For some people wearing dentures comes somewhat naturally—the dentist makes them, they put them in and life goes on as usual. For others, it's like some odd form of torture. The denture is made, and in an attempt to put them in place, the gag reflex is triggered—or they get them in place and they can't talk or chew food very easily. Yes, things do get easier with time, but some people just cannot adapt to wearing dentures. What can you do if you're one of those that suffer from denture rejection? Here, you'll find a few options that may help you find a solution to your problem.
Discuss Implant Options
Talk to your dentist about the option of implants. This doesn't mean that you'll have to remortgage the house to pay for individual implants for each of your missing teeth, in fact, the dentist may actually be able to use the denture plates that you already have made and alter them to work with implant posts.
When the denture is secured to the jaw and mouth using implant posts, it doesn't shift around and not as much material will be needed on the denture itself. This means the material that hits the back of your mouth and causes you to gag, it can be trimmed down because the denture won't rely on the roof of your mouth to hold it securely in place.
For some people, it is the lower denture that causes pain or problems—this is because the lower denture doesn't have all of the support of the roof of your mouth like the upper one does—instead, it only has your bone ridge to keep it in place. A lot of people opt to have implant posts put in the bottom and secure the denture to the posts—no more slipping around or fighting with adhesives trying to get through a meal without losing your teeth.
Reline the Dentures
If you've been wearing your dentures for years and they've just recently started slipping around and bothering you, chances are, they need to be relined. Relining does cost a couple of hundred dollars, but it will save you the expense of buying a whole new plate. When the dentist is done, the plate will fit as it did when you first received it.
Talk to your dentist about your dental implant options. They will be able to help you come to the best decision for your personal situation.
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