Common Problems for Denture Wearers

  • Premature Aging
    New dentures can replace the worn ridges, lengthening and straightening your face, making you look and feel younger!
  • Poor Fit
    Loose or improper fitting dentures can cause excessive friction between the soft tissues and the dentures, resulting in sore spots that may become infected.
  • Poor Chewing Ability
    A denture that doesn''t fit or teeth that don''t function effectively can make it difficult to chew food properly. As a result, many nutritious and harder-to-chew foods may be eliminated from the diet. In these cases, digestion and overall good health are affected.
  • Unnatural Aesthetics
    "Chicklet" teeth that are all the same color can be a tell-tale sign that a person is wearing a denture. The same is true with overly dark teeth. Other signs are flat teeth, "picket fence" teeth, too much gum, too much teeth or not enough teeth showing.
  • Premature Aging
    Inferior denture teeth can wear excessively. This "shortening" of the teeth leads to a shortening of the face. That will increase the wrinkles around your mouth, cheeks and chin. The end result? You look older. Over time, the ridge tissue will shrink, no longer supporting the denture like it should. An unstable denture can make the ridges shrink even more and at a faster rate.
  • Joint and Jaw Disorders
    Excessive denture tooth wear and "shortening"  of the ridges may cause improper support and function which can upset the jaw mechanism. This can, in extreme cases, lead to a temporo mandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.  TMJ can be characterized by pain in the jaw, neck, head, and/or shoulders.
  • Bad Oral Hygiene
    Food particles can get stuck in old or dirty dentures. This breeds bacteria, which can weaken the denture and lead to bad breath.
    Due to the porous nature of the acrylic or porcelain from which dentures are made and the natural changes occurring in the mouth, even the best made denture should be replaced every 3 years.
  • Emotional and Psychological Distress
    Improper fit or unnatural-looking dentures can make it difficult and embarrassing to speak, eat and socialize.

Did you know that your dentures need to be replaced at least every 6 years? 

This should be no surprise! Would you expect your car, to last 20 years?  Even if it does, there would definitely be considerable wear and tear. Certainly, it would not drive in the same way it once did.  You should expect no less from your dentures!

  • The gums and ridges of your mouth change over time while dentures do not.
  • A denture cannot do its job properly for more than 3 years.
  • Wearing the same dentures for more than 3 years can cause changes in your mouth that are often irreversible. For instance, a bad fitting denture can cause the ridges to shrink faster. Therefore, the denture becomes loose. In that case, it then becomes that more difficult to fit future dentures.

Did you know that partial denture wearers may have an increased risk for heart disease?

  • The American Heart Association says that bacteria may affect the heart and contribute to heart disease. People with periodontal disease, a bacterial infection, may be more at risk for heart disease.
  • Partial denture wearers should have their teeth cleaned regularly, as bacteria and calculus accumulate wherever a denture contacts a tooth.
  • Partial dentures should be removed at night to prevent the build up of bacteria and calculus. This is similar to the calculus that can clog your arteries and lead to heart attack.
  • Medications prescribed for heart disease can increase the incidence of bleeding gums. This can increase the likelihood of gum infection that can be prevented by a dentist. These drugs may alter or decrease your taste perception.
  • Overgrowth or enlargement, of gum tissue may occur when taking certain medications for high blood pressure or chest pain. This gum inflamation may cause your dentures to fit improperly.
  • Many of the agents used to treat high blood pressure are also frequently associated with decreased salivation and dry mouth.
  • Dry mouth leaves the mouth without enough saliva to wash away food and neutralize plaque, leaving you far more susceptible to tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease.
  • Dry mouth can also weaken the retention of dentures.
  • Heart disease medications can cause edema or fluid retention that will cause a swelling of the body''s tissues. Denture fit can fluctuate noticeably because this swelling will affect your gum tissue.
  • It is critical for your general health that your denture doctor be informed of all medications you are taking prior to your treatment.
  • All denture wearers should be especially attentive to their diets.  Research consistently shows the link between unhealthy eating habits and an increased risk for heart disease and stroke.
  • Regular checkups can help to ensure that you will be able to eat a wide variety of wholesome, heart-smart foods.
  • We ask all our patients to complete a detailed medical history chart.  It is important to advise us of any medical conditions and/or medications, including heart disease. In doing so, you will help to ensure that you will receive the best and most complete denture care.

