The phone is ringing

Patient: Good morning, Doctor!

Doctor: Good morning. How can I help you?

Patient: I am one of your patients, but I’m calling to you about my sister. She is arriving to Poland next week and she urgently needs dentist’s help. Could I schedule an appointment for her for next week, preferably on Friday?

Doctor: Of course, but only until 12 p.m. About 3.00 p.m. I’m going out of town for the weekend.

Patient: Of course. It suits her plans. So, what time can she come?

Doctor: I suggest at 11.30.

Patient: Thank you very much. See you on Friday next week at 11.30.

Doctor: See you!

Patient: Goodbye!

Next Friday

Patient: Good morning, Sir. My brother scheduled for me an appointment with you for today.

Doctor: Hello, welcome and please take a seat in the chair immediately. What seems to be a problem, Madam?

Patient: I broke off a piece of my dentures. Although you can not see it, I still can feel it with my tongue.

Doctor: I see. Do you have this broken-off piece by any chance?

Patient: No, I don’t.

Doctor: Well, I have to take an impression of your gums and take your dentures to repair to the laboratory.

Patient: And when can I pick it up?

Doctor: It won’t be ready until Monday afternoon.

Patient: Oh no. I’m seeing my goddaughter on Sunday so I’ll be without teeth. Could it be delivered by Sunday?

Doctor: Of course. Please come on Monday, at 7:00 p.m. You’ll be the last patient. I’ll take the gum impression and the next day, after 5:00 p.m. you will get your repaired dentures.

Patient: That would be perfect. I must admit that time matters because I’m in Poland just one week.

Doctor: So Monday it is.

Patient: Yes, Goodbye!

Doctor: See you.

VOCABULARY PRACTICE

Rearrange the words and phrases to make pieces of advice for patients with dentures

False teeth require just as much as care as natural teeth. Here are some tips for denture wearers:

1. still build up/just like on natural teeth/dentures every day/clean and brush/because plaque and tartar can/ …..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
2. specially designed for dentures/use a toothpaste and toothbrush/because regular toothpaste/to scratch the surface of dentures/and brushes are abrasive enough/ …................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
3. because dentures may lose/soak dentures at night/allowed to dry out/their shape if they are/…............................................................................................................................................................................................................
4. remove the dentures,/cleanser overnight/soak them in denture/clean them and/….................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
5. oral cancer/visit your dentist/of gum disease and/have no natural teeth/and wear full dentures/should have their mouth/as even people who/examined annually for signs/for regular hygiene checkups/and also for proper denture fit/ …........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
6. store dentures in/a few centimeters/and may break if dropped even/dentures are delicate/a safe place because/ …...............................................................................................................................................................................
7. children and pets/store them away from/when you do not/wear dentures,/to avoid unpleasant surprises/ ….......................................................................................................................................................................................
8. to eat and speak with them/so stick with it/to dentures, and learning how/and they will become easier to wear/it takes time getting used/ ….........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
9. constant gagging and/some people will find it/wearing a denture and may have/problems such as/very difficult to adjust to/an inability to eat with dentures/ …........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
10. a very small percentage/be used in this case/of people can be allergic to/dentures so a different type/the acrylic used in/of plastic material can/ …........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Match common problems with dentures (1‑6) with common causes (A-F)

1. Denture slipping and moving _____
2. Speaking difficulties _____
3. Difficulty chewing certain foods _____
4. Lack of suction/adhesion _____
5. Wrinkles above/around lips or at corners of mouth _____
6. Sore spots in the mouth _____

A. Some foods may never be ‘easy to chew’ with dentures, but lack of adequate chewing could be related to the alignment of your upper and lower denture (s), or your denture with natural teeth.

B. Due to shrinkage of jaw bone and surrounding gum tissue, the gums and bone do not support the denture in speaking or chewing.

C. Denture has moved back in the mouth and no longer supports the lips. This may be due to bone loss and loss of skin elasticity and moisture loss.

D. Bone and mouth tissue shrinks so original fit of denture is lost; in addition dry mouth caused most often by certain medications leads to lack of saliva so denture fit is not ideal.

E. Pressure and/or rubbing is occurring in one specific area, usually a result of chewing but may also be due to clenching or grinding the teeth.

F. Denture is not in proper position or does not stay in proper position – denture moves causing cheek and tongue to struggle to form words and control the denture.


Lesson 70 - answers