Dentures are one of the most common prosthetic substitutes for your lost teeth. One cannot expect a denture to do everything your natural teeth once did. If your dentures are cared for properly and used correctly, it will help you to eat and smile with comfort and confidence.
It is important to allow for time to adapt and adjust to your new dentures. For the upper dentures it can be as soon as 2 weeks for you to get used to. For the lower dentures it can however take a little longer, as it is constantly being moved around by your tongue.
Unfortunately, dentures don’t last a lifetime and need replacement every 5-7 years, or sooner if any significant changes occur. As time goes by it is expected that resorption (shrinkage) of the gums will occur. This will result in your existing denture to become loose and not fit as well as they once did. All these changes will start to wear on the dentures, the teeth and the bite.
Even though the denture seems to be fitting comfortable, there are minor movements that you might not be aware of which will be a contributing factor to strain your jaws, joints, cause headaches, and discomfort chewing. Not to mention the progressive buildup of plaque and bacteria. In addition, poorly fitting dentures are more likely to break, being more costly in the long run.
