Denture care vital for oral health
For a lot of people, getting dentures marks the beginning of a renaissance in their lives, when smiles can be flashed without embarrassment, new foods become available, confidence soars and social occasions are looked forward to in a way they might not have been for decades.
It can be a remarkable transformation, says denture clinician Ryan Carlton, the owner of Dentures Plus.
But it doesn’t last by itself, he notes. To get the most from dentures, ongoing care and checkups are vital.
Ryan recommends a checkup every two years, or annually if a person still has some of their natural teeth.
The jaw, like the rest of the body, changes shape as it ages and this can affect the fit of a denture, he explains. Sores and painful infections can result, while space is created for bacteria and plaque to build up, contributing to bad breath and increasing discomfort.
Checkups are an important way to head off problems before they become more serious, Ryan says.
‘‘It’s like a warrant of fitness for your mouth. We look for signs of tooth wear and ill-fitting dentures, which are one of the main causes of soreness, ulcers, and difficulty eating. We also do a visual check for possible oral cancers and other abnormalities.
‘‘If we can catch issues with a denture early, it’s usually an easy fix.’’
Ryan says people who don’t act might find themselves unable to eat anything but soft foods, which then undoes the gains of a more varied diet.
Signs that dentures need adjusting or replacing include sore gums, sore natural teeth or dentures that slip or break frequently.
‘‘Some people notice they just aren’t happy with the appearance of their dentures. That’s important too because dentures do a lot for a person’s confidence and provide real benefits to mental wellbeing. So we make all our dentures as attractive and lifelike as possible,’’ Ryan says.
Dentures Plus is one of Christchurch’s most advanced denture clinics, providing full, partial, immediate and implant dentures from a friendly, hightech facility in St Albans.
Among their equipment is the South Island’s only welder designed specifically for repair of partial dentures.
Onsite denture-cleaning is also available using a specialised ultrasonic device with the Caldent cleaning solution. This provides a clean in a few hours that would normally take a week at home.
Dentures Plus sells Caldent and other care items over the counter and through its website. The solution is more effective than anything found on supermarket shelves, Ryan says, and at $23 for a four-month supply is highly affordable.
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There is no substitute for regular maintenance, he stresses.
‘‘I recommend at least twicedaily brushing in addition to using Caldent for regular soaking to help remove stains and plaque and tartar buildup. The cleaner the denture, the easier it is to maintain oral health.’’
Checkups are available Dentures Plus regardless where a denture was made. at of
❚ To find out more, call Dentures Plus on 03 385 5517 or visit the website denturesplus.co.nz. The clinic is located at 396 Innes Rd, St Albans.