A presentation on the instructions to be given to complete denture patients at the insertion appointment. Dealing with patients can be hard at times but with a proper approach, a strong rapport can be formed with the patient.

1. POST INSERTION
INSTRUCTIONS IN COMPLETE
DENTURE PATIENTS
MATHEW THOMAS MALIAEL
DAYANANDA SAGAR COLLEGE OF
DENTAL SCIENCES , BANGALORE

2. EXPLAIN ABOUT INDIVIDUALITY OF THE CASE
 From the first appointment , the patient must be given an idea of the final outcome of
the treatment.
 An attempt must be made to convince the patient that no matter how meticulously and
painstakingly fabricated a denture is an artificial substitute and will never be the same
as the natural oral structures.
 Patient is asked not to share his/her feelings and experience with other denture
wearers.

3. INSERTION AND REMOVAL OF THE
DENTURE
 The dentist must train the patient to insert and remove the
denture.

4. APPEARANCE OF THE DENTURE
 Initially the patient will feel strange .
 He/she will have the feeling of cheek and lip fullness.
 The patient may complain that the denture is bulky.
 Here , the dentist must assure the patient that all these are temporary and as the patient gets
used to the denture it will be normal.
 Patient can also be asked to change their hairstyle or glasses to feel different.

5. SPEECH
 Patient may have difficulties in speech .
 Patient has to be motivated that this difficulty is temporary.
 He/she has to be encouraged to speak more using the dentures. Read newspapers aloud.
 In 2-3 weeks after constant practice and motivation the patient will overcome this difficulty.

6. MASTICATION
 Patient will have excessive salivation initially . Patient is asked to avoid pooling the saliva as it can
destabilise the denture.
 Patient is advised to have a soft diet initially .
 Patient is asked to avoid sticky and hard foodstuffs.
 Patient is asked to cut foodstuff into small pieces and chew using the posterior tooth. Patient is
asked to chew bilaterally simultaneously.

7. MAINTENANCE OF HYGIENE
 Dentures tend to accumulate more food debris than natural teeth. Hence the patient is asked to
clean them after every meal and before retiring at night .
 It is recommended that the patient have two brushes , a denture brush for cleaning the denture
and a soft tooth brush to clean the supporting soft tissue.
 Tooth pastes are avoided.
 Commercially available denture cleaning solutions and tablets can be used.
 Ultrasonic cleaners can also be used.

8. STORAGE OF DENTURE
 Patient is advised to store the denture in water or in a
dilute medicinal solution , in an air-tight container.

9. NIGHT WEAR
 Ideally the denture must be placed 8 hours outside the mouth , to provide rest to supporting
tissues and reduce the rate of resorption.
 Patient is advised against night wear.

10. MISCELLANOUS
 Patient is advised to avoid mishandling of the denture.
 Isolated sore may develop and patient is advised to visit to the dentist for relining.
 In severe cases of soreness , patient is advised to discontinue use of prosthesis and consult the
dentist urgently.
 Patient is advised not to perform self adjustments or self repair on the denture.

11. PERIODIC RECALL
 Regular recall is done to check for proper denture extension and occlusion .
 The patient is recalled 24 hours after the insertion appointment to correct occlusal disharmony and to
check for immediate tissue reaction.
 Next visit is after a week to check for tissue reaction. Patient’s experience and comfort is also enquired
and problems are corrected .
 Then patient is recalled every 3-6 months to determine tissue reaction and amount of ridge resorption
 Yearly recall visits to check the necessity for relining or rebasing .
 Post insertion instructions should reinforced in every visit.

12. REFERENCES
 TEXTBOOK OF PROSTHODONTICS ; DEEPAK NALLASWAMY
 PROSTHODONTIC TREATMENT FOR EDENTULOUS PATIENTS ; 12TH EDITION ; ZARB AND
BOLENDER .
 COMPLETE DENTURE PROSTHODONTICS ; 2ND EDITION ; JOHN J MANAPALLIL.