Dentures are effective and economical solutions for tooth loss for millions of Americans. A new set of dentures will help you eat, bite, chew and speak naturally for many years, but that doesn’t mean you can simply ignore them. To ensure your dentures are attractive and clean — and help you to maintain a youthful appearance — you need to maintain them properly on a daily basis. Beyond routine maintenance, though, you should also be on the alert for any indications that your dentures need repairs.
Just picture the dynamic environment in which dentures near you sit for half of every day. As your mouth changes and dentures do their thing, damage and changes can happen. Keeping on top of that damage and those changes can preserve the lifespan of your dentures and protect your health. Here are five signs you may need to have your dentures in Carrollwood repaired.
If any tooth has gotten broken
Dentures are made from sturdy materials that can withstand a lot of torque and pressure, but those teeth can break. One of the most common ways to break a tooth on a denture is to drop them into an empty sink. (That’s why you should always clean them over a towel or sink filled with water.) If any of the teeth in your dentures are broken, don’t try to repair them yourself, but take them to a dentist in Carrollwood who will arrange to have them repaired.
If they don’t seem to fit well any longer
The dentures provided by a dentist near you were shaped to fit your gums precisely. Over time, two things change: the shape of your gums; and the surface of your dentures where they meet your gums is exposed to wear and tear. Those changes can mean that your dentures may begin to fit poorly. If you notice changes in the fit of your dentures — and certainly every two to three years — take them to a dentist in Carrollwood. The dentist will inspect the surfaces and may reline them to help them to fit properly.
If you’ve lost weight
We mentioned above that the shape of your gums changes over time. That is especially true if you’ve lost weight. If, for example, you’ve lost 25 pounds, the volume of your gums themselves will shrink. Shrinking gums leads to poorly fitting dentures. If you’ve lost significant weight and notice changes to the fit of your dentures in Carrollwood, take them to be inspected and relined.
If you have irritated gums or sores on your gums
Irritation and soreness in the early days of wearing dentures is normal and predictable. The re-emergence of sores or irritation after wearing your dentures comfortably for some time — or persistent irritation or sores — is a different matter. If sores or irritation persist or re-emerge, take your dentures to be inspected for damage or flaws.
If your speech is changing
Changes to the shapes and spatial arrangements in your mouth affect your ability to make sounds and pronounce words. If, after having adjusted to wearing dentures in the first place, your speech or pronunciation seems to change, those changes may be an early indication of a poorly fitting denture. Relining the dentures may solve the issue pending the need for replacement.
There is no need to settle for a poorly fitting denture. They’re designed to fit you perfectly, and can be relined to respond to changes in your mouth and body. Eventually, even the best maintained denture will need to be replaced, but taking your dentures to a dentist for repairs at the sign of any malfunction will prolong their life and maximize your comfort and quality of life.