How Often Should Denture Wearers See a Denturist?
Dentures replace missing teeth, but that doesn’t mean regular oral health care is no longer important. Even if you no longer have any natural teeth, the tissues in your mouth and the fit and condition of your dentures should still be checked regularly by your denturist.
Tooth loss can occur for many reasons, including tooth decay, periodontal disease, injury, certain medical conditions, or simply the cumulative effects of dental problems over time. Whatever the reason, properly fitted dentures can help restore your ability to eat, speak and smile comfortably.
If you wear dentures, regular home care and professional examinations can help keep both your mouth and your dentures in good condition.
Different Types of Dentures
How your dentures are maintained—and how often they may need adjustment—depends partly on the type of denture you wear.
Complete Dentures
A complete denture replaces all of the natural teeth in either the upper or lower arch. Some people wear both upper and lower complete dentures, while others may require only one.
Complete dentures are removable and are supported by the tissues and underlying bone of the mouth.
Over time, the shape of your gums and jawbone can change. Because the denture itself does not change along with your mouth, a denture that once fit comfortably may gradually become loose. Your denturist will recommend treatments to keep your dentures fitting and feeling their best.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures replace some, but not all, of the natural teeth in an arch. Depending on the design, they may be supported by a combination of the remaining natural teeth and the tissues of the mouth.
Regular examinations are especially important for partial denture wearers because the health of the remaining natural teeth can directly affect the fit and function of the denture.
Immediate and Transitional Dentures
An immediate denture is made before teeth are removed and inserted shortly after the extractions are completed. This allows a person to avoid going without teeth during the healing period.
However, the gums and jawbone change considerably after extractions. For this reason, immediate dentures commonly require adjustments and may eventually need to be relined, rebased or replaced once healing has progressed.
Your denturist will monitor these changes and advise you when additional treatment is appropriate.
Implant-Retained Dentures
Implant-retained dentures use dental implants placed in the jawbone to provide additional support and retention for a denture.
Compared with conventional dentures, implants can significantly improve stability—particularly for a lower denture, where movement is a common concern.
Implant-retained dentures are often removable by the patient for cleaning, depending on the type of restoration. The implants, attachments and denture still require regular professional examination and maintenance.
How Often Should You Visit Your Denturist?
Even if your dentures feel comfortable, it’s a good idea to have your mouth and dentures examined regularly by your denturist.
For many denture wearers, an examination approximately once a year is appropriate, although your denturist may recommend more frequent visits depending on your oral health, the type of denture you wear and any changes that are occurring in your mouth.
During a denture examination, your denturist can evaluate:
- The fit and stability of your dentures
- Changes in the gums and underlying bone
- Irritation or pressure areas
- Your bite and how the upper and lower dentures function together
- Wear or damage to the denture teeth and base
- The cleanliness and condition of the dentures
- The soft tissues of the mouth
- Implant attachments and components, when applicable
You should also schedule an appointment sooner if your dentures become loose, begin causing discomfort, develop cracks or broken teeth, or if you notice persistent changes in the tissues of your mouth.
Why Dentures Become Loose Over Time
After natural teeth are removed, the jawbone that once supported those teeth gradually changes in size and shape. This process continues throughout life.
As these changes occur, a denture that once fit closely against the gums may begin to move or feel loose. This doesn’t necessarily mean that anything is wrong with the denture—it may simply no longer match the current shape of your mouth.
Depending on the situation, your denturist may recommend an adjustment, reline or replacement denture.
Dental implants can help preserve bone in the areas immediately surrounding the implants and provide additional retention and support, but implant-retained dentures still require ongoing maintenance and periodic evaluation.
Don’t Try to Repair or Adjust Dentures Yourself
If your denture is uncomfortable, loose or damaged, avoid trying to repair it yourself with household adhesives or over-the-counter repair materials.
Grinding or altering a denture at home can also change the fit or bite and may make the problem more difficult to correct.
Instead, have the denture examined by a denturist so the cause of the problem can be identified and the appropriate repair or adjustment can be made.
Regular Denture Care Is Part of Good Oral Health
Wearing dentures doesn’t eliminate the need for regular oral examinations. Your mouth continues to change, and problems can sometimes develop without causing pain or obvious symptoms.
Regular denture examinations give your denturist an opportunity to identify changes early, maintain the fit and function of your dentures and help you get as much comfortable use from them as possible.
If you wear dentures and haven’t had them examined recently, Parisien Denture Clinic can help.
Contact Parisien Denture Clinic to schedule a free consultation at our Windsor denture clinic.
