Why don’t my dentures fit as well as Uncle Tom’s

2012-02-08T13:47:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered why your dentures don’t seem to fit as well as someone’s that you know? You went to the same dentist. You paid the same. They seem to eat, speak, and function without problems. Your dentures fit like “socks on a rooster”. Why?

There are a number of things that affect the way dentures fit and feel. Below are some of the major factors that affect dentures. Some of those things can be altered, and some are difficult or impossible to change.

1. Quantity and quality of jaw bone (alveolar bone)- The bone that supports our teeth is called alveolar bone. The alveolar bone sits on our upper (maxilla) and lower (mandible) jaws. If we lose our teeth, this same bone becomes the primary support for our dentures. Dentures are only as good as the foundation that they are built upon. Unfortunately, when we lose our teeth the body naturally thinks that this bone is no longer needed and the bone begins to resorb or disappear. Resorption of alveolar bone takes place at different rates in different people. As this bone resorbs, the foundation for the denture becomes compromised affecting the fit and stability of the denture.

2. Quantity and quality of saliva- Imagine two pieces of smooth glass, one laying upon the other. Now imagine that a small amount of moisture has gotten between the two pieces of glass and that you need to separate them. The moisture forms a seal that makes the separation more difficult. Saliva serves a similar function in dentures. It helps to from a peripheral seal ensuring the dentures stay in place. Amount and type of saliva can vary from person to person. Some people produce a lot of saliva, helping to form a good denture seal, while others’ salivary flow is compromised. Some peoples’ saliva is thin like water, and others’ is thick and has a consistency similar to mucous. Age is one factor in saliva quality that is difficult to alter. Medications can also play a large role in salivary quality and quantity.

3. Muscle attachment- Our tongue and lips are controlled by a number of different muscles in and around the mouth. Locations of attachments for these muscles vary from person to person. Sometimes these muscular attachments can get in the way when fabricating a denture. These muscles can be sites of constant irritation or they can cause dislodgment of the denture. Sometimes we are able to work around the attachment. Other times the location of the attachment can be altered (minor dental surgery).

4. Neuormuscular control- Neuromuscular control is the ability of the mind and body to initiate movements in a coordinated fashion. Speaking and chewing with a denture often requires intricate movements in order to manipulate the tongue and bolus of food while not dislodging the denture. An individual’s neuromuscular control may determine whether or not these movements can be made. Many things influence neuromuscular control. One of the most common is age. As we age, our ability to make these coordinated movements often decreases slightly. Trauma and disease are other factors that influence neuromuscular control.

5. Type/quality of oral mucosa (gums)- Our mouth has different types of tissue in it. Some of this tissue is dense, highly keratinized and tightly attached to the bone (Keratin is a type of protein in our skin and tissue that helps makeup a protective outer layer). Some of this tissue is thin, weak and loosely attached to bone. The more dense, keratinized and highly attached tissue we have the more support our dentures have.

Proper design and fabrication is sometimes all that is required to fix an ill-fitting denture. However, sometimes the factors listed above make it impossible to fabricate a denture that is functional and fits well. What is the solution?

Dental implants are often times the solution. Dental implants are essentially titanium screws that replace tooth roots. Dental implants serve multiple functions. They help to hold the denture in place. They offer support for the denture so that you can produce more chewing forces. They help to maintain alveolar bone so that it doesn’t resorb or disappear. Dental implants are very successful and with proper care can last a lifetime. Dental implants can improve appearance, speech, comfort, eating, and overall oral health.

Dental implants can also be used to replace individual teeth or groups of teeth. If you have questions about implants, give us a call. Dr. Florence and Dr. Powell offer free consultations and are happy to assist you in any way they can. Visit our website or call our office.

www.pleasantvalleydental.com

801621-3383

B.P.

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2011-10-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

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Special thank you to Tannya Hunt. She compiled this information and was generous enough to share it with us. Thank you Tannya.

If you have further questions, please give us a call and we would be happy to help you in any way we can. You can reach the office at 801-621-3383. Or visit our website at www.pleasantvalleydental.com.

Dr. Brady Powell DDS

New Blog

2011-10-19T09:36:00.000-07:00

We at Pleasant Valley Dental are extremely excited about our new blog. We plan to post on a regular basis and hope that you enjoy our posts. We want this blog to be both educational and entertaining. If you have suggestions please see the contact page of our website at http://www.pleasantvalleydental.com/.