Today’s advancements in restorative dentistry has made dentures and partials more life-like than ever before. However, this doesn’t mean that they are without complaints. Traditional dentures can lose stability over time and result in denture slipping and uncomfortable irritation along the gums. An unstable denture is never something you should just “deal with.”
If your denture doesn’t feel secure, you are likely to suffer the following:
Restricted Diet – Are you avoiding hard to chew foods and resorting to a soft, high-carb diet? Over time, your body will respond to the lack of fibrous fruits and vegetables. Patients can face obesity or diabetes due to their poor fitting dentures and food restrictions.
Low Self Confidence – Do you find yourself covering your mouth when you chew or laugh? If your dentures are not strongly in place, you may be afraid that they will fall out. Such worry about your smile is no way to live your life. Don’t let your dentures ruin your self-confidence or your ability to enjoy social situations.
Changed Speech – Have you started to talk differently to accommodate for your loose dentures? Your dentures (full or partial) should never compromise your ability to speak. This is a sure sign you need to see your dentist.
Why Do Dentures Become Loose?
Once you get your dentures fitted correctly, it doesn’t mean they will always stay that way. Unless your dentures are supported by dental implants (overdentures or implant-retained dentures), your underlying bone will suffer atrophy over time. The bone resorption process occurs because there is no tooth root to stimulate the jawbone and keep it health. Therefore, the contour of your gum and bone line will change over time, which disrupts the way your dentures fit or stay in place.
What Are Your Options?
In most cases, as long as the prosthetic denture teeth are still intact, you’ll only need an added filling material at the base of your denture to address the issue. If you want to rid yourself of future adjustments or ill-fitting denture problems, you may want to ask if you are a candidate for an implant supported denture. Using the latest systems, as few as four dental implants can be placed to secure a full arch of missing teeth.
At Park South Dentistry, we pursue excellence in dentures and dental implants. We want our patients to have replacement teeth that offer maximum comfort, function and aesthetics. If you are settling for anything less, please give us a call today.
