Once a dental prosthesis has been delivered to a patient, there are certain details which should be both informed and told to a patient to ensure the efficiency of the designed prosthesis and overall health of the patient.
These instructions are particularly important for patients/individuals with poor oral hygiene which would hasten the inevitable destruction of the remaining teeth and tissues.
General Instructions :
- Whichever type of prosthesis is provided to the patient, he/she should be shown and trained in how to remove and place the prosthesis. In dentures with clasps or complex guidelines, a demonstration in placement should be provided to prevent trauma to tissues.
Mandibular Prosthesis
- Index fingers is placed in the buccal sulcus, supporting the prosthesis, while thumbs should be placed in the lingual sulcus, supporting the prosthesis.
- The prosthesis is removed in a wedged manner, where force is placed at the distal most aspect of the denture.
Maxillary Prosthesis
- Thumbs are placed in the buccal sulcus, supporting the prosthesis while the index fingers should be placed on the palatal-alveolar ridge, supporting the prosthesis.
- The prosthesis is removed in a vertical direction ( incases of distally replaced teeth) or in a wedge pattern ( incases of anteriorly replaced teeth)
- Proper tooth brushing technique and the use of dental floss should be a routine part of the patient’s homecare.
Specific Instructions :
- The dentist should demonstrate the correct method of brushing the denture.
- Clasp & denture brushes should be shown to the patient.
- Denture should not be brushed while still in the mouth.
- Brush the denture over a partially filled basin/bowl of water so if dropped, little harm is done.
Regular toothpaste should be used :
- Abrasive agents such as scouring powders should not be used because the acrylic resin denture base could be damaged.
- Avoid the use of any cleansing agent containing chlorine as chlorine will attack the metal rapidly.
- Overzealous brushing of the metal with an abrasive agent could ultimately produce a roughed surface.
- Calculus should be removed by scrapping with hand instruments/scaling the prosthesis at least 12 hours in full-strength household bleach.
Remove prosthesis at night :
Soft tissue covered by the denture base and the major connector must be given the opportunity to rebound and recover from constant function
Incases of patients with bruxism (night grinding)
Construction of occlusal night guard for the patient to wear during sleep
Designed to contact less soft tissue than that contacted by the regular partial denture.
By Dhina Paul
