Wearing Loose Dentures in Elderly

Full denture wearers often experience loose dentures, especially among the elderly or folks who’ve worn them for a long time. The denture tends to become loose over time irrespective of how perfect the fit was initially. This is because your jawbones shrink with age, like all your other bones, causing the shape of your mouth to change and your denture to loosen.

Upper dentures usually fit better and are less problematic compared to lower dentures, owing to their larger surface area to rest and offer suction.

Wearing loose dentures is a common problem among the elderly. While dentures are a convenient and affordable way to replace teeth, they can become loose over time due to natural changes in the shape of the jawbone or as a result of poor denture maintenance.

So how do you fix them?

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How to fix loose dentures

Loose fitting dentures make it difficult to eat, speak, and laugh, and give you a general feeling of discomfort. But whether or not implants or new dentures are necessary depends on both the state of your existing dentures and the condition of the supporting.

If you’re looking for some home remedies for loose dentures, you can checkout this link.

Otherwise, here are some other options to consider:

1. Reline dentures

This is a quick solution to fit your dentures temporarily if your false teeth are not worn down excessively. Since the extent of bone loss varies from one person to the other, some denture wearers often require more recurrent relines than others. Denture relining can be done in one of two ways:

Temporary reline (Denture soft reline instructions) – Involves putting a layer of material beneath the denture while it is still in your mouth. The process requires the dentist to take an impression with a mouldable material that toughens and fills the gap created by shrunken oral tissues. This technique will only stabilise your dentures for a short amount of time, but it’s sufficient for urgent cases where you need the same day denture reline near me.

Permanent denture reline procedure – The process is the same as for temporary relines, except that your denture has to be referred to a dental laboratory so they can replace the temporary mouldable material with more durable/permanent denture plastic (methacrylate). This technique is long lasting, though you have to spend a day or two without your dentures.

It’s best to get your denture reline at your dentist’s office, but if you find it to be too inconvenient, or perhaps you don’t have the funds, then you can opt to do it at home using a reline kit. However, you should keep in mind that there’s a chance that this may affect the fit of your denture, plus the kit is not intended for partials. Moreover, a do-it-yourself reline kit can only be considered as a temporary remedy. If you choose to continue, make sure to follow the instructions that come with your preferred kit.

2. Replacement tooth for denture

If your false denture teeth are worn down, and a dental reline will not deliver the desired fit and stability, your dentist will probably recommend a replacement denture to restore your proper bite and chewing function. It may also be necessary to remake the dentures if your teeth have poor aesthetics, or the denture’s base material is not in good condition.

3. Dental implants

If excessive gum tissue and bone loss has occurred, you may have difficulty tolerating a conventional denture. So, your prosthodontist may have to anchor your denture directly to the underlying bone for stability. The denture implant functions in a similar manner to the roots of your natural teeth, stimulating the bone and preventing further shrinkage. You don’t need an implant on every tooth, but the minimum number of implants required for stability is two.

Your prosthodontist will help you assess the right option that is in your best interests. Improved function, talking, biting, chewing, and smiling will help to boost your self-confidence and well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a soft denture reline last?

The actual durability of a denture reline depends on the option you use: about four years for a hard reline, and one-two years for a soft reline. Compared to soft relines, hard relines use more robust materials, which allow them to endure longer than soft relines. Until a permanent reline can be performed, a temporary reline should be done to help keep your dentures snug and comfortable. The lifespan of a do-it-yourself reline will naturally be much much shorter, and should only be considered for convenience or as a temporary low-cost remedy.

Dentures typically last five to seven years, before you need to replace them, because of the changes in the mouth’s anatomy brought on by aging and deteriorating jawbones. Getting your dentures relined once every two years might extend the lifespan of your dentures as these minor adjustments take place. However, it will be necessary to receive a new set of dentures if more significant alterations have taken place before the five-year minimum limit.

What is the best denture reline kit?

Relining your denture is a simple and affordable process with the right denture reline kit, which can help to make your day-to-day life with dentures comfortable. Most denture relining kits on the market today are intended for short-term use, which means that you will have to get used to relining your dentures at an interval of only a few months. If you find this process to be tedious, then you may opt for a longer-lasting relining kit. Some of the options to consider include:

Perma Soft Denture Reliner Kit – Relines 2 Denture Plates

What is the standard denture reline cost?

Repairing a denture may involve:

Repairing the denture’s framework as a whole or a specific area.
Repairing one tooth.
Fixing multiple teeth on the denture

Dropping your denture on the ground or biting too forcefully into anything are the most common ways that people break their dentures. Dentures that are too loose might also lead to biting fractures and misalignment. The damaged acrylic will typically need to be replaced during denture repair. This type of denture repair may cost you between $100 and $200 depending on your dentist.

Denture relining, on the other hand, will likely cost between $300 and $500. Dentures won’t last forever, but with proper maintenance, they can last a little while longer. You should consider getting your dentures fixed and relined as an investment if you want to continue using them for many years.