One of the most upsetting aspects many denture wearers must deal with is having
dentures that do not fit well. When dentures are too loose or rub a wearer’s gums
it can cause sores to form. This can lead to pain and discomfort when the
dentures are being worn. This can be a difficult situation and can often cause the
patient to wonder what is wrong with the way their dentures were made.
Cause of Improper Fitting Dentures
Most denture wearers may become confused as why their dentures have
suddenly changed and stopped fitting properly. Often they may think the
dentures were designed improperly. However, this is generally not the case. In
most situations, the dentures have not changed, but instead the change has
occurred in the shape of the person’s mouth.
Reasons the Mouth Changes Shape
When a person has teeth removed from their mouth, it will often cause changes
to begin happening in the structure of their jaw and face as well. This occurs
because the jawbone no longer has dental roots to support. This is often referred
to as bone resorption. Without the substance of the dental roots, the jawbone
will gradually start to breakdown and deteriorate. This causes the structure of the
mouth to change. Since the dentures cannot adjust to the new shape, the wearer
will experience problems.
Ways to Correct Denture Fit
When this type of situation occurs, a denture wearer may think they can help in
correcting the problem by using creams, pads or other over the counter products
to keep their dentures in place. While these products can often produce some
results, they are only temporary. To properly correct the fit of dentures, they will
need to be adjusted by a dentist.
Relining the dentures is generally the main way this is done. During a reline
process, the dentist will remove a portion of the base of the dentures. A putty
substance will be applied to the base and new impressions of the patient’s gums
will be taken. From this mold, a new denture base can be created to match the
current shape of the patient’s mouth.
Denture wearers will experience issues with the fit of their dentures every few
years, because of changes in their bone mass and the shape of their mouth. By
seeing a dentist adjustments to the dentures can be made. This can help in
restoring the fit of their dentures.
