When Denture Adjustments May Be Needed

Denture adjustments are a form of maintenance and a reality for anyone who wears dentures. Repairs and refitting enable you to make the most out of your dentures. Adjustments can keep your dentures comfortable and functional. With regular maintenance, your prosthetic teeth enable you to speak and enjoy meals without embarrassing mishaps.

Denture adjustments are not a weekly or monthly thing. Dentists only recommend them in certain situations.

Different kinds of denture adjustments

Denture adjustments fall into several categories:

• Repair
• Smoothing
• Refitting

Repairs correct damage that results from accidents, mishaps, and regular wear. Smoothing removes imperfections that irritate the soft tissues in the mouth, and refitting modifies the overall shape of dentures.

Refitting is the most intensive kind of denture adjustment, and it requires some form of fabrication. The process only comes into play if there are noticeable changes to the dentures or the mouth of the patient. The following situations are when denture adjustments may be needed.

1. Finishing touches to new dentures

It takes time to settle into a set of new dentures, and a little discomfort is expected during the adjustment period. The discomfort becomes a problem when it turns into pain, soreness, and bleeding. These types of injuries introduce the risk of infection and make it hard for a person to speak or eat. New dentures with these kinds of problems need adjustment, refitting, or outright replacement.

2. Wear and tear

Dentures are subject to the same crushing and shearing forces that natural teeth deal with. The dentures can bend, break or develop cracks over time, which often happens to people who clench their jaws.

Accidents and other mishaps can also damage dentures and limit their ability to do their job. Denture repair can correct damage to prevent injury, a poor fit, and overall discomfort. Adjustments also ensure that the dentures retain their shape for a realistic smile.

3. Loss of bone and gum tissue to the patient’s mouth

Without the stimulation of tooth roots, the jaw loses the ability to replace the minerals that the bloodstream leaches. What follows is a gradual but constant loss of bone mass and bone density. In time, the shape of the jawbone and gum tissues changes, and dentures can start to slip.

Adjustments modify the dentures to accommodate the new shape of a person’s mouth. This recreates the snug fit that keeps the artificial teeth in place all through the day.