Should Dentures be Left in the Mouth While Sleeping?

Dentures can be a significant turning point for someone’s oral health, especially if they’ve gone years with missing, damaged, or decayed teeth. At Cape Cod Dental, we offer our patients medical-grade, customized dentures to restore multiple oral functions and to attain a gorgeous, brilliant smile. Dr. Fadi Zaknoun works with men and women throughout Wareham, MA, providing thorough examinations to help patients select restorative dental plans and achieve optimal results.

What are dentures?

Dentures are artificial, medical-grade teeth designed to replace entire sets of natural teeth that are missing or damaged beyond repair. At Cape Cod Dental, we have restorative dental plans to fit patients for removable full and partial dentures, as well as implant-supported dentures. Dr. Zaknoun thoroughly assesses each patient’s current oral health and makes recommendations based on the patient’s personal goals and his professional expertise.

Dentures are created to fit the unique structures of the upper and lower gumlines. Artificial teeth are designed based on digital impressions of the patient’s mouth and colored to match the appearance of natural teeth. Dentures can also minimize a sunken face and shed years off a patient’s appearance.

Candidates for dentures

Individuals across the age span may qualify for dentures if they:

• Have several missing teeth

• Have multiple decayed or damaged teeth that require extraction

• Need more teeth than what a single implant or bridge can offer

• Have generally healthy gums, arches, and jawbone

Dr. Zaknoun will conduct an initial examination to determine if dentures are the appropriate treatment path for you. Patients with active gum disease, decayed teeth, or other oral infections may need additional treatments before being fitted for dentures.

How the fitting process works

Patients visit Cape Cod Dental, where one of our technicians will collect digital or physical impressions of your mouth. These impressions are sent to our dental laboratory, where your customized dentures are fabricated and reinforced with a titanium framework. Once your dentures are ready, Dr. Zaknoun will ensure the dentures fit appropriately. If you need implant-supported dentures, Dr. Zaknoun will take you through the surgical process to have titanium posts placed directly into your jawbone first. Dr. Zaknoun numbs your mouth with a local anesthetic, makes small incisions in your gums, and places several posts before suturing the incisions. Each post is capped with temporary crowns to protect your mouth from infection during recovery. Once the posts have healed, and your dentures are finished, you’ll participate in a final fitting at our office.

Will my eating habits change with dentures?

Newly fitted dentures take time to adjust to, especially during meals. Patients are encouraged to start slow and cut challenging foods into bite-sized bits. Certain foods, including chips or meats, may get caught under your dentures, which can be easily removed by swishing water or removing the dentures to sanitize the gums. Over the next couple of weeks, you may start eating normally again.

Should dentures be left in the mouth while sleeping?

Dentures, including implant-supported dentures, should not be worn while sleeping for a few reasons:

• The gums need ample time to rest

• The gums and surrounding structures are exposed to potential breakdown or blistering

• Wearers risk trapping bacteria under the dentures, increasing their risk for infection

Instead of wearing your dentures at night, sanitize them and store your restoration in a safe and accessible place.

Hygiene habits at home with dentures

Once you’ve received your dentures, consider applying the following tips at home to optimize your oral health:

• Brush and sanitize your dentures and gums twice daily

• Store your dentures in a safe place when not in use

• Use mouth rinse routinely to remove harmful bacteria

• Eat nutritious, healthy foods

• Avoid hard, chewy, or excessively sticky foods

• Visit your dentist for regular exams and cleanings

Learn more about dentures and managing your oral health

If you have missing or damaged teeth that are impacting your oral health, contact us at Cape Cod Dental in Wareham, MA, and schedule a consultation today. Dr. Fadi Zaknoun will walk you through the fitting process and determine if dentures are the right restorative dental approach for you.