DIAGNOSIS

Adjust & Reline

New dentures are made to fit properly, but as the tissues in your mouth change over time, your dentures will need to be adjusted, relined, and eventually replaced. A new denture often requires adjustments to relieve sore spots that may have developed while you’re becoming used to it. We can often make these adjustments right here in our office. Over time, however, the fit of your denture will change noticeably. The main reason is that the bone in your jaw continually shrinks when natural teeth are missing. In fact, during the first three years, it’s not uncommon to lose 40 to 60 percent of the jawbone. In addition, some habits, such as sleeping with dentures or grinding and clenching, can accelerate the shrinkage.

Weight loss of gain can also change the contours of your gums. These changes mean that several months after you get your new denture, its surface may need to be relined for a better fit, and during the lifetime of the denture, it will need to be relines periodically.

Every 5 to 10 years or so, your mouth will change so much that the denture will simply need to be replaced. Sometimes we can have the same teeth set in an entirely new denture base. In other cases, we’ll have an all new denture made for you. It’s important to wear a denture that fits well, because loose or badly fitting dentures can lead to infections, sores, and excess scar tissue in the mouth. It can also make chewing more difficult and change how your jaw muscles and joints function.