Handling Pain with New Dentures
I just got my teeth extracted. What next?
When you’re getting dentures for the first time, it can be hard to know what to expect. Your teeth need to be extracted, your mouth is going to change, and when you first put them in your mouth, your dentures aren’t exactly going to be comfortable. Pain with new dentures is to be expected, but it’s hard to navigate. It’s common wait for some months after their extractions to have permanent dentures made. Permanent dentures often require fewer adjustments, because they’re not made until after the mouth is healed. Other people are, understandably, concerned about the prospect of going toothless for any amount of time. That’s why another option is immediate dentures, which can be worn “immediately” after your extractions. These dentures don’t always fit as well as permanents, but they are relined after your mouth has healed and the changes in your mouth have slowed.But what does it mean for your mouth to change after extractions?
It’s important to understand the changes your mouth goes through after having teeth extracted. Your teeth provided important support for the rest of your mouth – your jawbone, for example, maintained its shape and strength because of the healthy, living teeth connected to it. Now that there is nothing to support, your jawbone will recede as your body will resorb the unneeded bone. Muscles which no longer need to work, and now have less bone to attach to, will also lose strength. This means that your mouth will change significantly after losing teeth, particularly in the first few months after extractions. (This is why many people wait a few months to have dentures made.) While these changes will slow exponentially, and eventually go unnoticed, your mouth will never completely finish changing. This is why dentures, even if they fit well at first, may need to be replaced several years later.
Be patient as you adjust to your new teeth.
When you first receive a new set of dentures, you have a lot of breaking-in time to anticipate. Whether your dentures are placed immediately after extractions, or if you waited for your mouth to heal before getting new ones, it takes time for your mouth to adjust to the feeling of a hard prosthetic. Think of the extensive physical therapy that people go through after having a hip or knee joint replaced. Just like a new pair of shoes, your dentures won’t feel like a part of your person until you’ve worn them a while, and grown accustomed to how they feel. With time, they shouldn’t cause pain. Popping them in every morning will feel just as natural as putting on socks and shoes to go out for the day. You should expect to feel a lot of tugs and pinches you’ve probably never felt before. This will go away as your gums develop callouses and toughen up. Typically, people will wait until a few weeks after they receive their dentures to go in for an adjustment – that way, their mouths will have time to adjust to the dentures, and the problem areas can be defined. Some of your soreness may even be only because of your oral tissues shifting and readjusting to not having teeth.How much pain is too much pain?
It’s important to be patient with yourself as you adjust to new dentures. However, this doesn’t mean that you should ignore all of your pain, expecting it to go away eventually. Pain with new dentures can be hard to gauge if an adjustment is needed. If they are so tight or so loose that your ability too eat or speak is dramatically affected, then you may need an adjustment. If the edges of your denture feel sharp – particularly on the muscles that stretch from your cheeks to your bone ridge – or if they poke and rub so much that your mouth is bleeding, then don’t be afraid to call your dentist.
Knowing what level of discomfort is a concern can be tricky. Sometimes, it can be like the difference between a bothersome pebble in your shoe, and stepping on glass. Other times, it can be hard to tell. The best way to prevent uncertainty is a lot of communication. When you get your teeth extracted, when you try in your dentures for the first time, and when you take them home, ask your dentist what to expect, and tell them what you’re worried about. Your dentist will help you make the best plan to prevent pain and uncertainty, and help you address any obstacles. 
