Denture problems are something that few people who invest in the cheaper solution of dentures ever consider until after the fact. Unfortunately, hindsight can have some very negative consequences for you if you do not educate yourself first in the drawbacks that are inherent to dentures as tooth replacement.
Many people choose dentures because they have been raised to believe this is the cheapest solution to the problem of bad teeth. They may have grown up with a family member who told them that the best way to fix a dental problem was to simply have bad teeth pulled and replaced with dentures.
Usually this is not a family member who has actually had to wear dentures, because as most denture wearers will tell you, getting dentures problems will emerge not too long after you first begin to wear them.
Problems with eating are always the first denture problems people notice. Eating will take much longer because you will only be able to apply about 15% to 20% of normal force when chewing with dentures. This will make many foods you like more difficult to eat. This is particularly true for fruits and vegetables, which are crucial for your overall health.
Tasting food will be more difficult too, especially with upper dentures, which cover the taste buds on the roof of your mouth.
Gagging and sore spots are usually the next denture problems that appear. Many people gag when they wear upper dentures because they have such an active gag reflex. People with a severely active gag reflex may not be able to wear them at all.
Sore spots can also develop because the tissues in the mouth were never made to have plastic continually rubbing against them.
Problems associated with shrinking jawbone are the most serious of denture problems. The most serious problem is the loss of jawbone. When teeth are missing, the jawbone does not get the stimulation it needs from chewing, and the bone begins to shrink.
This causes the denture to become loose and floppy. After a few months, the denture will have to be relined, and every few years, it will need to be remade completely to keep it fitting properly.
This is a particular problem with lower dentures. The base for the denture is smaller to begin with, and as the loss of bone flattens the jaw, there is very little to hold it in place. Even worse, the shrinkage can expose nerves that pass through the lower jaw, so the jaw hurts and can go numb every time you bite down.
The loss of jawbone also changes your appearance. Your nose gets closer to your chin and your lips collapse. This causes wrinkles, gives you less lip support, and makes you look older.
The expense of dentures is another denture problem that will add up sooner than you think as you continually have to return to the dentist for relinement and periodic replacements. When you add this to the cost of making them to begin with, you can see that dentures are not the truly cheapest route to take.
As cosmetic dentists skilled in all aspects of general and esthetic dentistry, we recommend that you choose treatments that will save your natural teeth and restore their natural appearance. You will look better, feel better, enjoy your food more, and have more confidence.
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