If you have a beautiful smile thanks to a newly made set of dentures, you’re probably not thinking of having to replace them anytime soon. Today’s dentures are custom made from durable materials and designed to hold-up well against the daily demands of chewing, speech, and all oral movements. Will your new denture last forever? Maybe, but there’s also a greater chance of it needing to be replaced at some point due to expected wear and changes to a person’s dental system. Knowing when it’s time to replace a denture can be established by both obvious factors, such as the condition of the denture and level of comfort, and by more subtle factors that your denturist may diagnose during a routine check-up.
Bone Structure Changes With Time
Looking at photographs that were taken of us twenty years ago frequently highlights the changes a body goes through over time. A noticeable change for many Calgarians is a loss of volume to facial tissues and a reduction of vertical dimension in our smiles. This loss of dimension between the chin and nose can be accentuated in denture wearers. It’s a result of the loss of jaw bone and the accompanying remodelling of jaw joints. When natural teeth are lost due to injury, decay, or periodontal disease, the boney ridge that once supported the roots of teeth starts to recede. This is a normal response to tooth loss but can be sped-up in those who have lost all their teeth. With the loss of bone and volume of gum tissue, a denture can become too big for the mouth; causing discomfort during functional movement and be at risk of falling out of the mouth due to excessive looseness. Replacing a denture where excessive bone loss and remodelling of the jaw joint has occurred not only restores comfort and function but also creates a more youthful appearance.
Even Denture Wearers Grind Their Teeth
Teeth grinding doesn’t just impact individuals with natural teeth; many denture wearers also visibly grind their teeth causing the denture the wear and the acrylic teeth to become shorter and flat. This change in shape can alter the look, fit, and function of a denture overtime. When a denture is made, it takes into consideration a person’s bite and is fabricated to ensure that chewing, biting, and speech are optimized. When teeth in a denture become worn, a person’s bite is altered. This makes it more challenging to chew food and sometimes results in jaw joint discomfort due to the loss of tooth support. In time, the shortening of teeth can result in a denture becoming non-functional, and the need for a new denture becomes essential to restore the ability to chew.
Acrylic Teeth Are at Risk of Staining
If you’re thinking it’s only natural teeth that bear the signs of red wine and coffee consumption you may be surprised to learn that acrylic teeth are also susceptible to picking up pigment stains from various foods. Cleaning a denture daily involves soaking it in a cleanser that has been recommended by your Calgary denturist and brushing it with a denture brush to ensure that food particles and plaque do not buildup. Daily care of a denture will help prevent food stains from becoming permanently ingrained in teeth and will also help prevent unpleasant odors. Natural teeth become yellow and darker as the years roll by, and so too do dentures — often resulting in a new denture being made when an existing denture has deteriorated, and stains and odors can no longer be eliminated.
If your denture has been feeling loose or has dulled over the years, we invite you to chat with the denturists at South Calgary Denture and Implant Clinic about the benefits of a new custom denture. Call us today!
