Ill-Fitting Dentures: What Are the Signs?
If you have lost teeth to damage or decay, you know the critical difference that dentures can make. But ill-fitting dentures can undo all of that progress, inhibiting your everyday tasks while causing irritation and even pain.
San Antonio dentists like Joseph Perry, DDS, have seen hundreds of patients looking for help with ill-fitting dentures. Whether you are looking for traditional dentures or more cutting edge technology like snap-on dentures, finding the right fit can make all the difference.
What Are the Leading Signs of Ill-Fitting Dentures?
When dentures fit poorly, you know it. There are some key signs that will tell you right away:
- Oral Pain: Like braces and retainers, dentures can take some getting used to and can cause discomfort at first. But it is important to notice whether what you’re feeling is that initial discomfort or a pronounced and persistent pain. Significant pain can be a sign that your dentures don’t fit correctly and are putting undue pressure on your jawbone and the soft tissues of your mouth.
- Gum Irritation: Just as ill-fitting shoes can lead to skin irritation and blisters, ill-fitting dentures can similarly irritate the gums and cause sores and lesions where the dentures cause pressure points. If your gums are constantly sore and swollen following your denture placement, you may have poorly fit dentures that are causing problems with your gums and can lead to periodontitis down the road.
- An Altered Face Shape: Good dentures should be invisible, in that nobody besides you and your dentist should have to know that you are wearing dentures. But ill-fitting dentures can noticeable through their physical appearance. Oral structures like the teeth are a major part of any person’s appearance, and dentures that fit poorly can make a person look quite different from the way that they looked with their original teeth.
What Are the Effects of Ill-Fitting Dentures?
Some people subscribe to the train of thought that, if they ignore a problem, eventually it will get better or just go away. This is not true at all when it comes to ill-fitting dentures.
Dentures that fit poorly can change a patient’s face shape and be a constant source of frustration, a demoralizing situation that can be damaging to your confidence and emotional well being. But bad dentures can have damaging physical effects as well - when ill-fitting dentures cause pain and are awkward to maneuver, it can make necessary daily activities like eating a chore. This may cause patients to avoid eating as often as they should, leading to them developing malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. In time, this problem can become life threatening if not treated.
Talk to Your Denture Specialist about Better Dentures
In the past, high quality dentures were much harder to come by and many patients had to settle for the best pair that they could find regardless of fit. But those days are long gone. Patients today can choose from many types of dentures to fit a range of budgets and physical needs.
Better, stronger, and more comfortable dentures are within your reach. If you are suffering from ill-fitting dentures, contact San Antonio Denture Solutions to schedule an appointment and learn more about your denture options today.