his techniques!

Neville and Frances Spencer opened their first Denture Clinic in Aldgate in the Adelaide Hills in 1984 after Neville had graduated as a “clinical dental technician”. In 1994 they opened a branch in Tanunda, in the Barossa Valley.

Joseph then became involved in 1999, at this time they started offering a service in Murray Bridge, based at the hospital. The Spencers relocated their main practice to Mt. Barker in 2002.

Neville often says “I have taught Joseph everything I know, and a few things I am not quite sure of”!

Over the years the Spencers have also serviced Kangaroo Island and Karoonda.

In 2012 Neville and Frances began the first steps of moving into semi-retirement with Neville spending 1 half day a week at Mt Barker and keeping the Tanunda Clinic 2 days a week.

Joseph and his wife Rebecca are now running the business. With three little hopefuls who may one day continue the family tradition in the industry! At this stage they wish to be a “Pilot”, a famous “Enduro motorcycle racer”, and a “Ballerina”. But there is still hope…

Currently if you phone, or come to see us, most likely you will meet a smiling Faith Sachse at the front desk. She looks after the reception and generally keeps the place running! She will try to answer any of your questions, and provide you with information about what we can do for you. She will then help you with your appointment, and you will see one of our practitioners –

Joseph Spencer at Mt Barker, Murray Bridge, or

Mathew Lundberg at Mt Barker.

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