Having loose dentures is not only uncomfortable and embarrassing. Over time, they even pose a risk to your oral health. Unfortunately for denture wearers, experiencing looseness is often part of the long term consequence of needing this type of dental care.
When looking for loose denture fixes, there are a variety of options. These include fast, in-office fixes all the way through permanent changes to your denture that can last several years.
For more information on dentures becoming loose and what to do about it, keep reading below.
Why Dentures Loosen
Dentures stay in place by gripping to the existing gum. Unfortunately, when the law no longer has to support natural teeth, bone loss becomes common. As bones deteriorate, so does the same and strength of the gumline, often retracting back into a smaller form. This process is called resorption and is the cause of many ill-fitting dentures.
While good oral health such as cleaning your dentures and removing them at night helps stave off resorption, it is not always possible— especially for those wearing full dentures.
Loose Dentures Cause Health Problems
Many individuals don’t know that wearing dentures that fit incorrectly can cause health problems in both the short and long term.
Loose dentures create friction at the gumline. While this is minor initially, the chronic inflammation of shifting plastic eventually creates sores. When left to persist, increased inflammation is not only painful but can raise your risk for oral cancer.
As such, when you start noticing dentures are loose, its best to schedule an appointment to talk to your dentist and fix the problem as quickly as possible.
Solutions to Loose Fitting Dentures
When you visit your dentist, you can discuss several possible solutions to your denture problem. The following are the most common.
New Denture Adhesive
The simplest, though most temporary, solution is getting a new deter adhesive. Using a paste with a firmer grip and better fill can buy you time while you assess your more permanent options.
Soft Relining
A soft relining is a quick in-office procedure that helps re-mold the inner lining of removable dentures. The process is done by cleaning the dentures and adding polymer to the try. The try is then replaced in the mouth to take shape, thus offering a soft, more secure fit.
Depending on the severity of loosening, this option can last from months to years providing individuals with a reliable and affordable solution.
Hard Relining
This type of relining is similar to its less permanent counterpart. However, unlike soft relining, newly molded dentures are sent out to a lab where hard denture plastic is used permanently to reshape the tray.
While this offers an overall more durable fit, the procedure is more expensive and time-consuming. Your dentures will also be unavailable to you for a couple days while they are at the lab— something which causes inconvenience for many.
Dental Implants
Finally, if you are eligible, your dentist may recommend switching to implant-supported dentures. Here, implant posts are installed into the jaw, giving your dentures an anchor.
The procedure is invasive and expensive but is one of the best ways of reducing denture adjustment. Unfortunately, not everyone is a candidate for this method as they may not have the bone health to fully support implant rods.
Mesa Dentists Help You Choose
When caught early, challenges with false teeth are often easy to fix and maintain. If you are not sure which method is best for your long-term oral health, speaking to a dentist can allow you to make an educated decision.
At EVDP, we want to make sure you and your family have access to the best dental care in Mesa, Arizona. Established in the 1980s, EVDP is a trusted community staple for many generations of clients and is a staple of the East Valley.
If you need a simple cleaning or perhaps are looking for more extensive care, don’t hesitate to give us a call at: 480-838-3033.