Hi everyone! I'm new to this board. I have an implanted overdenture; I just received it a few days ago. Prior to this, I had worn a full upper denture for 8 years. (I got them at an embarrassingly young age). I love my new set b/c they feel so much more secure and look so much more natural, however, I'm having to adjust my speech all over again. My dentist said this was normal, but I'm wondering why I'm having problems since I'd obviously been speaking with a denture in for years. I need to mention that my new implanted set does not have a palate or an upper phalange (sp?). So, although I'm pleased, I have avoided talking to people for the last several days b/c I sound so silly.

Hi tbrown,

Removable dentures are very different than implant supported dentures and the changes you hear in your speech are very normal and temporary. It will get better over time.

Upper removable dentures require suction from the palate and the cheek muscles to hold them in place. Believe it or not, to speak with a removable denture, you had to train yourself to hold it in as you spoke. Most people are not even aware that they're doing this. It just came naturally.

Implant retained upper dentures do not rely on the palate for suction or the facial muscles to hold it in because it snaps onto the dental implants along the bony ridge and the palate is uncovered. It is the closet thing to having your own set of upper teeth!

So your mouth has to readjust to this new appliance because it is very different than what it has been use to wearing for the last 8 years! The best thing you can do is talk....... alot........ because your facial and jaw muscles will adapt quicker to the new denture if you use them more. The sound of your speech will improve. It may not sound exactly like it did while wearing the removable dentures, but it will sound fine and probably better in the long run!

You need to celebrate those new teeth by TALKING!!

Aside from the speech thing...... are you able to eat with them ok?

Bryanna

Hi, Bryanna! Thanks so much for responding!! I'm on day 5 with the implants, and still speak funny. But I can feel my muscles doing work to change as my mouth (cheeks and tongue) is rather sore by the end of the day. When my dentist told me to talk a lot, I almost felt sad for my husband, hahahaha! I tell him he has no choice but to listen, hehe! I just hope it gets better sooner -- we meet with a small group each week and I'm considering skipping this week just to avoid any awkwardness.

I'm able to eat just fine, so that's nice. I need a couple more adjustments to the bite, but my dentist is 3 hours away (we moved in the middle of all the treatment), so I won't get that fixed until July, but I can manage.

Removing them is proving to be rather tricky as I feel like I'm going to rip my bone out with them. I guess it's good they're so tight. I told my husband it feels like pulling a baby tooth out each time I have to remove them, lol!

Again, thank you so much taking the time to respond to my post. I appreciate the encouragemen about my speech improving.

My mom used to read outloud. She used to read magazine, newspapers, books and so on, just for the practice. She would do most of it in private, but as she got more comfortable, she started reading stories to us out of her magazines. It did take a few weeks, but now we cannot tell anything was done to her mouth.

practice, practice, practice. Read the street signs out loud in your car, the bulletin boards, the the highway signs. any bit of practice will help.