If your dentures are in a drawer because they just “don’t feel right,” or they are loose or make sore spots in your mouth, it’s time to see Dr. Roman Shlafer. Loose dentures can be a big problem as you age, as your dentures don’t change, but your mouth does. If you have dentures, they should fit, and you should be able to wear them.
What you may not be aware of is that over time, the continued compression of the tissues under full dentures results in loss of bone and gum tissue volume. The bone that formerly supported your teeth is not designed to withstand these forces, and in response, it reasorbs over time, resulting in loose dentures. Loose dentures are a common problem, especially if you have worn them for a long time. Whether or not you need new dentures depends not only on the condition of your existing dentures but also how much the supporting tissues have changed. You would also want to know how well your upper and lower dentures line up. Occlusion refers to the way teeth bite together, poor occlusion is a common reason for dentures to shift while chewing. This kind of biting problem can dislodge a denture when chewing. Another reason for loose dentures has to do with how well the dentures fit your gums. When teeth are lost, the gums do not stay the same shape forever, they change shape over time.
Your first set of dentures may become quite loose in only a few months. Your denture is unstable, because there are spaces under the denture. State of the art dentists, like Dr. Shlafer, now use dental implants to fit permanent snaps into your jaws. Dentures that snap onto implants giveyou the most comfortable, most secure fitting dentures that have ever been available. Some questions to consider:
- Are you satisfied with the appearance of your dentures?
- How worn are they?
- Is your bite still functional?
- Can you eat and chew properly?
- How often to you need adhesive to secure your dentures?
Even if you wear dentures, it is still important to continue with regular dental visits to make sure your teeth are fitting properly, as well as being examined for signs of oral cancer. Dr. Shlafer will evaluate you and help you determine what treatment is in your best interest. His goal, is to improve function, biting, chewing, talking, and smiling. This will improve your self-confidence and well-being with a relined, replaced, or implant supported dentures.