Question

Your resident wears dentures. What should you check the dentures for when providing oral care?

1) bleeding gums
2) irritation or watch patches in the mouth
3) dryness and cracks in the oral mucousa
4) rough, sharp or chipped areas

Answer 1

When providing oral care for denture wearers, it is essential to check the dentures for rough or chipped areas, and the mouth for signs of dryness and cracks. These can indicate poor hygiene or ill-fitting dentures and may contribute to oral health issues such as gingivitis or periodontitis.

Step-by-step explanation:

When providing oral care for a resident who wears dentures, it is important to check the dentures for rough, sharp, or chipped areas that could damage the gums and oral mucosa. Also, inspect the oral mucosa for signs of dryness and cracks, which can indicate poor hygiene or ill-fitting dentures. It is not typical to check for bleeding gums or irritation or white patches in the mouth as part of the denture inspection, but these signs should be noted if observed since they could indicate underlying oral health issues such as gingivitis or periodontitis, both associated with inflammation, erosion, and potentially serious infections.