Partial dentures! Any advice?

I have had a partial upper front denture for over 40 years, obviously not the same one , but think this is only my second in all that time. It has three teeth attached to a ? metal plate. It is firmly fixed . Initially it was loose and I remember running back and forward to have it adjusted. The end result wouldn't be as cosmetically pleasing as there is a bit of overlap , but it ensured a tighter seal. In fact it's so tight sometimes it's difficult to remove. I have had to have it repaired occasionally when a tooth came off. In fact last time I looked up a dental laboratory on line and went direct to them rather than via the dentist. They were excellent. They took impressions and had my appliance ready in just under two hours . Definitely go back and get yours adjusted. It should fit comfortably without any added fixatives .

Chrisks If your partial denture clips to your remaining teeth it should be a tight fit and not wobble or slip when you eat. If it isn't it needs adjustment or maybe even a new impression taken and the denture relined for a better fit. I have a partial denture which replaces all but four of my upper teeth and clips very very firmly to two of those teeth. I can eat anything from apples to peanut brittle (yes I know I shouldn't!) without movement or discomfort. My dentist took the impression for my denture but it was then made by a dental technician and he did a great job. I bought a tube of fixative when I first got my denture, just in case. I tried it once to see if it worked and Oh boy did it work! I had great difficulty removing my denture (a panic moment) and then removing the fixative from it. But strictly speaking a well made denture should not need fixative. Go back to your dentist and hassle them to put it right, you are after all paying for a product that should be fit for purpose. Or as others have said consult a technician. If you're having difficulty getting used to wearing a denture, it takes a while but the more you wear it the easier it gets. Forget about the age thing, it's better to have a denture than a lot of bad teeth and mouth problems. Let us know how you get on.

Good luck!

Thank you so much for all your replies. I’m going to try a few different adhesives and see which I prefer. Also will see if there is a dental technician near me. Look after your teeth folks!

I have a dental plate for my upper teeth. After having to have an extraction of a front tooth crown with a diseased root from years ago.
As years have gone by (I'm 84 now) it has been added to, as others have lost their roots.
I wear mine all day., but if eating at home, I take it out.
If eating out, leave it in. I take it out at night.
I chose this option because it was the cheapest, compared with bridge, implant etc.
You can still see my teeth when I smile

kaycee Clinical Dental Technicians have a special qualification allowing them to do impressions.

Actually Chrisks you could try looking for a Clinical Dental Technician in your area as they may be able to make your current denture more comfortable.

Not quite true kittylester. There are dental studios that specialise in making and fitting dentures and they call themselves dental technicians. An example www.craydental.com/ this is the one I first went to when I wanted a new set of dentures after a disastrous set made by my dentist. These are the ones to look for.

Dental technicians are not, legally, allowed to take impressions.

Yep. Same here a good dental technician is definitely the way to go. I prefer Polygrip but it's a case of experimenting to see what suits you best. Are yours upper or lower? I know that lower are more difficult to eat with and keep in place. I never take my dentures out - use an old set at night time - and actually I find it a bit uncomfortable without them now. I hope you find a solution soon Chrisks. It's amazing that with the number of denture users about there is never an article in women's magazines about choosing and managing dentures.

Agree, seeing a dental technician is the way forward. The one I saw was brilliant and very patient with a stroppy old woman hating the very thought of having a denture. Five years on my little metal wonder is still doing well, hardly know it's in my mouth.

I had to have just one false front tooth last year. I really hate it but cannot justify the cost of an implant and a bridge is not possible, so just have to put up with it. Like you I find it difficult to eat comfortably, but I resist the tempation to remove it, cutting up my food instead.
I find that Poligrip Max works better than the neon pink Fixadent.
I hope you find a comfortable fixative and get used to the denture soon.

I agree Alexa, I went to a Dental Technician when one of the three teeth on my denture felt loose, he carried out some minor fitting adjustments, as you say much cheaper than the dentist.

I have had two plates for over 5 years and it did take me a long time (two years) to get used to them. Definitely use a fixative.
I also don’t’ wear them in the evening. Unless I’m in company of course!!

Use a fixative. The two main ones are quite different. I suggest you try both and see which you prefer. The teeth you have help support the partial denture, which is definitely better than a full plate. The loss of my teeth has made me very sad and restricted what I choose to eat and also made me a very slow eater. Hang on to what you have got if you can.

If you want denture repairs or adjustments I recommend you find a local denture technician. I have been to two different dental technicians and both were excellent and a lot cheaper than the dentist.

I didn’t like mine either, I had to have a partial denture some years ago, they fit perfectly but I do use fixodent for extra security.

You do get used to them, I had to, I would never go out without them.