As everyone knows, dentures are meant to replace missing teeth. When teeth are extracted, the bone that used to support the missing teeth no longer receives pressure stimulation. Over time, that lack of stimulation causes the bone to gradually melt away. When the bone melts away, there is a change in the morphology and shape of the edentulous area which causes a denture to become loose and rock over time. Patients who tolerate this rocking may think it's not big deal, but some bad things can happen if it's neglected.
The more acute issues are denture sores. Dentures rubbing on the gum tissue erodes the epithelial layer and causes a denture sore which can be very painful. The pain usually brings the patient to our office for denture adjustments. Adjusting the area may help in the short term, but the adjustment may mask more serious issues of an ill-fitting denture.
Loose dentures may place abnormal pressure on the denture and can lead to broken denture teeth or fractured dentures. Many times, when a patient presents with a broken denture, it's a sign that the bite, fit of the denture, or the denture itself needs to be closely evaluated. Sometimes, the denture needs to be remade or rebased.
If a loosely fitting denture continues to be worn, the denture can irritate the gum tissue and in some patients, it can stimulate the tissue to enlarge (hyperplasia). This tissue enlargement is called epulis fissuratum. This tissue will likely need to be surgically removed in order for the new denture to be comfortable and properly fit.
If an otherwise denture in good condition becomes loose, usually, we'll reline it. In most cases, we can do the reline right in our office. In the remaining cases, we'll obtain an impression inside the denture and send the denture to our laboratory to make the reline.
So, if your dentures fit like socks on a rooster, there are options. Give us a call at 402-905-2950. I hope you found this helpful.
Chicken Humor
1. A man runs to the psychiatrist and says, "Doctor, you've got to help me. My wife thinks she's a chicken!"
The psychiatrist asks, "How long has she had this condition?"
"Two years," says the man.
"Then why did it take you so long to come and see me?" asked the psychiatrist.
The man shrugs his shoulders and replies, "We needed the eggs."
Kassandra Smith
2. What do you call it when a chicken lays an egg on the roof of a barn?
An egg roll.
3. What’s a hen’s favorite type of movie?
A chick flick.
4. What do you get when you cross a ghost with a chicken?
A poultry-geist.
5. A man goes to the doctor and says, “Doctor, I think I’m a chicken.”
The doctor asks, “How long has this been going on?”
The man replies, “Ever since I was an egg.”
6. I’ve got a hen who can count her own eggs.
She’s a mathamachicken.
7. What do you get when you cross a chicken and a four-leaf clover? The cluck o’ the Irish!
8. What do you get if you cross an elephant and a chicken?
A peckyderm.