Are Your Existing Dentures
Causing You Problems?
Common
Problems for Denture Wearers
- 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 3 years?
This should be no surprise! Would you expect clothes,
that you wore all day, everyday, to last 20 years?
Even if they do, there would definitely be considerable
wear and tear. Certainly, they would not fit in the same
way they 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.
Did you know that diabetic
patients require more dental care to avoid further health problems?
Diabetics’ high glucose levels create a feast for
oral bacteria. Therefore thorough periodontal care and patient education in proper
hygiene is crucial. Click here to learn more.
Did
you know that denture wearers should be screened annually for
Oral Cancer?
Ill fitting
dentures can increase the possibility of oral cancer and
you should see a dentist at least once a year for screening? Click
here to learn more.
Ask
your dental doctor about the Vizi
Lite and Oral Cdx. They help detect any changes
in the tissue. This is to detect oral cancer before symptoms
occur.
Early treatment is critical. Unlike biopsies this
is done with just a mouth rinse and a special light. It
is totally painless and takes just a few minutes!
Did you know...
- loose dentures
can cause sore spots that may become infected? This
is because of excessive, uneven or unbalanced contact between your
soft tissues and your dentures.
- denture teeth
are just as susceptible to the destructive effects of plaque as
natural teeth? Once plaque hardens
into calculus, it can present an irresistible invitation
to bacterial problems,
gum disease and irritations, and a range of digestive problems.
Daily denture care and yearly professional check
ups will help
to maintain your oral health and appearance.
New Denture Bases
Over time, your ridges
will naturally shrink as the bone recedes and supporting tissues
change. This change will be more rapid with some patients
than with others and is affected by the condition of your health
and the protective care of your ridges. When
this resorption progresses to the point where your
dentures are too loose, or your
facial appearance starts to change for the worse, it's time to
have your dentures rebased, relined, or remade.
Annual Examination
At least once a year,
your should make an appointment with your dentist for a thorough
examination of your entire mouth. Such an examination
provides
your dentist with an opportunity to correct any problems that may
have appeared due to natural and progressive changes
in your oral
structures that can cause shifting of the dentures, undue pressure
on supporting ridges, or damage to oral structures
and bony projections.
This step is crucial to maintaining correct alignment
of your dentures as well as good oral health and healthy
ridges. At that time,
we also recommend an annual oral cancer screening. In addition,
regular professional cleaning and polishing will help to prevent
disagreeable tastes and odors from forming on your dentures.
