Loose dentures pose a common problem for denture wearers, but did you know they don’t all become loose for the same reason? Your denture can change with years of daily wear, while your gums and jaw continue to change after your denture is made. What feels like the same loose fit can have very different causes.
At Big Sky Dentures & Implants, our two skilled denturists work directly with denture fabrication, fitting, relines, repairs, and adjustments. We offer this range of denture services because your needs can change throughout the life of your appliance. From maintaining your dentures to creating a new one when the time comes, we are equipped to care for your dentures at every stage.
Why Do Dentures Become Loose Over Time?
When we make your dentures, we fit them to the shape of your mouth as it is today. Your gums, jawbone, and bite all help determine how that denture is designed. Years later, those conditions may look different.
Some of the change happens to the denture. Artificial teeth gradually wear from chewing, which can change how your bite comes together. The denture base also ages with daily use. Even small changes to the appliance can affect a fit that was originally designed around very specific measurements.
At the same time, the tissues supporting your denture are changing. Your gums can change in shape and volume with age, weight fluctuations, and other changes in your health. Since the denture keeps its original shape, it may no longer follow the contours of your gums as closely as it once did.
An even bigger change is happening underneath those gums. After you lose a tooth, the jawbone that once supported its root gradually shrinks through a natural process called bone resorption. When you have lost all of the teeth along an arch, that process changes the ridge of bone your denture rests on. Over the years, the ridge can become lower and narrower.
4 Signs That Loose Dentures Need More Attention
How much thought do you give your dentures throughout the day? If the answer is more than you used to, think about what has changed.
These four signs can help you recognize when a loose fit is starting to ask more of you.
You Rely on Denture Adhesive More Than You Used to
Denture adhesive can add some extra hold, but has the amount you need gradually increased? Perhaps one application used to last, and now you reapply it later in the day. Increasing your use to compensate for a changing fit is worth noting.
Your Dentures Move When You Eat or Speak
Think about your last few meals or conversations. Do your dentures lift, shift, or rock when you chew? Do you use your tongue to steady them before speaking? A denture should allow you to use it without constantly managing where it sits.
You Have Frequent Sore Spots
An occasional tender area can appear here and there, but the same spots should not keep returning. Repeated rubbing or pressure on your gums can be a sign that the denture is no longer resting evenly against the tissues as it should.
You Are Changing Your Routine Around Your Dentures
Have you stopped ordering certain foods? Do you chew differently, speak more carefully, or think twice about eating with other people? Small adjustments can become habits so gradually that you may not realize how much work you are doing to accommodate your dentures.
Denture Relines and Repairs in Missoula, MT
At Big Sky Dentures & Implants, we start by looking at both sides of the fit: your denture and the mouth supporting it. Sometimes, the denture is still in good condition and just needs a small adjustment. Other times, the appliance has been damaged or has reached a point where replacing it makes more sense.
You do not need to figure out which category your dentures fall into before you see us. We can examine what has changed and determine whether a reline, repair, or replacement is the appropriate next step.
| If the main issue is… | You may need… | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| The denture is intact but no longer matches your gums | Reline | The tissue-facing underside can be reshaped to match changes in the gums and jaw ridge |
| The denture fits adequately, but part of it is damaged | Repair | It corrects a specific problem, such as a cracked base, a broken or loose denture tooth, or a damaged partial denture clasp. |
| The denture is old, heavily worn, repeatedly breaking, or still problematic after relines and adjustments | Replacement | The overall denture (not just its fit surface) has reached the end of its useful life |
Give Your Loose Dentures the Care They Need Now
A denture that has served you well for years may eventually need some attention. Your mouth has changed during that time, and your denture has experienced years of daily use right along with you.
If your dentures feel different than they used to, bring them to our denturists in Missoula, MT. Whether they need some maintenance or it is time for a new set, our goal is to help you get back to wearing your dentures comfortably, without having to work around them every day. Contact Big Sky Dentures & Implants to schedule your denture evaluation.
