Slipping Dentures? Here's What You Need To Do

Dentist Blog

There comes a time in every denture wearer's life when things start to slip. Yes, your dentures will eventually begin to slip out of position—first infrequently, then becoming a regular problem, and then your dentures will barely fit anymore. Although it might be annoying and even a little alarming, this is perfectly standard behavior for dentures. What causes it, and what needs to be done about it?

Made for You 

Dentures are not only made just for your mouth. They're made just for your mouth at the time it was measured for dentures. Dentures sit on your mucosa—the soft tissues that line your mouth. The mucosa is living, changing tissue. Its contours change over the years. These changes are really minor, and barely noticeable. But they're enough that your denture plates can no longer properly hug the mucosa underneath it. 

A Little Loose

This problem is a typical part of owning dentures. Your dentures will start to feel a little loose—particularly when you eat hard, crunchy foods. Sticky, chewy foods might even tug your dentures right out of position. Denture adhesive can help to secure them, but this isn't a permanent solution, as the looseness will eventually go beyond the limits of adhesive. Without some assistance from a dentist or denture clinic, your dentures will become increasingly loose. Ultimately they will barely fit. 

Relining Your Dentures

Loose dentures indicate you'll need a checkup. Your dentures must be relined. This is an extremely common form of maintenance. All it involves is having an ultra-thin layer of resin applied to your denture plate. This means that the base plate will once again match the outline of the mucosa it sits upon. Regular (though infrequent) relining needs to be performed on all dentures—unless they happen to be locked in position.

A Permanent Alternative

Even when they're relined and are fitting as well as they can, dentures aren't an ideal tooth replacement system. You can eat most things, with some caution, but the fact that they're loose in your mouth can mean that you never feel entirely comfortable with your dentures. This can change if you have them permanently attached.

Implant Supported Dentures

Dental implants usually replace single teeth, with the titanium screw that's implanted in your jaw acting like a tooth root. A natural-looking porcelain false tooth is then bonded to the implant. It's different for an entire set of false teeth—like your dentures. All you need is enough implants to hold the dentures in place, and this doesn't involve many implants at all.  With as little as two dental implants in your jaw, your dentures can be permanently attached. They'll feel far more stable (and comfortable) in your mouth.

Loose dentures must be relined, but with a couple of dental implants, you can make sure that your dentures will never be loose again.

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29 December 2022