Dentures are customised to the size and shape of your mouth so when you first get them they should fit you comfortably. Over time you might notice that they start to lose shape. They may move around a little when you eat or speak, or start causing little areas of irritation. Well-fitting dentures are essential for good oral health. In this post, we are going to explain how to make your dentures fit better and why you should always approach your dentist.
Fitting dentures is a customised process to ensure that they look, feel and function as much like your natural teeth as possible. The most common reason for dentures to become loose is because of bone resorption. This occurs because there are no tooth roots in place to stimulate bone tissue and it begins to deteriorate.
If your denture is uncomfortable when you first get it, it is because the shape is not right for your mouth and it needs to be adjusted. It’s important that you leave the dental practice with a well-fitting denture and even though it may be uncomfortable to get used to during the first few days, any discomfort should improve.
Caring For Your Dentures
You must practice daily denture care to keep your prosthesis in good condition and to protect your oral health. This involves rinsing them after you have eaten and cleaning them thoroughly once a day. Soaking them overnight in denture soak can help to remove any accumulated plaque or residue.
How To Make Your Dentures Fit Better
If you start having a problem with the way your dentures fit you should approach your dentist first. This is especially important if you have had well-fitting dentures for some time. If they start to lose shape it is most likely because your mouth has changed shape. If you can’t get an appointment to see your dentist right away, here are some tips for better fitting dentures.
It’s also important to give your mouth a break every night.
Dentures should be removed before sleep as this gives your soft tissue a chance to heal overnight and can lessen the irritation.
Using Denture Adhesive
Consider using denture adhesive if your dentures move a little when you speak or eat. Denture adhesive won’t compensate for ill-fitting dentures or those that have lost their shape and fit due to age. You should only use a small amount and make sure you remove it thoroughly at the end of every day.
Having Your Denture Adjusted Or Relined
Sometimes small adjustments can ensure better fitting dentures, particularly if they are causing some irritation or sore spots have developed. If your denture generally fits well but is causing some discomfort, your dentist will be able to remove or adjust the uncomfortable parts. The parts causing the discomfort can be smoothed and straightened out, to give you a more comfortable experience wearing them. When you have an adjustment, the goal is to distribute your bite force more evenly across the denture so that it doesn’t apply too much pressure in one area.
When a denture gets older, you may want to consider having it relined. This is an alternative to having a new denture made, and it can extend the lifespan of the denture. Your denture can be relined with hard or soft material, extending its lifespan and improving its fit.
Consider Giving Your Denture More Support
If your denture fits you well but moves around when you eat or speak you have the option of retaining it more securely using a dental implant. While this can be done on the upper or lower jaw, it is done most commonly when a lower denture floats out of place. Also known as overdentures, this is a more secure way of keeping it in place.
It also offers the benefit of preserving some of your jaw bone, because the implant functions as a tooth root and stimulates tissue in the jaw. This means that they should not loosen over time, and the changes to your jaw shape can be reduced or avoided because there is minimal bone loss.
Contact Your Dentist For Help
Ultimately the only way to ensure your dentures fit better is to visit your dentist. The purpose of wearing artificial teeth is to improve your experience when it comes to biting and chewing. Because dentures are carefully made for each patient’s mouth, you should not attempt to fix or adjust them yourself. Doing so can cause permanent damage and greater discomfort when you wear them. Using household adhesive or tools is not advisable as you can break your denture easily.
For help with how to make your dentures fit better, it’s essential to speak to your dentist. Please contact us for an appointment: (03) 9626 9581.
REFERENCES
Denture Problems
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/common-denture-problems
Ensuring your dentures fit comfortably
