Last Updated on September 16, 2022
If you have dentures, you may have noticed that the lips fold inward, especially the parts that used to face outward. This happens to everyone on occasion, but it is an indicator that your dentures need support. Insufficient support can cause many folds and lines around the mouth and between your mouth and chin. Here are some tips to help you get the support you need from your dentures. Read on to learn more.
Problems with dentures
Putting something in your mouth will trigger saliva glands, so it is best to remove your upper dentures for at least four to six hours each day. Otherwise, your dentures will feel like an encasement and could cause sores or even mouth infections. Additionally, your dentures may feel like a foreign object because of their tight fit. Nevertheless, these feelings will soon disappear. Listed below are some of the other problems that can occur when wearing dentures.
A lack of lip support from dentures can cause your lips to fold. This can lead to angular cheilitis, an infection of the creases at the corners of the mouth. Your dentures may be too tight or too small, or your front teeth might not sit in the neutral zone properly. In some cases, your dentures will even cause lipstick to transfer to your denture. You may also experience problems with your mouth’s overall function after getting dentures.
Improperly fitting dentures can lead to sores in your mouth and discomfort when eating. You can fix this by reshaping or lining your dentures. Make sure to follow the care instructions that came with your dentures. This includes daily brushing and rinsing with a specialized denture cleaning solution. However, if your dentures feel loose or uncomfortable, you can also use clean water to wash them.
Treatment options
Dentures that aren’t properly positioned may lead to excess saliva production. When dentures are poorly positioned, the mouth cannot close properly. A simple procedure like a labial frenectomy can remedy this problem. When done correctly, the procedure should decrease saliva production while restoring the proper fit of the dentures. If it doesn’t, the patient should discuss the problem with a prosthodontist.
Depending on the cause of the discomfort, you can choose between various treatment options to restore your lips. First, you can try taking an antifungal medication. These medications are commonly given in the form of lozenges or ointments. If that doesn’t work, your dentist can use low-energy laser therapy. If small nodules are causing the problem, you can opt for a minor surgery to remove them.
Second, there are implant-retained dentures. These are ideal for people with deteriorating jawbone and gums. Because the dentures hold food in place, they make chewing and swallowing easier. This type of denture retains the teeth with a small implant, giving you more aesthetic quality and comfort. Moreover, implant-retained dentures reduce the gap between the upper and lower teeth. They also produce attractive new edges at the corners of your mouth and lips.
Implant retained dentures involve a surgical procedure, although patients usually have to undergo anesthesia for this procedure. This procedure involves a CT scan and cone beam scan. The scan results are used to plan the denture treatment and estimate the cost. Patients often require follow-up appointments. Patients should expect more frequent checkups with the prosthodontist for adjustment. After the surgery, the dentures may last for a few years or even decades.
Adaptors
Many people who wear dentures struggle with getting proper lip support. Without this, they often have sunken lips or folds inward. This is a common problem, and some dentists suggest that traditional dentures are more effective at this than implant dentures. Traditional dentures, which fit over the ridge where the teeth were, do not have this problem. However, lip flanges are one possible solution to a common problem. The researchers set up three separate experiments to determine the impact of lip flanges on lip support.
Full dentures are designed to cover a wide surface area and provide the necessary support and suction for chewing. In addition, they extend into the trough where the gums attach to the cheek. Because the denture acrylic is attached to the lips, it is possible to feel it with light pressure on the area around the lips. You may also experience a slight puffiness in the mouth from the denture. To ensure maximum support, the dentures must be made of a thick enough acrylic that it won’t break.
Diet
Getting the right amount of lip support from your dentures is vital to their appearance and comfort. People with dentures usually experience caved-in cheeks, a nutcracker smile, and deep facial folds. This is due to a lack of support from the lower face. In addition, the sagging appearance of the lower face is the result of the same amount of tissue and bone being replaced by the dentures.
Your dentures should give you the same amount of support and comfort as your natural teeth, and this includes the lips. While you might think that you’re wearing something that feels uncomfortable, a poorly fitting denture can actually make your lips fold inward and can lead to a range of other problems, from cracked lips to bleeding lips. Even worse, the lips can become so dry that they will actually start bleeding. If you’re not getting adequate lip support, you can experience several other embarrassing side effects including dry lips, mouth infections, and even biting your lips.
Preventing gagging in dentures
Although dentures are a great way to fix your smile, some people still have problems with gagging while wearing them. To avoid gagging while wearing dentures, try these three simple tips. First, make sure to take good care of your new teeth. If you have a sensitive mouth, gagging may be the reason. But if you take extra precautions, gagging should disappear.
First, prevent your patient from feeling the transition between the denture base and the soft palate. When seated upright, your head tilts forward reducing the amount of material flowing toward your throat. This will lessen the chances of your patient gagging during the process. Second, make sure your Denturist is able to converse with you while the impression tray is in your mouth. If you feel like you’re gagging, read a short story or talk to them while they do the impression.
Another common cause of gagging with dentures is the fact that your mouth has to adapt to the new denture. Dentures must be fitted properly to avoid causing gagging. If you’re experiencing the problem, contact the dental practice that made the dentures for you. If you still have the problem, you might want to consider dental implants instead. Implants are titanium screws that are placed into your jawbone. Then, you’ll be able to eat and drink with your new dentures as you would if you had natural teeth.
Getting a good fit
When it comes to dentures, a good fit is very important. Denture faces should fit the person wearing them correctly and be in the correct functional zone, or the optimum fit. Your lips do not remain in the same position for long, and the optimum fit must be maintained with regular dental visits. You can avoid problems like nutcracker lines or caved-in cheeks by paying attention to the quality of your dentures.
The first step in getting a good fit is to practice wearing your dentures for a while. You may find that the dentures do not fit properly after a couple of weeks or months, in which case you should schedule a follow-up appointment with the dentist. He or she will check the fit and make adjustments. You should also practice speaking slowly, particularly when using challenging words, and bite down gently when smiling.
Getting a good fit from dentures is also important for those who need to have their teeth removed. Excess bone on the gums can interfere with the fit of the denture, and it is a common problem. A dentist can do a procedure called alveoloplasty to smooth out rough edges in the jaw and avoid sore spots. The dentures may have to be adjusted to fit correctly, but the procedure is not difficult.
About The Author
Fernánda Esteban is a food fanatic. She can't go more than a few hours without eating, and she loves trying new foods from all over the world. Her friends know that they can always count on her for a good conversation, and she's an animal lover who will never turn down an opportunity to pet a dog or cat. Fernánda also enjoys learning about random facts, and she's a social media practitioner who loves to share what she knows with others.