Tips for Educating Patients on Partial Denture Care

Partial dentures are removable appliances that replace one or more missing teeth. Mabel Dental Lab offers quality, durable, removable dentures. Dentists should educate their patients about proper partial denture care to increase the product’s longevity.

Creating the Appliance

Creating a well-fitting appliance is a key step in partial denture care. A poorly-fitting denture will be too tight or loose, causing sore spots on the patient’s mouth and unnecessary wear to the appliance over time. To start the denture-making process, a dentist or assistant must take careful, accurate impressions. They will remove any plaque or food particles to make sure they do not distort the impression. 

After placing the impression tray in the patient’s mouth, the dentist will need to let the material harden for a few minutes. Removing the tray carefully is a key step, as it helps prevent the impression material from becoming distorted. An accurate mold of the teeth and surrounding tissues is necessary to create a well-fitting partial. The dental office will send the hardened impression to a dental lab, where it will be fabricated into the final denture product. 

Educating Patients on Proper Care

Proper care is necessary to maintain the longevity of the appliance. Here are a few tips dentists can use to educate their patients:

Clean Them Daily

Daily cleaning is necessary, as food products and plaque will build up on the appliance throughout the day. Use a soft toothbrush or cloth to help dislodge food particles. Some toothpastes can be very abrasive on the appliance. Use a cleaner specifically designed for dentures or just warm water. Denture cleaners remove bacteria and foul odors from residual food. Soak them for a few minutes after each meal or overnight. 

Seek Regular Check-ups

Over time, an individual’s bone structure may shift or deteriorate depending on how many teeth they are missing. Scheduling a regular check-up with a dental expert will allow them to catch any issues before the appliance starts to cause sore spots in the mouth. They can work with the dental lab to make any necessary adjustments. Dental teams will also perform professional cleanings to remove tartar, which can affect the fit of the partial dentures.

Store the Appliance

Some individuals remove their partials before they sleep or during intense physical activities. Storing the appliance in a safe, protected case will prevent accidental damage or loss. To prevent them from drying out, keep them in a durable denture case or soak them in a glass container overnight. 

Maintain Oral Hygiene

Along with proper appliance care, patients must also maintain good oral hygiene. Brush and floss daily to prevent gum disease and keep your mouth healthy. Gum disease is an infection that damages the tissue surrounding the teeth. Sensitive gums will make the appliance feel uncomfortable and may cause individuals to lose even more teeth. Combat this issue by keeping up with good hygiene habits.

Avoid Certain Foods

Some foods may damage the partial because they are hard or sticky. Avoid eating nuts, popcorn, or hard candies. Caramel will also stick to the appliance and may dislodge or damage it. Biting into items like corn on the cob or harder fruits like apples may also wear down the false teeth on the appliance. Individuals can still enjoy these foods by slicing them up or cutting them off the cob. Beverages with dyes or strong pigments, like coffee, wine, or sodas, may also stain your appliance. Rinse your mouth after drinking these products to reduce the chances of permanent discoloration.

Working With Mabel Dental Lab

Our partial denture team uses high-quality materials to fabricate our products. This makes sure that patients can enjoy high levels of durability and prevents allergic reactions. We offer metal partials with selective laser melting (SLM) framework, or a titanium and Dentsply Vitallium® 2000 framework.

Our flexible partials are made with thermoplastic nylon to enhance patient comfort. The flexible material offers enhanced structural durability when used alongside a metal framework. VisiClear® is another flexible material that will resist stains, odors, and bacteria. When determining the best options for your partial denture, feel free to reach out to our team at any time to learn more about the benefits of each material. We offer a few different tooth and gum shades to cater to aesthetic needs. Making sure the appliance matches the patient’s mouth will allow them to enjoy a discreet product that fills in the gaps caused by missing teeth. 

Work With Our Team for Quality Partial Dentures

Mabel Dental Lab provides partial denture products in a variety of materials and colors to suit individual patient preferences and verify the most accurate match to the rest of their teeth. As on-time deliveries are a priority, our team works hard to deliver quality products in a timely manner. Reach out to our team today to learn how to get started with your first partial denture case.