Can a mouth appliance be used for a person that wears dentures? I was always told to remove my denture when sleeping. Thank you
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Thanks for the questions – yes, we have always told denture wearers to take their dentures out at night, and this is still logical. Giving the tissue a rest overnight is good.

However, there are situations in which it is better to wear the dentures:

1. Pain in jaw when dentures are out – wearing the dentures gives more support to the jaw and is more comfortable
2. Obstructive sleep apnea – with certain sleep disorders, using appliances for jaw positioning can help the problem
3. Patients that have some remaining teeth or implants in place to stabilize dentures can sometimes grind on those and create wear and tear problems. In these situations, it is better to wear the overdentures to protect the teeth or implants from excessive wear.

So, as in life, there are no hard and fast rules. It depends on your personal situation and need. Let me know if you want any more information.

Chuck Campbell, DDS
713-795-5905

Labels: dentures, sleep apnea dental device, sleep apnea oral appliance