Ill Fitting Dentures?
Posted on Thu, Sep 09, 2010
It seems many people who have a denture(s) complain about them from time to time. They always want to blame the denture, but the fact is – the denture doesn’t change, YOU DO. Many factors go in to “denture” problems. Changes can occur in the body such as body weight gain or loss, illnesses, changes in medicine, etc. All of these may affect the way your denture fits. Over longer periods of time, natural wear and bone deterioration come into play. In addition to fit, these changes also can affect how far you have to “close” in order to chew possibly leading to jaw joint problems. That is why it is important to have your dentist check your denture at least once a year or after any big health event.
Another problem involves people getting a denture for the first time. There are two main causes of tooth loss aside from decay. One, of course, is gum disease, which I’ve covered previously in an article on the need for implant attachments due to lack of bone support. Today I would like to address the opposite extreme – too much bone. Most often brought on by grinding trauma, the body attempts to reinforce itself by forming extra bone (exostoses), often at the expense of the teeth. (See pixs)
As a result, when teeth are lost due to attrition (grinding), surgery is often times necessary to eliminate these “bumps” in order to wear a denture that does not excessively rub these places. When people try to bypass this step, they are left with an ill-fitting denture that cannot be corrected by adjustment or relining (or complaining). So if you want a well fitting denture, be sure to start with well fitting bone.