Denture Adjustments When Facial Shape Changes

Denture adjustments form the maintenance phase in the life cycle of dentures. Dentists will repair dentures that break due to wear and tear. A dentist will also oversee the adjustment of dentures that no longer fit the patient’s gums and dental arch.

Patients with missing teeth typically experience facial changes, mainly to the bone structure of the lower face. The person’s gums can also change, along with the underlying jawbone. What follows is a mismatch between the shape of the dentures and the new shape of the wearer’s mouth. The bad fit that results from the mismatch comes with its own set of problems.

Denture adjustments: The effects of an ill-fitting set of dentures

The ideal set of dentures should hug every ridge and every contour of the gums. This should create a snug fit that keeps the prosthetic in place when the wearer eats or speaks. Dentures that fit perfectly enable full functionality and a full smile.

However, a bad fit can cause dentures to slip when the wearer needs them to stay in place. The person may have problems with speech, meals, and self-confidence. They may also develop irritation, sores, discoloration, and cuts when the dentures rub against the soft tissues in the mouth. This affects the wearer’s quality of life in different ways. Timely denture refitting can prevent these problems before they develop.

How dentists and prosthodontists adjust the fit of dentures

A person who wears dentures will experience gradual and continuous change to the shape of their jaws and gums. Their dentist might notice the changes during a routine dental check, or the patient will seek out their dentist due to discomfort from ill-fitting dentures. Dentists can correct this problem in one of the following ways.

A person who wears dentures will experience gradual and continuous change to the shape of their jaws and gums. Their dentist might notice the changes during a routine dental check, or the patient will seek out their dentist due to discomfort from ill-fitting dentures. Dentists can correct this problem in one of the following ways.

1. Denture relining

Relining shapes the parts of the dentures that rest directly on the gums, usually by adding new layers of acrylic. Many dentists can perform this type of adjustment by taking the following steps:

• First, the dentist takes a mold or digital scan of the patient’s mouth
• They use the mold as a blueprint to fabricate a layer of material that matches the new shape of their patient’s gums
• The dentist then attaches the new layer with adhesive and curing

This process can be simple, and the patient usually waits in the office while the dentist relines their dentures. The dentist will use the patient’s feedback to make adjustments that further improve the fit and comfort of the dentures.

2. Replacement of the denture base

Sometimes, the changes in the patient’s lower face are too big to accommodate with relining alone. In such cases, the dentist will use a mold of the patient’s mouth to fabricate a new base for the dentures.

Some dentists have the know-how and tools to create a new base in their office, so the patient can get their dentures back on the same day. Other dentists will need to send the dentures to dental labs for rebasing. In such scenarios, patients will go home with temporary prosthetics and wait for their custom dentures to arrive from the lab.