Month: August 2019

Getting used to wearing dentures takes time. At least for the first thirty days you can expect to notice some difficulties with chewing, eating, talking and even a little discomfort in your facial muscles as you are adjusting to your new dentures. There are many things that you can do to make this adjustment time a little more manageable.

Getting Used to Dentures

We need to eat and just because you came home with a new set of dentures doesn’t mean that you can’t eat! It does help however, if you stick to very soft foods for at least the first couple of days. The foods you eat on the first day or two need to be soft enough that you can mash them with your tongue against the roof of your mouth if chewing is too uncomfortable. This doesn’t mean that you need to be on a liquid diet for the first couple of days!

Cooked carrots, mashed potatoes and baked sweet potatoes are good nutritious foods that are soft enough not to cause you pain during eating. Avoid extremely hot or cold foods for the first two days as your gums may be irritated and tender. Softer foods also can include yogurt, puddings, soft bread and scrambled eggs.

Give yourself time to heal, especially if your new dentures came following tooth extractions. You need to get plenty of rest and let yourself heal. As you are adjusting to eating and chewing, you may also notice that your speech is slightly different. Practice your speech by reading aloud and singing along with music. This can help retrain your tongue and cheek muscles to enunciate with your new dentures in place.

Remember to take it easy for the first couple of days, eat soft foods and get plenty of rest. Call our office immediately if you are experiencing any severe pain or discomfort.

One of the most commonly used restorative procedures in dentistry today is the dental crown. Having been around for a long time, most people know these are used to protect a tooth that’s become damaged. Unfortunately, even if you have insurance, you’ll probably still have to pay for your dental crown which may leave you wondering if getting one is truly necessary.

What Dental Crowns are Used For

There are many different uses for dental crowns. Oftentimes, we will suggest that you get one instead of simply getting a filling if you have broken or chipped a tooth. At other times we suggest dental crowns because a filling would simply be too big. They also work well when you have a badly decayed tooth.

Still, you may be wondering whether you really need a dental crown or if you could get by simply having your tooth filled. Although we may strongly suggest that you get a dental crown instead of a filling, ultimately, it’s your mouth and the decision is up to you. All we can do is give you all the information and advice possible so you can decide what’s truly best for you. As you work to make this educated decision, remember that dental crowns will keep your teeth in better condition, which is why we believe that they’re a better choice. The only time when it isn’t a choice is when you have a root canal. Then you must have a crown placed to protect your tooth’s integrity.

You should know that we will always recommend what’s best for your teeth. So, if you find yourself wondering if you need a filling or a dental crown, give our office a call and set up a time to come in so we can talk about this with you.