First time denture - reassurance needed

[Teefndrama]

Due to gum recession/teeth issues I've had to have two teeth out and a partial denture and I'm terrified of taking it out for the first time/putting back in - anyone got any experience/advice of this?

The extraction was done late Wednesday so I'm supposed to take it out for the first time this afternoon to rinse it and put back in but I'm really panicking. The dentist showed me at the time how to do it but doesn't want to see me for another year now unless there's a problem so it's not like I even have a follow up appt to check everything.

It already feels like it doesn't fit properly, there's a big gap at the bottom/underneath, but I haven't moved it since I left the dentist so don't know if that's down to swelling or it's not in properly or if it just doesn't fit properly so that's worrying me more about getting it back in, how will I know if I've fitted it properly. Also I'm scared of seeing the extraction site and the 'mess' it might be.

Ideally I'd have a follow up with the dentist but I don't feel I can insist on it as I was kicked out of my previous dentist (not anything I did, the NHS one left) and she wasn't even supposed to take me on as they're full but agreed to squeeze me in after seeing me as an emergency and seeing what a state I was in so I feel like I've already been done a favour.

Sorry, mistyped, the extraction was late Tuesday. Anyone had similar fears or issues?

Is it top or bottom and has it got small metal hooks on it, these are usually on bottom dentures and I push up on the hooks to remove these. With fitting it would be difficult to tell how good it is so soon after extraction, have you managed to remove it yet.

It's bottom and it's not got any hooks on, it's just plastic (or whatever the material is) that goes over my gum at the front and the back and then the back piece carries on to go under the surrounding teeth if that makes sense. I haven't taken it out yet, working up the nerve 😊

I have a top partial denture. My NHS dentist didn't show me how to use fixodent/glue but once I learned that it was a life saver. It didn't feel like mine fit until I glued it in.
To take out, literally just pull it. I pull mine by the fake teeth parts.
Please be aware your mouth will ache a bit (not unbearable) for a few weeks after, until your mouth getsused to it. Persevere!
Good luck X

As there are no hooks I would gently pull and push it out at the same time, put your head over the sink with a towel or something soft in it in case they get dropped though or ping out as it can be a bit difficult at first and you don't want break them. I'm surprised the dentist doesn't want to see you for a year to check on fit though

Thanks, did yours feel too loose or too tight? Mine feels ever so slightly too big so feels like it's a squeeze to get in and like it's not sitting in quite right, would fixodent help?

Thanks for the help, I was surprised too, I thought I'd have an appt the next week or something but not until next November 😐As I say though, I feel bad asking for anything more as she squeezed me in when she wasn't meant to register me so I feel like I'm there as a favour. Would a private dentist think it was weird if I paid for a check up with them for advice do you think? The private dentist near me isn't much more for a check up than the NHS (but then gets way more expensive for treatment else I'd love to go there!)

Hope you got them out.

My dentist is a private one and the procedure has been a week or two before extraction I have a cast made for a temporary denture then teeth extracted and temporary denture put in. Up to 6 months after everything fully settled down I had several appointments for impressions and bite over the course of about a month or so then get the new better fitting denture to wear, keeping the temporary one as a spare in case anything happens like I lose or break it. With NHS dentistry in such dire straights I doubt they would do all this so you might be better going privately if you can afford it.

I probably wouldn't use Fixadent until it is fully healed in case it goes in the extraction site. Mine felt sort of tight when they first went in which was probably swelling. I use fixadent on my bottom partial denture but not my top one, dentist told me that top ones are much easier to fit and to wear than bottom ones and I have found this.

In the long run you may be better getting implants if you don't get on with the denture, I can't easily as I would need bone grafts and other stuff doing probably because I am in my mid 60s, had my first teeth out in my mid 50s and my gums were quite bad, but anyone younger or with fairly good mouth health would probably be better getting implants if their other teeth were healthy.

Thanks, that sounds like a much better experience having check ups/checking bite etc, may have to see if I can manage the cost to go private at all. Implant would be amazing but there's no way I could afford it at the minute, my other teeth and gums aren't great so I'd need bone graft etc too.

I haven't managed to get the denture out yet, I can start loosening it but then it feels absolutely stuck solid on the bits where it slips under the remaining teeth and I can't seem to prise it out. I tried last night and this morning and phoned dentist this morning but the first appt they can give me is Monday afternoon so just have to wait until then. Not sure how much to keep trying it in the meantime, don't want to break anything but it feels like I'd need that much pressure. It felt like that initially when the dentist fitted it though and she got frustrated at me when I couldn't manage to get it out when she was showing me how so I don't know if it's me that isn't doing it properly or the denture.

Still not managed to get them out, no idea if I'm not doing it properly but they seem wedged in at the extreme ends - I can get the middle up a little but whichever way I try and pull the ends where it's hooked under my teeth don't come out.

OP you're gums are probably a bit swollen. Try swishing some cool water/ice cubes in your mouth to reduce swelling. Then try after doing this for a while. Dentures can be a bit tight at first. Once you get the knack of taking them out you'll be fine. Definitely try the cool water/ice trick.

If the cold water doesn't work you could try gargling with some lukewarm salted water and see if this loosens the denture.
It is tricky until you get the hang of it!

Bottom dentures are particularly difficult until you get the hang of it as they have to be fixed in, either by hooks or as yours are around your other teeth, top ones don't have the same problems as they stay in much better on their own. Carry on rinsing as others have said.

Thanks for all the advice, bit late coming to update, sorry! Went to dentist and she had momentary trouble initially getting it out so funny think it was just me. She showed me a completely different way to lift it out than she did when I had the extraction and I've been able to get it out myself now.

It's my first night going to bed without the denture now though and it feels awful. Because I've got such a large gap at the front I feel like half my face is missing, I'm scared to swallow and it all just feels wrong 😔 Also the dentist said it hasn't healed very well so far, hopefully won't take too long before it heals up enough to feel less delicate.

Didn't want to leave it all on doom and gloom in case anyone looks for info. It was very weird doing first night without the denture and such a huge gap in my mouth but I got through it and got the denture back in my mouth this morning after a bit of faff so it's slow but sure progress 👍

That's good, it will get easier putting it in and out as time goes on and your extraction areas heal.

Glad to hear the dentist got them out for you OP! They do take some time to get used to. I hope all goes well from here on for you!