If your dentures don’t fit well, you likely just see them as a minor annoyance. You may think that you needn’t pay much attention to the prosthetics; just apply some adhesives and move on. That said, you should actually take your faulty restorations more seriously, as ill-fitting dentures can threaten your life. To learn more, read over this summary from your local Chesterton dentist.
Yes, Dentures Can Become Ill-Fitting
Over time, dentures can fit poorly as your mouth’s shape changes. The most common signs of a poor fit include:
- Difficulty Chewing – After a brief adjustment, you should be able to chew with dentures easily. Problems doing so later point to a poorly-fitting prosthetic.
- Pressure Sores –Dentures that don’t fit well put pressure on your gums. Therefore, they often cause painful and irritating sores on (and around) your gums.
- Changes in Speech – While dentures that fit well hardly move when you speak, ill-fitting ones will often flit about and make speaking much trickier.
- Discomfort – Dentures shouldn’t cause pain once you’ve gotten used to them. If they do, your discomfort and soreness indicate an ill-fitting restoration.
Ill-Fitting Dentures Increase Cancer Risk
Technically, it isn’t ill-fitting dentures themselves that can kill you. It’s the oral cancer – a life-threatening condition – that such prosthetics tend to trigger.
The issue is that dentures with bad fits trap harmful debris. Such materials not only include leftover food, but also tobacco, alcohol, and similar substances. Leaving them in your mouth can easily result in oral inflammation and continual cell damage, factors that greatly increase your risk of oral cancer. That means using dentures with a bad fit can have deadly consequences.
Dealing with Ill-Fitting Dentures
To get the most from your dentures and protect your well-being, the choice you should make is simple. Simply see your local dentist and have your prosthetics refitted or replaced.
Remember, dentists are the premier experts on dentures. They have a wide range of knowledge, resources, and skills related to how the restorations work. That being the case, dentists can often adjust dentures to give them a better fit. They can also provide you with replacements as necessary.
Since ill-fitting dentures can threaten your life, don’t leave them be. Have your dental provider adjust or replace them soon!
About the Practice
Advanced Dental Concepts is based in Chesterton, IN. Led by Drs. Danny Hayes and Allison Lent, our practice prides itself on offering truly comprehensive dentistry. Our team will gladly provide your smile with preventive, cosmetic, and even restorative care, as well as emergency treatment in urgent cases. Whatever ails your grin, rest assured – we can help you through it! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (219)-926-7595.