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New dentures are
custom made to fit the human mouth.
However, over time, mouth tissues shift and the dentures will require
adjustment in order to continue to perform as intended. This adjustment procedure is known as
denture relinement.
Adjustment
New dentures need
frequent adjustment to alleviate the sore spots that tend to develop in the
mouth. It takes mouth tissues time
to get used to the new tooth replacements.
Denture relinement is normally done in a dental office.
Dentures have to be
periodically adjusted by a Houston dentist in order to
compensate for the changes in fit that occur over time. The primary reason for these changes is
the continual shrinkage of the jaw bone when the natural teeth of a person have
been missing for some time.
It is a medical fact
that, during the first three years, people with missing teeth normally lose
40%-60% of your jawbone.
In addition to these
statistics, it is also a fact that certain habits, such as sleeping with
dentures in or clenching the jaw, will accelerate this shrinkage. If a person gains weight, or loses
weight, this also will change the contours of gums.
What all these
changes mean for the denture wearer is that several months after receiving a
brand new set of dentures, a denture relinement will be needed to readjust them
to their original fit. This has to
be done every so often in order to make life livable for the dental
patient.
Denture
Replacement
Patients are also
reminded that denture relinement is not a permanent solution to the problem of
deteriorating jawbone mass. As the
mouth continues to change, the original dentures simply do not fit any
more. In many ways, this is like
outgrowing an old set of clothes.
You have to get new ones.
Every 5-10 years,
the mouth will have undergone so many changes by then that a dentist will have
to make an entirely new set of dentures for the patient. Often, the dentist can out take the
original denture teeth and transfer them over to a new denture base. This can save patients money if it is
feasible and workable.
In other cases,
however, the teeth will have worn down too much to be salvageable. The dentist will have no other choice
but to manufacture an entirely new set of dentures.
It is time to look
into a denture replacement when any of the following occurs:
·
The patient gets a denture relinement and the
dentures still do not fit right.
·
The mouth feels constantly irritated or
sore.
·
The patient notices the appearance of his or
her face changing.
·
The patient experiences difficulty chewing
certain foods.
·
The dentures fall out when the person talks or
laughs
·
The denture teeth become worn.
·
The denture breaks.
·
The individual begins to experience headaches
or pain in the jaw joints or neck.
The
Importance of Good Denture Fit
People need dentures
that fit will. Loosely fitting
dentures will cause sores, mouth infections, and excess scar tissue to form in
the mouth. If dentures fit poorly
they will make it more difficult for the individual to chew his or her food, and
they will also affect how the individual’s jaw muscles and joints function.
Routine
denture relinements and appropriate denture replacements are needed to maintain
the comfort and well-being of the patient and to ensure the attractiveness and
functionality of dentures.
Cosmetic
Dentistry is a specialized field that requires extensive knowledge and
experience to be done correctly. The Medical Center Dental Group in
Houston, Texas brings all of that and more to the direct benefit of each and
every patient we treat. Although we are located in the world famous Houston
Medical Center at Scurlock Towers, we routinely see dental patients who travel
from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Beaumont, Midland and Houston, Texas to
see Dr. Dale Brant, Dr. Charles Campbell or Dr. Elizabeth
O’Sullivan-Winslow for their cosmetic dentistry
services
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