The life span of dentures can vary and depends upon several factors, such as changes in the mouth, clenching and grinding, diet, and materials used for the denture. I usually advise replacement of dentures around the 8-10 year mark, in some circumstances earlier.
Your Mouth Changes
Once teeth are lost the gums begin to change shape. This happens rapidly within the first 12 months and then at a slower rate. Your denture however will not change and will not fit as well as it once used to. This leads to the denture becoming loose, rocking and losing its grip. The more ill-fitting the denture the quicker the gum changes. A poorly fitting denture is also more likely to fracture.
Your Denture Changes
Daily use will inevitably lead to wear and tear. The teeth will flatten over time and no longer meet together as well as they used to. This is especially so if you grind and you sleep with your teeth in.
What you use and how you use it to clean your teeth will also lead to wear. The use of a hard brush and abrasives should be avoided. It will lead to a loss of the surface texture and shine of the teeth.
A poorly fitting denture will lead to breakages. These can usually be repaired but will always be a source of weakness and unless the underlying cause is eliminated, lead to further breakages.
Sometimes the denture needs to be modified due to losing a natural tooth. This will usually involve the addition of a new tooth to the denture. The gum around the new tooth will change over time and a gap will form under the section. This can lead to increased food trapping in the area.
A New Denture will:
- Help you eat better
- Fit better and reduce the likelihood of dropping out when you least want it to
- Look natural and give your face a revitalised feel and look
- Eliminate ongoing discomfort and soreness
- Help reduce excessive gum and bone shrinkage
- Prevent future breakages and denture wear by means of new designs
- Prevent any natural tooth drifting and or over-eruption
- Increase confidence with your smile and with public interactions
Find out more about dentures here.
If you are having problems with your dentures and would like to get them looking and you feeling great please get in touch or book online for a FREE consultation.