How to Replace Dentures
Much like almost anything we use on a daily basis, dentures have a lifespan and will without doubt need to be replaced. For the most part, you can expect your dentures to last you from four to twenty-five years. According to the American Dental Association, it really depends on a number of factors, like bone recession, gum shrinkage and normal wear and tear, how long your dentures will last. Of course, annual visits are recommended to ensure your dentures are working and fitting properly.
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Instructions
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Contact your dentist. He will be able to conclude whether or not your dentures need replacing.
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Check the vertical dimension between your lower and upper jaws. Jaw bones will inevitably change as we age. This change affects our bites or the way we bite down on food as well as the way we speak. Yes, we do tend to accommodate for this sort of change, adjusting the way in which we chew our food, but leaving this loss in vertical dimension can begin to damage the joints. Have you ever heard of TMJ?
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Assess the wear of the teeth. Overtime, the synthetic teeth of your dentures will wear. It's unavoidable, even when they're made of porcelain. If they become to worn, damaged or cracked, they can actually begin to affect the way you chew your food. While not as substantial as the loss in vertical dimension, poorly worn teeth of your dentures can begin to damage the joints of your jaw as well. However, you may only need to have the teeth of the dentures replaced and not the entire dentures.
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Look as well as feel for signs of deterioration. Sometimes, dentures will begin to deteriorate, which will change the dimensions of the plates. This creates loose fitting or poorly fitting dentures. More often than not, you'll simply need to have them relined, unless, of course, the deterioration is too great. It is at this time that you'll need to have the dentures replaced.
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Consider bone loss. A number of people who wear dentures experience something called bone loss. This typically happens to the lower jaw bone, which creates poorly fitted lower dentures. Before replacing this denture, other options will be explored, like tissue extension and bone augmentation, to name only two.
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Tips & Warnings
Daily maintenance is important for your dentures. Brush them each night and remove any adhesives you may be using. Much like your own teeth, a good habit to get into is cleaning your dentures after each meal.
