Dentures have a long history of successfully rebuilding after tooth loss and remain a popular solution today because of their incredible versatility. Regardless of how many natural teeth you have remaining, your dentist can provide a lifelike restoration to enhance your smile’s appearance and functionality.
However, many patients have questions about this tried-and-true treatment, such as whether their new teeth might affect their speech patterns. If you’ve recently begun wearing dentures and are unsure what to expect, continue reading to learn more about it!
How Long Does it Take to Adjust to Dentures?
Your prosthetics are carefully customized at each stage of their design and creation to fit like a glove and look as lifelike as possible. With that said, it often takes about a month for the tongue and other supporting muscles and tissues of the mouth to fully acclimate to the presence and dimensions of your new teeth.
It’s normal to feel somewhat sore and swollen during this time, until your gums become desensitized to supporting your restoration. This can potentially affect everything from your eating habits, as it’s often easier to stick to softer foods at first, to your speaking patterns.
How Might My Dentures Affect My Speech?
Your teeth play an essential role in your ability to enunciate various words because you press your tongue against your enamel to form different patterns and sounds. When one or more go missing, you can develop a lisp or other issues that make it challenging to be clearly understood.
Whether you require a full or partial set, your dentures act as artificial teeth so that you can relearn how to formulate different words and communicate more effectively again. But you might experience a lisp or slur, especially when trying to pronounce “s,” “f,” and “v” sounds. You might also notice a clicking sound as they “kick out” until you learn how to keep them in place while forming different words.
If you’re concerned that your dentures have caused a permanent speech impediment, you can likely set your concerns aside. Most patients naturally overcome these issues once their mouth adjusts to their prosthetics in a few weeks.
How Can I Speed Up the Transition with Dentures?
If you’re struggling to speak with your new restoration, there are several things you can do to help ease this transitional period, such as:
- Apply adhesive. Denture creams form a layer of cushion between your gums and the foundation of your teeth that eases discomfort and create a tighter bond so they’re less likely to slip out of place while you’re speaking.
- Practice reading out loud. You can also record yourself reading out loud at home to target challenging words or sounds and rehearse them until you feel more confident in your enunciation.
- Bite and swallow before speaking. It can also be helpful to gently bite down and swallow before talking to help position your dentures correctly and reduce the amount of slippery moisture in your mouth.
If you experience persistent or chronic concerns, you may need to contact your dentist to ensure your new teeth fit correctly and are functioning as intended!
About the Practice
Patients at Sage Dental Care benefit from two dentists passionate about families build and maintain beautiful, healthy smiles. Dr. Branco and Dr. Kim are a husband-and-wife team with decades of combined experience providing a complete menu of services, including dentures, to meet the unique needs of people of all ages. Their dedication to quality is combined with state-of-the-art technology to deliver comfortable, accurate treatment results intended to last. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (775) 677-0790.