5 Signs You Need New Dentures
There are several signs to watch for that can signal a need for new dentures or a denture repair. However, not all types of damage to dentures automatically mean you have to replace them.
To be sure, if you have any of the signs noted below, schedule an appointment with your dental professional. They will be able to tell you whether or not your dentures need to be replaced or just need to be repaired.
Signs You May Need New Dentures
1. Your Gums Are Developing Sores
As painful as this can be, sores can develop on your gums when your dentures are either worn down or no longer fit properly. You can expect your dentures to rub against your gums ordinarily but not to the point where sores will be created.
Left unchecked, any type of oral injury can lead to infection aided by the bacteria in your mouth. Your dentist will likely either suggest denture relining or replacing your ill-fitting dentures if they are causing open sores on your gums.
2. You Have Trouble Eating
If eating has somehow become painful or uncomfortable over time, you may be experiencing a problem with how your dentures fit. Your mouth and gums change shape over time and often this will create a poor fit where false teeth will slip and slide making activities like eating a chore rather than a pleasurable experience.
If you have any of these problems with dentures, see your dentist for a checkup. Your dentures may need repair rather than you needing to replace them with new dentures.
3. Your Dentures Feel Loose
This is typically your first indicator that your false teeth need attention. If you notice that they don’t seem to sit properly and are not held as firmly in place, as usual, there could be a problem with your dentures.
You may have cracked dentures if the fit is something that occurs quickly. If the fit changes over time, your gums and mouth have likely changed shape. Your dentures may need to be relined to address this issue. Cracked dentures may be repairable… if not, then you will need new dentures.
4. You Have Trouble Speaking
You need your teeth, mouth, and tongue to form words when you speak. If your dentures are not fitting properly you could have issues when talking. Dentures that slip and slide because they are not staying in place can be damaged if they fall out of your mouth and hit a hard surface.
Your gums and mouth change shape over time and maybe your false teeth just require relining to correct the fit. Your dentist will be able to advise you on this matter and whether you will need new dentures.
5. More Teeth Are Missing
If you have lost more teeth since your false teeth were made, you will want to replace your dentures with a new set. This type of replacement will include additional fake teeth to fill in the spaces where you have lost additional teeth.
It could mean moving from a partial denture to a full one that will replace a complete row of your natural teeth that are missing. Any remaining teeth will wear down faster if you do not explore your false teeth options in this case.
FAQs
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about knowing when you need new dentures. We have included our answers to help you with this matter…
How do you know when you need new dentures?
If you find that your false teeth do not fit in your mouth properly and are causing you difficulty in doing simple tasks that you could do wearing them before, you may need to have your dentures looked at. Not all damage requires replacement. Visit your dental professional for guidance.
Do dentures ever feel normal?
Yes. There will be a period of adjustment while your mouth, gums, and tongue get used to the feeling of the false teeth in your mouth. Once you are used to them, you may not even notice that you are wearing false teeth.
How do I know if my dentures fit properly?
Your top dentures should easily be held in place with suction while your bottom plate should sit comfortably on the gum line. If either slips or won’t stay in place, you may have a fitting problem.
During the early stages of creating your false teeth, your dentist would have created a mold and taken precise measurements to ensure a solid fit. However, your jaw can change shape over time, so just because your dentures used to fit nice and snug does not mean that they always will.
If you have recognized that your dentures don’t fit as well as they used to, book in to see your dentist to see whether you need new dentures.
In Conclusion
There are many things that can happen to dentures that may make you think that the only solution is a new set of false teeth. However, unless you have broken dentures, there is a good chance that you may not require new dentures.
An example is stained dentures. A visit to your dental professional for whitening or the use of an ultrasonic cleaner can restore the look of your false teeth.
The list above will give you some idea of what signs to watch for and whether they signal a denture repair or whether you may actually need new dentures.
