Overcoming Anxiety About Dentures
If you believe that dentures may be in your near future, the thought can be scary and cause a lot of anxiety — which is understandable. You’ve lived your whole life with natural teeth and moving towards dentures is a big step that requires some lifestyle changes.
Almost everyone goes through anxiety when looking at dentures for the first time. It’s completely normal — we can help manage your expectations to make your transition as smooth and comfortable as possible.
We’re determined to help you overcome your fears and worries when it comes to life with dentures. In this post, we’ll take a look at a few things you can do to conquer your denture anxieties.
1. Consider Other Options First
Depending on the condition of your natural teeth, dentures may not always be necessary. There are many other options to repair decaying or damaged teeth — including crowns, bridges, implants, or even partial dentures. All of these products can extend the life of your natural teeth and prolong the need for extractions and complete dentures.
2. Research What Life Looks Like With Dentures
There are hundreds (if not thousands) of articles, blog posts, youtube videos, and podcasts that discuss what it’s like to live with dentures.
You can learn about people’s real-life denture experiences — both the ups and the downs. These resources are an excellent way to educate yourself about how dentures affect people’s lives on a daily basis.
Hearing other people talk about their experiences is a great way to calm your mind and bridge the gap between expectations and reality.
3. Understand the Negatives
Although there are many great reasons for getting dentures (increased self-confidence, brighter smile, ability to eat more foods), life with dentures isn’t always glamorous. Have an honest conversation with your dentist about some of the harder parts about life with dentures.
Depending on your circumstances, the initial recovery period can last several months. During this time, you’ll likely experience some pain and discomfort.
Over time, your jaw will start to shrink. This is a natural process and there are steps you can take to slow the shrinkage down, like caring for your gums and removing your dentures every night.
Just like many other changes in life, there’s a learning curve with new dentures. You might have a bit of difficulty chewing or speaking clearly until you’ve gotten used to dentures in your mouth.
Your dentures will require daily maintenance — just like your natural teeth. Regular cleanings can help to avoid bad breath, discoloring, and damage to your new dentures.
With all that in mind, these negatives are often overshadowed by the positives. Many patients report a significant increase in their quality of life and self-confidence once they’ve committed to a life with dentures.
4. Speak With a Denture Professional
The best way to get the answers you’re looking for and reduce anxiety about dentures is to speak with your dentist and denturist. They can offer advice unique to your specific situation and recommend the best treatment plan for your needs.
Here at the Denture & Implant Centre, we do everything in our power to ensure that your transition to dentures is as comfortable and pain-free as possible.
If you’re worried or anxious about getting dentures, book an appointment with one of our denture professionals to see how we can help.
