Poorly Fitting Dentures? A Dentist’s Guide to Comfort

Dentures are a cost-efficient and effective solution for tooth replacement. Advances in modern dentures have made them more comfortable and form fitting. The materials have vastly improved over the years. The impression molds cosmetic dentists use allow us to create a more exact fit. It used to be that dentures were a kind of one-size-fits-all solution for replacing teeth, so the dentures didn’t fit people’s ridges correctly – which are all individually-shaped. So it was a constant fight of finding the right glue and learning how to not move or chew too roughly and have an unsightly accident where your dentures would fall out. Dentures these days tend to fit more comfortably than the dentures your grandparents wore, since cosmetic dentists create dentures fitted to the exact contours of your mouth. But when tooth sockets are empty, your mouth continues to change as your jaw moves, so sometimes your dentures don’t fit as snugly as they once did.

It’s not them — it’s you! Dentures weren’t meant to last a lifetime. Occasionally, you’ll need to have them refitted. Usually, minor corrections by your dentist can do wonders for ill-fitting dentures. But every so often they’ll need to be replaced.

Here’s what you need to know about ill-fitting dentures.

Loose Fitting Dentures: What’s Happening with Your Mouth

As soon as you lose teeth, the bones that hold your teeth begin shrinking because there’s no stimulation from the nerves and blood flow between your jaw and the teeth that were once there. The exact amount of jaw deterioration varies for everybody. For some it’s gradual; others can be more dramatic. But every time you bite down, you introduce pressure onto the ridge, which essentially shrinks your mouth — a process known as ridge resorption. This causes the dentures to begin to fit poorly.

By the way, ridge resorption is exactly why dentists suggest you take your dentures out at night. It helps prevent shrinkage of the ridge, because we often clench our teeth at night. This process of “shrinking”, “deterioration”, and “resorption” may sound scary, but it’s just the natural processes that occur when you’ve lost your teeth. Denturescan replace your ability to chew and speak effectively, but they can’t replace the biological functions your teeth fulfilled. But it’s okay! Most adults are missing at least a few teeth, and age is a real thing. The way to deal with dentures is to understand the reality of them and how to best care for your mouth and dentures to make sure your mouth is as healthy as it can be for as long as possible.

Signs Your Dentures Need Adjustment or Repairs

How do you know when it’s time to have your dentures readjusted or repaired? Here are some signs to look out for.

Do you have difficulty chewing? It’s probably time to talk to a dentist. Granted, when you first get your dentures, your mouth will need to adjust. But if you’ve been using your dentures for a while, and you start to notice they don’t chew as well as they once did, it may be time for a refitting or adjustment.

Also pay attention to your comfort levels. Unfortunately, your dentures will never feel as good as your natural teeth, but they shouldn’t feel uncomfortable either. Pay attention to jaw soreness, uneven pressure, or other discomfort. You shouldn’t be experiencing pain when you eat. If you do, talk to a dentist.

Also look for changes in your jawline or facial features. This could be a sign your dentures need adjustment.

Make sure your dentures have a smooth fit. Top dentures should suction smoothly to your gums. Bottom dentures can float above your gums, but should easily stay in your mouth. Partial dentures should stay in line with your natural teeth without significant movement.

Dentures & Mouth Infections

Mouth infections can be a problem for people who wear dentures, especially ill-fitting dentures. Cheilitis is a painful infection caused by an overgrowth of yeast when your dentures don’t fit properly. It causes inflammation and cracking at the corners of your mouth.

Stomatitis is another infection that is caused by too much yeast from ill-fitting dentures. It causes small red bumps on the roof of your mouth or general mouth redness, especially under your upper dentures.

Both of these infections can be treated with medicine and denture adjustment. Talk to a dentist if you are having any of these problems.

Properly Caring for Your Dentures

To keep dentures fitting their best and lasting a long time, it’s important to take care of them.

Never sleep in your dentures, unless your dentist tells you to for a specific procedure, such as after multiple extractions, or when your dentures are brand new.

Thoroughly clean your dentures. Soak them in a denture cleaning agent overnight. Never use hot water; this can cause them to lose their shape. Brush your dentures every morning with a denture cleaning brush before putting them in. Don’t use household cleaners on your dentures — or even toothpaste. Always using a cleaner specific to dentures.

Handle your dentures carefully. They break easily. Avoid using toothpicks to clean between the teeth, because they can damage your dentures.

You should continue to clean your mouth daily. Be sure to clean and massage your gums, tongue and roof of your mouth each day. Stimulating your mouth with cleaning and massages is important for prolonging how your denturesfit and slowing the deterioration of your jaw.

What We Can Do for Ill-Fitting Dentures

We recommend you continue to see your family dentist every 6 months for checkups. They can check the condition of your dentures and make sure they fit properly. If your family dentist is also a cosmetic dentist, they can easily adjust your dentures or fit you for new ones. If not, they can refer you to a great cosmetic dentist and work with them to get your smile back on track.

Luckily for our patients, we’re both a family dentist and a cosmetic dentist, so we can make some adjustments to dentures to ensure a proper fit. As the mouth changes, your dentures will simply need to be replaced periodically; it’s nothing wrong, it’s just a fact of life.

Only your dentist should adjust your dentures. We use dental materials that are made specifically for dentures and only available to dentists. Never attempt to adjust them yourself. They can easily break.