Your partial denture replaces missing teeth and distributes chewing forces across remaining teeth. Initial tightness or pressure on supporting teeth is expected.
In order to keep your flexible partial looking as good as new, it is important that you maintain good oral hygiene and take proper care of the appliance.
After meals, rinse the appliance to remove any food particles.
Brush your natural teeth thoroughly, especially around clasp areas where plaque collects more readily.
Remove the partial denture at night. Sleeping with it overnight can cause tissue redness and irritation, halitosis or bad breath, accelerate the decay process, as well as fungal infections. Partial can be stored dry.
When removing the partial denture, it will likely contain debris and plaque.
It is important to remove this, as over time this can harden on the partial and remove its elasticity, causing less flexibility and a poor fit. To achieve this, scrubbing gently with a soft-bristle toothbrush and water is recommended. A non-abrasive soap can be used as well. DO NOT use toothpaste or any other abrasive household cleaner. This will scratch the material, which can then harbor bacteria and stain easily.
DO NOT soak the flexible partial denture in, or use any of the following to clean it, including chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide, any over-the-counter mouthwash, or any product containing alcohol. This can cause discoloration and damage to the material.
The flexible partial denture can be cleaned using an antibacterial denture cleaner such as Retainer Brite, Polident, or Efferdent. DO NOT soak overnight. For a Duraflex partial denture, these formulas are meant to be used for 10-15 minutes at a time, three times a week.
While it usually takes time to get used to a new appliance in your mouth, sore spots are indicative of a problem that needs correction. If sore spots occur while wearing your flexible partial denture, return to your dentist as soon as possible for adjustment. It can be easiest to adjust if you continue to wear the partial during this time. After adjustment, allow 1-2 days to heal any sore spots.
