Well-fitting, well-crafted dentures are worth the investment because they’ll help you eat a normal array of foods, speak with greater ease and more confidence, and help you look younger, healthier, and more attractive. Unfortunately, even the best made dentures will begin to loosen over time and that confidence you once felt will begin to fade as your dentures slip and clack embarrassingly. Even worse, those loose dentures often lead to serious oral health problems. Today, we’re looking at issues caused by loose dentures and discussing your options for permanently securing your dentures in place.
Why Do Dentures Stop Fitting?
When you lose your teeth, the bone tissue beneath the gums atrophies over time. This causes your gum ridge to change shape. So, while those dentures fit beautifully when you first got them, as the months and years past, they no longer have a secure bond with the gums.
Loose Dentures are a Pain in the Gums
Have you ever heard the expression “bumping your gums?” This is exactly what happens when you speak and chew while wearing loose dentures. The denture plate bumps against the gums, irritating the sensitive tissue. As a result, those irritated areas of the gums can become swollen and raw, eventually becoming sores.
Loose Dentures Lead to Infection
These sores and raw patches are prime territory for oral bacteria that live in the mouth. Poor oral hygiene habits and chronic dry mouth can exacerbate the problem, leading to bacterial infections in the gums. These problems are compounded if you don’t take proper care of your dentures by regularly cleaning them, since the surface of the denture plates can become a breeding ground for microbes.
Solutions for Loose Dentures
Dental implants, small titanium posts that replace your missing tooth roots, are the ideal way to permanently secure a denture plate to your gums. Dental implant secured dentures will not slip and do not need denture adhesives or suction to stay in place. Best of all, they look and perform just like natural teeth.
ABOUT YOUR KATY DENTIST:
Dr. Colin Lathrop and the Lathrop Dental Center proudly serve patients and families from in and around Katy, Fulshear, Weston Lakes, Simonton, Richmond, Rosenberg, Brookshire, Wallis, Orchard, and all surrounding communities. If you’d like to schedule a dental appointment, you can reach our office in Katy, TX, by calling (832) 437-3849.
