We could be the dentists’ recent guests
Problems and disadvantages often arise within a short period of time. Dentures have to be adjusted or re-aligned every few months so that they can re-adjust to the gum as, unfortunately, dental adhesives cannot maintain stable connections for a long time.
The need to adjust or re-align badly fitting dentures may lead to infections, sores and excessive scar tissue in the mouth.
Problems arise in everyday life:
Chewing becomes more difficult and changes manifest themselves in the jaw muscles and the functioning of the joints.
Dentures can fall out while speaking or eating.
Wounds can appear as a result of irritation and can also cause infection. Proud flesh may also result, which can only be eliminated by surgical intervention.
In the above situations dentures are adjusted in such a way that they are not in contact with sensitive areas. As a consequence, irritation may be less severe but there still remains a need for re-alignment or adjustments as other areas might become irritated or injured.
Why don’t dentures fit the gums for a long period of time?
A lot of people don’t know that dentures cause bone loss. When we lose teeth and replace them with dentures the jaw bone starts to recede. Dentures are created in such a way that they fit the jaw bone and palate at the time of fitting.
When the jaw bone starts to change dentures no longer fit properly. This means that a gap appears between the dentures and the gum, causing the dentures to move. Particles of food accumulate in the gap causing irritation and wounds and these can’t be removed by simply using a toothbrush.
Weight loss or gain can change the outline of the gums.
Within 5-10 years the mouth changes to such an extent that new dentures are needed as the old ones no longer fit the gum properly. In such a situation re-adjustment and re-alignment no longer constitute viable options.Teeth sets remain but there exists a need for a completely new denture base, which incurs additional costs.
6 additional problems caused by dentures
Dentures can cause several other problems that only a few dentists talk about:
- You will look prematurely aged. You will have wrinkles and your jaw will be smaller due to rapid bone loss. You can find out more about premature ageing here.
- Dentures can cause jaw bone loss. There are many people who cannot receive implants after having been toothless or having worn dentures for a long time as they don’t have sufficient bone left.
- Difficulties in speaking. With moving dentures oral articulation is difficult, in addition they can cause wounds in the mouth that hurt while eating.
- Can ill-fitting dentures cause cancer? Moving dentures can cause irritation, pain and wounds in the mouth that can become infected later on. Mouth cancer can develop in the infected areas.
- You can forget about your favourite foods. As a result of reduced chewing ability your bite will be weaker so you may have problems eating hard foods.
- Why are dentures a short-term solution for dental problems? It is good to know that besides smaller or bigger everyday problems, dentures can cause long term health problems that you may have never even heard about before.
Here’s the solution that makes is possible to enjoy eating for the rest of our lives.
Fixed tooth replacement is a permanent solution for those who have lost all of their natural teeth or wear dentures as these teeth are very similar to the originals in function and appearance. Implants function similarly to tooth roots, they also balance the chewing force in the jaw bones so there is an excellent chance that the bone loss stops.
