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Proper denture maintenance allows your patients to use their dental prostheses for several years without losing functionality and aesthetics. Whether you prescribe complete or partial dentures, give your clients clear guidelines for cleaning, inspecting, and maintaining them. You can also partner with a dental lab to fabricate high-quality prostheses, which helps to reduce maintenance requirements. Here’s how to monitor and maintain the dentures, flippers, and prostheses you prescribe your clients:
Offer Detailed Care Instructions
Food particles occasionally get stuck between dentures and gums or teeth, and the oils, sugars, and minerals create a layer of plaque on the dentures. If you have prescribed removable partial dentures, provide detailed instructions for removing and cleaning them. Dentures should be removed to rinse loose food debris or brush off tough stains and buildup. Users can run water over the dentures after each meal to prevent erosion and tarnishing and enhance post-meal comfort. They also need straightforward cleaning and brushing instructions to help keep their dentures safe from plaque and harmful bacteria. Gentle cleaning solutions, brushes, and drying cloths are recommended to keep dentures safe. You should also provide instructions on what to avoid, such as bleach, whitening toothpaste, hot water, and abrasive cleaning materials that will damage the dentures.
Offer safety handling tips to help your clients reduce the risk of dropping, bending, or breaking the prostheses. If the dentures need soaking overnight in water or a special solution, provide this information during fitting. Soaking can help keep the dentures moist to maintain their shape and structure. Consult the dental lab that fabricated the dentures and communicate the recommended care instructions with your clients. Providing cleaning and soaking guidelines helps to reduce risks that cause premature damage. Offer comprehensive instructions covering everything from maintaining oral hygiene to removing concealed denture adhesives from the grooves. Denture care is entirely in the hands of your clients when they leave your office, so give them clear, practical instructions.
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
Regular checkups allow you to maintain dentures and address issues that may lead to discomfort, lost function, and premature damage. These appointments also allow you to inspect the dentures, demonstrate how to clean them, and complete necessary adjustments. Ask your clients if they have experienced any misfitting, discomfort, or looseness since they started wearing the dentures. You can also ask about the challenges they have using the dentures. Use the client feedback to make personalized adjustments for increased comfort and functionality. Inspect the prostheses for damage during each visit, comparing the current and original states to determine changes. Teach the clients how to inspect and spot damage on their appliances.
Noticing damage early allows you or the lab to fix the appliance before it worsens. Provide an easy way for clients to report changes and issues so you can fix them promptly. Send broken dentures to the lab immediately to get them repaired. Many labs also offer maintenance adjustments to restore comfort and proper fit. Partner with reputable dental laboratories that source and use high-quality materials like zirconia, ceramic, hard acrylic, titanium, silver, and gold. Leading labs use CAD, CAM, and other advanced technologies to fabricate custom appliances that fit well and look natural. They should also document all processes, including the original impressions, designs, and fabrications, and use them to fast-track adjustments.
Fabricate Quality Full and Partial Dentures Today
Properly fabricated dentures can last several years with routine cleaning and maintenance. Your clients are in charge of cleaning and maintaining their removable dentures on a daily basis but need professional instructions. They can also inspect and report issues to help you schedule early repairs and adjustments. Contact a reputable dental laboratory today to find out more about maintaining complete and partial dentures.
