If you’ve worn dentures for many years, you are probably aware that they don’t always feel the same way. Like your favorite pair of shoes, after a few years, they just don’t feel like they once did.
Initially Not a Bad Fitting Denture
Unlike shoes, dentures are custom fabricated to fit closely to your jaw and mouth tissues. Many steps during the fabrication process create a very well fitting denture that has intimate contact with the tissues in your mouth. When receiving a new set of dentures, many people will often comment about how good they feel relative to their old, bad fitting denture. Patients state that their old set once felt that good, but just doesn’t feel that way anymore. When asked about their old or current set of dentures, some patients even say, “my dentures hurt.”
Trouble Signs Of Bad Fitting Dentures
Dentures that are loose or cause you discomfort are sure signs that they are not the right fit for you. Dentures that need extra thick adhesive to stay in place are a trouble sign. A well-fitting denture may just need a coating of your saliva to stay in place.
You are using too much denture adhesive if it oozes from under the denture into your mouth. This is an indicator that your dentures may not be the right fit for you. If you suspect that your dentures are a bad fit and need too much adhesive, talk to your dentist about different solutions.
New Dentures
New dentures may feel bulky or awkward in your mouth at first, so don’t be alarmed if this occurs when you receive a new set. However, if the discomfort continues and doesn’t improve with time and use, consult your dentist right away. This is a sign that your dentures may not be fitting correctly. Your dentist can help you find relief and a better fit, restoring your comfort and confidence.
Upper And Lower Dentures
It isn’t uncommon for people who wear dentures to feel a difference in how their upper and lower dentures fit. Due to natural suction, upper dentures may feel more snug and secure while lower dentures may not. This is mainly because the lower denture is between the tongue and cheeks, with less support from the lower jaw.
Remember, it’s normal to feel awkward with new dentures. But, if this feeling continues and the denture won’t stay put, ask your dentist about it. They can provide solutions and a better fit. This will ease your discomfort and restore your confidence.
A Bad Fitting Denture Causes Pain
If dentures are custom made to fit intimately with the tissue and jaw, why would they start hurting months and years down the road? The answer is bone resorption. Bone resorption is a fancy way of saying that the bone dissolves. The jawbone’s main purpose is to support and hold teeth. When teeth are lost, the bone begins to remodel and dissolve. Most of this remodeling occurs during the first 10 months after losing one’s teeth, but remodeling occurs very slowly over the rest of the patient’s life.
A Bad Fitting Denture is Loose and Moves Around Often
As time passes from receiving a new set of dentures, small amounts of bone remodeling can result in tissue changes in the mouth causing one’s denture to not fit like it once did. The denture can become a little (or a lot) loose. The looseness can translate to the denture moving around more and then causing some sore spots.
If the dentures still look good and the teeth are not worn, these comfort issues can often be corrected with a denture reline. If you have to use more and more denture adhesive to hold your denture in place, you might benefit from a reline.
How Your Dentist Can Help
Bad fitting dentures don’t just cause stress and pain in your mouth, they can also affect your quality of life and self-confidence. Poorly fitting dentures can make it tough to eat in public. They may also move when smiling or talking, leading to embarrassing moments. Fortunately, your dentist can help with bad-fitting dentures. They can give you a new, better-fitting denture or even implants.
Reline Or Rebase
If your dentures hurt, a reline could be the solution you need. This procedure adds material to the inner plate of dentures, ensuring a comfortable and secure fit. Best of all, it can typically be done in a single visit, offering a quick and effective solution to your bad fitting denture.
If a reline is not enough to ensure your dentures fit properly, your dentist may recommend a rebase. A is when a new pink-resin base is placed to allow the denture to mesh better with your mouth’s gum tissue.
Implants
Implants consist of a post/screw, an abutment, and a crown, which replace natural tooth roots and anchor the crown in the jaw. Dentists sometimes prefer implants due to their ability to imitate natural teeth and support jawbone health.
If your dentures are causing you discomfort, don’t wait to find relief. Schedule your denture fit consultation today at North Dallas Denture Center. A simple test can illustrate how well your denture fits. There is an initial learning curve with anything new being introduced into our lives – or mouths. But with our skilled team and professional care, we hope to help make things a little easier for you.