Common Conditions During the Adjustment Period

  • Excessive Saliva Production
    Your saliva glands naturally become overactive when any foreign body, like food, is placed in the mouth. This is a normal part of digestion. In the beginning, your dentures will feel strange, but in a few days will be accepted as a normal presence. Any excessive salivation will decrease to normal amounts within a few days.
  • Facial Expression
    Your normal expressions may seem slightly altered at first. This period of adjustment will get better as your facial muscles and lips learn to relax around the new denture.
  • Feeling of Fullness in the Mouth
    The new denture is at first foreign to your mouth. This temporary condition is perfectly natural. With time, this feeling of fullness will pass as you adjust to your new dentures.
  • Feeling of Looseness
    As you adjust to your dentures, your tongue and cheek muscles will attempt to repel them as they would any foreign body, and these efforts may result in a sensation of loose dentures. In time, and as the dentures settle into place, these muscles will stop trying to expel your dentures and can even aid in holding them in place. At this time, you will notice a definite improvement in the fit. During the adjustment period, it might help to close your mouth and lips and suck gently on your dentures to overcome this feeling of looseness.
  • Function or Chewing Ability
    As you begin to chew with your new dentures, it is wise to be fully adjusted to all other phases. Until your dentures are comfortable you may be disappointed with chewing at first. Once you begin to use your new dentures, try to be persistent and patient with the rate of your progress.  Begin with very small bites of soft food and chew very softly. In biting into harder foods such as apples or carrots, try pressing smaller pieces against your front teeth and simultaneously breaking the food off by twisting your hand.
    To keep your lower denture in place as much as possible while chewing, try:
    • using an up-and-down chewing motion, keeping side-to-side jaw movements to a minimum.
    • placing small portions of food on both sides of your mouth,right and left and in the back,at the same time.
    • limiting your tongue movements until your chewing efforts become more efficient. At first, smaller particles of food may get under your dentures. In time, this inconvenience can improve.
  • Nausea
    Some patients, who suffer from new denture nausea, normally do so only at the beginning. Rest assured that the feeling will soon pass. Keep your dentures in your mouth and, if possible, hold a piece of hard candy (especially lime or peppermint) in your mouth. If this feeling persists for two days or more, call your local denture doctor for an appointment.
  • Soreness
    The tissues of your mouth are among the most sensitive of your body and some time may pass before they become completely adjusted to the presence of your new dentures. During this time, it is normal to experience some mild discomfort. However, as sore spots develop they must be corrected by your denture doctor. Many patients require follow-up visits for denture adjustments during the first few weeks, so be assured this is a very common and expected experience. In the event that you do develop a sore spot, call your local denture doctor to make an appointment. Until that time, it might be helpful to try to keep the dentures in your mouth as much as possible so that the sore spot will be present during your appointment.  This will ensure that your denture doctor will correctly diagnose and treat the problem.
    In the event that you experience soreness, chafing or other discomfort, you must NEVER attempt to alter or adjust your dentures yourself. Your denture doctor is specially trained to locate and fix such problems and is the only person who should ever adjust your dentures. Just as you would not attempt to pull your own tooth , you should not try adjusting your own dentures. You may be an amateur photographer, but please don''t attempt to be an amateur dentist. Please note that although we guarantee our work for six (6) months after the initial insertion, this guarantee will be void for anyone who adjusts, grinds, shaves down or otherwise adjusts their own denture.
  • Speech Difficulties
    Initially, trouble with talking may be caused by the presence of a foreign object (your denture) in the mouth, and patience is necessary during the adjustment period as your mouth and tongue become accustomed to the new dentures. Your speech can be improved considerably if you take some time to read aloud, paying special attention to your pronunciation and repeating words that you have difficulty saying clearly.