Care of Dentures Performance Checklist

Care of Dentures

Check care plan for direction and client needs.  Perform hand hygiene. Explain the procedure to the client. Provide for privacy.

Prepare supplies:

• Gloves
• Denture brush or toothbrush
• Denture cup
• Denture cleaning agent
• Water glass
• Mouth rinse (or other specified solution)
• Kidney basin
• Towel
• Paper towels
• Gauze squares

Prepare Client

• Raise bed to comfortable height, lower side rail nearest you.
• Place a towel over the client’s chest. Put on gloves. Ask the person to remove the dentures and place in the kidney basin or denture cup. Check mouth for abnormalities. Complete oral hygiene.

If the client is unable to do:

• Remove the dentures using gauze.
• Grasp the upper denture with thumb and index finger.
• Move the denture up and down slightly to break the seal. Gently remove the denture once seal was broken.

To Clean

• Place it in the kidney basin, bowl, or denture cup.
• Remove the lower denture by grasping it with your thumb and index finger.
• Turn it slightly and lift it out of the person’s mouth.
• Take the kidney basin, denture cup, brush, and cleaning agent to the sink. Line the sink with a towel or paper towel. Rinse each denture under warm (not hot) running water. Check each denture for problems. Return them to the denture cup.
• Apply liquid soap to the brush. Brush the dentures. Rinse dentures under running water, using warm or cool water. Place them in the denture cup and fill it with cool water.
• Clean the kidney basin or bowl. Bring the denture cup and kidney basin to the client. Lower the bed rail if up.

If the client is unable to insert dentures:

• Grasp the upper denture firmly with thumb and index finger.
• Raise the upper lip with the other hand, and insert the denture.
• Use index finger to gently press securely in place.
• Grasp the lower denture securely with thumb and index finger.
• Pull down slightly on the lower lip, and insert the denture.
• Store the dentures in a safe location if they are not worn.
• Soak dentures overnight in cool water with 1 tsp. bleach or denture cleansing product. Rinse denture before placing back in mouth.
• Remove the towel. Perform hand hygiene. Provide for safety and comfort. Tidy area.
• Report and record actions and observations according to agency policy.