Dentures can be great for replacing missing teeth, but they are not great when they aren't stable in your mouth and fall out. There are a number of reasons why a denture might not be stable, and in this post, we are going to review two of them.
More Bone = A More Stable Denture
The more bone that you have in your mouth, the better your denture will fit, as the bone provides the support for the denture. As we age, however, we tend to lose bone, and as a consequence your denture may get progressively looser. If this sounds like your situation, you might need what's called a denture reline: a procedure where we adjust the inside of the denture, so it fits more tightly in your mouth. Of course, if you have a significant amount of bone loss, or if your dentures never fit properly, a reline might not be effective, and either a new denture or an implant denture could be an option.
Ill-Fitting Dentures
Patients who have enough bone to properly hold in a denture may still have problems with the denture moving or falling out. In this case, the problem is most likely with how the denture fits in your mouth, or how it moves when you bite. In some cases, if a denture is too long (it digs into your gums) or if the bite is off (it slides around when you chew), it can make the denture very difficult to wear and make it almost impossible to eat with them in. In these cases, we examine the edges of the denture to make sure they are long enough to keep it in, but not so long as to dig into your gum tissue and force the denture out when you eat or smile. We also examine the bite, as a denture can fit perfectly fine when you are watching TV or reading a book but starts to become loose and uncomfortable when you start eating.
Implant Dentures
In cases where patients simply don't have enough bone to consistently keep a denture in place and feeling comfortable, an implant denture may be an option.
We can help
Regardless of the problem you or your loved one is having with your denture, we can help. Call us or contact us today to get started.