Painful Dentures
Having painful dentures in Mesa, AZ can be very discouraging, especially if you don’t know what’s causing your discomfort, or how to fix it. The truth is, there are several reasons why you may be hurting, and different solutions that don’t always involve forking over the cash to get a new set of teeth. The following are some reasons why your dentures may be hurting, and how Dr. Huynh can help them feel better
Your Denture Is New
When you first get your appliance, your gum tissue needs time to get used to it, much like your feet getting accustomed to a new pair of shoes. Dentures rely on a tight fit to hold them in place. However, sometimes the tightness is too much to handle and there might be a tiny spot that’s constantly rubbing your gums. This is very common with new dentures and you should expect some minor discomfort initially after getting a new appliance.
But toughing it out won’t help in this situation. In fact, your discomfort will only get worse if you don’t get this issue looked at by Dr. Huynh. Visiting our Mesa dentist is the way to go. We can look at your gums to pinpoint the sore area, mark it with ink, then when we put your denture back in the ink will have transferred to the exact spot on your prosthesis that’s causing the sore place. From there, we can adjust that portion. Doing it this way allows us to only change what’s absolutely necessary without compromising the overall fit of a new denture.
It’s not uncommon for you to have to come in for several adjustments before your denture feels just right. Be patient with the process and don’t get discouraged, you’ll be happy with the results soon enough!
Your Mouth Is Dry
One of the roles of your saliva is to lubricate your mouth. When you have a dry mouth, wearing dentures can be especially difficult because it causes a lot of friction. You may even develop very painful ulcers in your mouth.
In this situation, in order for Dr. Huynh to make your dentures feel better, we’ll need to address your dry mouth. However, finding out what’s causing this condition can be difficult. Our Mesa dentist should be able to help you pinpoint the culprit. Perhaps your mouth is dry from all of the different medications that you’re taking, or from the simple fact that you’re getting older and your saliva production isn’t as high as it used to be.
There are many products available to treat dry mouth symptoms. Most can be found over the counter, but your our will likely have some stronger ones that you can use. Specially formulated mouthwash, toothpaste, chewing gum, lozenges, and mouth sprays are some of the products that can help with your battle against dry mouth.
Loose Dentures
Once you have teeth pulled, you begin to experience bone loss of the jaw and shrinkage of the gum tissue. The effects are gradual, and you may not notice them at first. But several years down the road your mouth will have a totally different shape. Your dentures will begin to feel loose and eventually they will make your gums sore due to the appliance constantly moving around.
While using denture adhesive can fix this issue, there is a simpler solution that doesn’t require messy pastes. Having our Mesa dentist put a new liner on the inside of your denture will help it fit as good as new again.
To do this, we’ll place soft acrylic in the appliance and put the denture in your mouth until the acrylic hardens. The process just takes a few minutes and may give you a few more years out of your denture before needing to replace it. Getting a reline is also a fraction of the cost of having a new denture made.
It’s important to note that once you have a reline done, your denture will feel as snug as when you first got it, meaning you may begin to notice some tight or sore places. When you do, just come in for a quick adjustment for Dr. Huynh to tweak the problem areas.
Also, while relining your denture helps with the fit, it doesn’t do anything for the appearance of the teeth. If your denture is to the point where the teeth are worn, breaking off, or look too dingy, then it may be time for you to get a new appliance.
Dentures in Mesa, AZ
If you’re having trouble with your denture, our Mesa dentist Dr. Vinh Huynh, DMD can help. Contact Eastport Dental today to get help with your sore denture problems
