Getting your dentures
How long does it take to get used to new dentures? +
Most people need a few weeks, and some take a couple of months. Everything feels bulky at first, you'll make extra saliva, and certain words come out oddly until your tongue learns the new shape. Start with soft food in small pieces, chew on both sides at once and read aloud at home. Roti, apples and anything sticky can wait. If one spot rubs, don't wait it out, because a quick adjustment usually solves it.
What is the difference between a full and a partial denture? +
A full denture replaces every tooth on the upper or lower jaw, while a partial denture fills gaps between teeth you still have. A partial one usually clips onto some of those natural teeth for grip, and a full one depends on suction and the shape of your gums. Either is made from impressions of your own mouth. Dr. Mahesh will check how healthy your remaining teeth are before deciding which will serve you better.
Should a denture hold without any adhesive? +
A well-fitting denture should feel reasonably secure without adhesive, particularly an upper one. Adhesive is an optional extra that some people like for confidence, used as the product instructs. What it can't do is rescue a denture that has stopped fitting. Lower full dentures are the hardest to keep steady and may feel loose even when they're well made.
Will my final denture fit better than an immediate one? +
Often, yes. An immediate denture goes in on the day teeth are removed, and as the gums heal and shrink over the next months it usually needs relining or remaking. A denture made after healing is generally a closer fit because it follows the settled shape of your mouth. Think of the immediate one as a first stage that spares you going without teeth. Dr. Mahesh will explain the sequence for your case.
Wearing and looking after dentures
How long do dentures last? +
Often somewhere around five to ten years, though it varies a lot from person to person. The teeth wear, and more importantly your gums and jawbone slowly change shape, so a denture that fitted well can loosen. Relining or adjusting every year or two is common. A sudden change in fit, a crack or a sore patch that won't settle is a reason to book a check, not something to put up with.
Why has my denture become loose? +
Usually because your gums and jawbone have changed shape since it was made. After teeth are lost the ridge slowly shrinks, so the denture stops sitting snugly, and a cracked base or worn teeth can add to it. Adhesive may tide you over but doesn't cure the problem. Don't bend the clasps or file the base yourself, as that can make things worse. Dr. Mahesh can tell whether it needs relining, adjusting or remaking.
Why do my gums hurt under my denture? +
A sore patch usually means a pressure point, where one part of the denture presses harder than the rest. A new denture often needs a few adjustments before everything is even. Warm salt-water rinses and softer food can ease things in the meantime, but the dentist should reduce the spot, not you. Come in promptly if the gum is red all over, bleeding or smells bad, or hasn't settled within a couple of weeks.
Should I sleep with my dentures in? +
Usually not. Gums get tired of constant pressure, so a few hours without the denture each day, most simply overnight, lets them rest. Keep it in water or a denture-cleaning solution rather than dry. There are exceptions: after an immediate denture goes in, your dentist may ask you to keep it in for the first day or so. Follow the instructions you're given for your own case.
I think I swallowed my partial denture. What should I do? +
Get medical help straight away; don't wait to see whether it passes. A swallowed or inhaled denture can lodge in the throat, windpipe or gut, and it needs to be assessed at a hospital. If you're coughing, choking, struggling to breathe or swallow, or have chest or stomach pain, treat it as an emergency. Once you're safe, come and see us and we can talk about a replacement.
Gum disease and bleeding gums
How long will it take for my gums to stop bleeding once I clean properly? +
Often within a couple of weeks of gentle, consistent cleaning at the gumline, though it varies. Use a soft brush angled where tooth meets gum, and clean between teeth daily. If gums are still bleeding after two or three weeks, there's probably hardened tartar under the gum that home care can't reach, and it needs a professional clean. Heavy bleeding, or bleeding that won't stop, needs to be seen sooner.
Is gum disease curable? +
The early stage, gingivitis, can be reversed completely with a professional clean and better home care. The later stage, periodontitis, which you may hear called pyorrhoea, can usually be controlled but not cured. Treatment removes the tartar and bacteria so the gums settle and the damage stops spreading, but bone already lost doesn't regrow from cleaning alone. Regular check-ups and daily cleaning keep it under control, and losing teeth isn't inevitable.
Can loose teeth from gum disease tighten up again? +
Sometimes a little, but not reliably. Teeth loosen when gum disease eats away the bone and tissue that hold them. If the looseness is mild and the gums are badly swollen, it can improve once the inflammation is treated; with a lot of bone gone, it may not. A tooth can also feel slightly looser for a while after a deep clean, until the gums firm up. Don't wiggle it or try to fix it yourself, and book soon.
Is gum disease more of a worry in pregnancy or with diabetes? +
Yes, both make gum trouble more likely, so tell the dentist. Hormonal changes in pregnancy can leave gums swollen and quicker to bleed, and diabetes can make gum disease more likely and slower to settle. Neither means you'll certainly get it. Gentle, thorough cleaning at home and a check-up are sensible, and Dr. Mahesh should know about your condition and medicines before any treatment.
Other options and cost
What are my options if I don't want dentures? +
For a single missing tooth or a short gap with healthy neighbours, a bridge is one option, and implants are another where there's enough bone. Each has trade-offs: a bridge means shaping neighbouring teeth, an implant means surgery and months of healing, and a denture is removable but needs no surgery. Our pages on
crowns and bridges and
dental implants explain them, and Dr. Mahesh will say which are realistic for your mouth.
What decides the cost of dentures or gum treatment? +
The type and size of the denture, how many teeth are being replaced, the materials, and how many visits it takes to get the fit right. For gum treatment, how deep the problem goes decides the number of visits. Any extractions or other treatment needed first change the plan too. We can't give a fair figure without examining you, so please call or
message us on WhatsApp and we'll arrange an assessment.
