Denture problems are something that few people who invest in the cheaper solution of dentures ever consider until after the fact.

You may have grown up with a relative who told you that the best way to fix a dental problem was to simply have bad teeth pulled and replaced with dentures. If you remember correctly, however, you’ll recall that this person probably never wore dentures themselves. People who actually wear dentures will tell you that they are very problematic at times.

Problems with eating are the first denture problem you will notice.
Eating takes longer because you can only apply about 15% to 20% of normal force when you chew with dentures. This makes it hard to enjoy many foods you normally eat. This is especially true for fruits and vegetables, which are crucial for your overall health.

Tasting food is harder too, especially with upper dentures, because they cover the taste buds on the roof of your mouth.

Another denture problem you will face is gagging and sore spots. If you have an active gag reflex, dentures may trigger it. If you have a severe gag reflex, you may not be able to wear them at all.

Sore spots can also develop in your mouth because of plastic continually rubbing against them.

A shrinking jawbone is the most serious of denture problems.
The most serious problem is the loss of jawbone. When tooth roots are missing, the jawbone does not get the stimulation it needs from chewing. The bone starts to shrink. This causes the denture to become loose and floppy. Jawbone recession also changes your appearance. It makes your nose get closer to your chin and makes your lips collapse. You will have less lip support and more wrinkles that make you look older.

After a few months, you will have to have your denture relined, and every few years, it needs to be remade completely to keep it fitting properly. Recession also exposes nerves passing through the lower jaw, so the jaw hurts and can go numb every time you bite down.

This is particularly true for lower dentures. The base for the denture is smaller to begin with, and as the loss of bone flattens the jaw, there is very little to hold it in place.

The compounded cost of dentures is another denture problem that adds sooner than you think as you continually have to return to the dentist for relinement and periodic replacements. As cosmetic dentists who are also skilled in all manner of general dentistry practices, we recommend instead that you invest in quality treatments that will save your natural teeth and restore their natural appearance. You will look better, feel better, enjoy your food more, and have more confidence.

Labels: denture problems, full dentures problems, problems with dentures

If you lose all of your upper or lower teeth, the cosmetic dentists at the Houston Medical Center Dental Group may recommend a full denture for replacing therm. This is not the first and best option we recommend, but it may be the most affordable to you. Full dentures may serve you well for a time, and help you eat more easily, speak clearly, and at least have a presentable smile in public.

In time, we hope you will look into more cosmetic and permanent tooth replacements which we are happy to provide you with when time and money permit. In the meantime, let’s take a look at what full dentures can offer you in the here and now, and how we go about arriving at the conclusion that they are indeed what you need in the moment..

Diagnosis and Treatment
First, we determine if full dentures are right for you by performing a thorough examination of your gums and remaining natural teeth. The exam normally involves taking x-rays to see if your jawbone is healthy. We also will take detailed impressions of your teeth in order to build an accurate duplicate model of your mouth.

We then record the best positions of the center line and the lip line of your mouth. This will ensure that your denture teeth look as attractive as possible. We will also work with you to help you choose the best color and shape for your teeth replacements.

There are many types of full dentures, so we will talk with you about the best type for your situation.

Standard dentures are intended for individuals who have already lost all of their natural teeth. These are the kinds of dentures that have been used over the past few decades. Improvements have been made during this time that make them fit better and feel more comfortably. Standard dentures can be sized by removing some of the back portion of the denture. The only drawback to doing so is that this weakens the seal that holds them in place.

Full dentures are intended for people who have lost most of their teeth in one or both jaws. Many times we have to remove the few remaining teeth that are badly damaged by disease and decay. Full dentures cannot be placed until the gums are totally healed.

Healthy teeth that do remain can be kept to give the denture a more secure fit.

Benefits of Dentures
Dentures replace missing teeth, which makes it much easier for you to eat and speak. Dentures will help keep your jaws in their correct position to some extent, but they will not prevent the jaw bone from losing mass. Nevertheless, they do promote the proper functioning of the jaw joints and muscles. They also will support lips and cheek muscles to some extent.

In order to make full dentures truly work for you in the long run, and to help keep your youthful appearance, we strongly recommend you consider getting denture implants. Denture implants use prosthetic rods to anchor your dentures to the jawbone. These rods substitute for tooth roots and stimulate the jaw bone with vibrations that prevent bone recession and loss.

Labels: full dentures, full dentures problems

You may have assumed that your dental problems will be over if you have your teeth pulled and replaced with full dentures. This is not the case. Most people who wear them will tell you that there are a number of problems with full dentures that you need to be aware of before you invest in them.

Problems with EatingOne of the problems with full dentures is that it takes you much longer to eat. You are only able to bite down with 15% to 20% of your normal force when chewing food.
This makes it hard for you to eat a number of foods, especially certain fruits and vegetables. These are crucial for your overall health, so it is important that you weigh these facts carefully before making a decision.
It may also be difficult to taste your food. Upper dentures, in particular, will cover the taste buds on the roof of your mouth.

Gagging and Sore SpotsAnother problem with full dentures is gagging. Many people have a strong gag reflex and find it impossible to wear uppers on the tops of their mouths.
Sore spots can also appear in the mouth. Tissues in the mouth are not adapted to having plastic continually rubbing against them.

Problems Associated with Shrinking JawboneOne of the most serious problems with full dentures is the loss of jawbone mass. You see, the jawbone needs tooth roots in order to have something to grow around. When teeth are lost, roots are lost as well. The jawbone, which is normally stimulated by the vibrations that travel through tooth roots during chewing, no longer is stimulated while eating.

If nothing is done about this, over time, the jawbone begins to recede. Dentures do not prevent this from happening, nor do they reverse the process. This is because they simply lay over the gums, and they do not have anything to replace missing tooth roots. In fact, after a few months, the denture will become loose and have to be relined at a dental office.

Every few years, it will have to be completely replaced with a new set of dentures.
There is also a problem with full lower dentures. The base for this denture is smaller than the one on top. As bone loss begins to flatten the surface of the jaw, there is little mass left that can hold the bottom denture in place. This shrinkage can also expose nerves that run through the jawbone. This will cause the jaw to hurt, and it can even begin to go numb every time you bite down.

This loss of bone mass in your jaw will alter your appearance. Your nose will get closer to your chin, and your lips will start to collapse. Premature wrinkles will form because there is less lip support, and you will look older than you really are.

The Expense of DenturesAnother problem with full dentures is the long-term costs. Even though it is cheaper to buy them up front, when you factor in the costs of removing teeth, making dentures, relining them, and remaking them, you can quickly see how the money adds up.

It is for these reasons that Houston Cosmetic Dentists at the Houston Medical Center Dental Group recommend investing in better ways to save your natural teeth. You will feel better, enjoy your food much more, and you will have much more confidence when you smile.

Labels: full dentures problems