Photo: National Museum of Health and Medicine / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
If your dentures fit poorly, you might think little of it at first. Most people wouldn’t see the issue as a big deal, much less a threat to their health. Even so, this matter is more serious than you’d think; ill-fitting dentures can turn deadly. You’ll put your life at stake if you fail to replace or repair your prosthetics. For more relevant details, read over this primer from your local Clearwater dentist.
When is a Denture “Ill-Fitting?”
Before anything else, you’d do well to note when a denture becomes ill-fitting. Signs that your prosthetic is failing can include:
- Chewing Trouble – In typical cases, you can learn to chew with dentures soon after getting them. Struggling to do so later means your prosthetics fit poorly.
- Speech Changes – When dentures move around enough to make speech harder, they’ve usually become ill-fitting.
- Pressure Sores –Often enough, ill-fitting dentures put too much pressure on your gum tissues. This excessive force can result in painful and irritating sores.
- Oral Discomfort – After the initial adjustment, dentures shouldn’t cause you any pain. Discomfort and soreness beyond this period point to an ill-fitting prosthetic.
Should you show several of the symptoms above, your dentures are almost certainly ill-fitting. However, you’ll need to see a dentist to find out for sure. And if a sore becomes severely painful, bleeds, or shows signs of infection, do not wait; seek emergency dental care in Clearwater right away.
How Can a Poor Fit Cause Death?
Honestly, it isn’t ill-fitting dentures themselves that cause death. The danger comes from what can happen from wearing the prosthetics often: oral cancer, a deadly condition.
Note that ill-fitting dentures trap harmful materials. Such substances not only include food debris, but also (if applicable) alcohol, tobacco, etc. These elements can inflame your gum tissue, causing continual cell damage and repair that makes oral cancer likely. In other words, always wearing dentures with a bad fit can put your very life at risk.
Bad oral hygiene can make this scenario worse. Left unchecked, it’d further increase your odds of oral cancer.
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What Should You Do in Response?
“Solving” the deadly risk of ill-fitting dentures isn’t that hard. For the most part, you just need to see your dentist for a denture refit or replacement.
Rest assured that dentists have the expertise and resources to help. Based on a close oral exam, they can decide whether your ill-fitting dentures need an adjustment or not. If adjusting isn’t enough, they can even replace the prosthetics with new and better ones.
Since ill-fitting dentures can be deadly, don’t stick with them. See your dental provider for the proper assistance.
Ready for a smile that stays put?
If your dentures are becoming a burden, ask us about dental implants — a secure alternative that looks, feels, and works like natural teeth.
About the Practice
Cannady Dental is based in Clearwater, FL. Led by Dr. Christopher Cannady, our practice does its utmost to ensure your grin gets the best care. We thus offer comprehensive and wide-ranging dentistry, with treatments spanning the preventive, cosmetic, and even the restorative. Our team also personalizes each procedure, so you can expect results that suit your smile! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (727)-441-3523.
New to Cannady Dental? Take advantage of our $99 new patient special, which includes a comprehensive exam, digital X-rays, and a personalized treatment plan with Dr. Cannady in Clearwater.