5 Dangers of Poorly Fitting Dentures

Improperly fitting dentures can be a major pain. In addition to causing worry and frustration that they could slip or come loose at an embarrassing moment, they can also create many painful yet preventable problems. Here’s a closer look at five ways a poorly fitting prosthetic could harm your health, and how your dentist can help you fix it!

Discomfort and Chafing

For your dentures to stay in place, they rely on a concept called natural suction. Without this, they can slip or become loose at an inopportune moment, such as when you’re eating or speaking. Unfortunately, when they aren’t secure, they can also rub or chafe your gums, causing discomfort and even mouth sores. Worse yet, this can damage your jawbones, increasing the likelihood of needing restorative treatment like bone grafting later on.

TMJ Disorder

The temporomandibular joint connects your jaw to your skull, allowing your mouth to open and close to eat and speak. Unfortunately, sometimes it can become painfully worn or damaged, creating a condition called temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. When this occurs, it can become difficult to open and close your mouth. It can also cause migraine headaches, neck and back pain, tinnitus (ringing ears) and a clicking or popping sound when you open and close your mouth. Unfortunately, when your dentures don’t fit correctly, your jaw may be forced to move unnaturally to keep them in place during use, which can put strain on the temporomandibular joint, creating or worsening a TMJ disorder.

Malnourishment

Teeth don’t just look great when you smile. They also serve an important function: allowing you to properly chew a variety of healthy, delicious foods. When you’re missing permanent teeth, your dentures are there to help take over these tasks, but if they don’t fit correctly, they can’t work as efficiently as they’re supposed to. This in turn makes it difficult to break down tougher foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. With time, this can take a negative toll on your overall health and cause malnourishment, which can seriously endanger your health and quality of life.

Speech Problems

Your teeth are an instrumental element in your speech articulation. You see, to create certain sounds, your tongue needs to touch specific areas of the mouth while talking. When you wear dentures, they act as stand ins for your teeth, allowing you to speak clearly and enunciate properly, but if they don’t fit right, they can make it harder to understand you, and can even make talking uncomfortable and embarrassing.

Self-Consciousness & Embarrassment

Finally, when you’re constantly worried about your teeth coming loose when talking or eating, it can be difficult to engage socially. In fact, many people simply isolate themselves to avoid this, increasing feelings of sadness and loneliness. This can lead to a variety of other problems, including depression, anxiety, and poor self-esteem.

How Your Dentist Can Help

The great news is that if your dentures have stopped fitting correctly, your dentist can help. Often, a repair known as a denture reline can help restore your prosthetics, so they fit properly once again. If they are too worn or unable to be repaired, your dentist can fit you for a brand-new pair, or perhaps even upgrade you to implant dentures that secure in place with four to six dental implants for an unprecedented hold that won’t slip or come loose when you’re relying on their stability.

Remember, while it is not uncommon for dentures to become worn or loose with time, your dentist can help repair or replace them if they’re no longer working properly. To learn more about your options for restoring your beautiful smile, schedule a consultation with your dentist today.

About Our Practice

At West Hartford Dental Group, Dr. Phadnis and Dr. Pucci want to make you smile, even if you wear full dentures! If your prosthetics have seen better days, or if you’re interested in upgrading to a pair of dazzling new implant dentures, reach out today to learn more about your options. To schedule a consultation for dentures, visit our website or call 860-236-4249.