Can I Adjust My Own Denture?

Posted by writeradmin

I’ve just had a new upper denture made less than a year ago. It was a bear getting used to it at first and learning to eat and talk, but after a few fittings and adjustments, it finally felt good.

Well, lately it started getting sore again, under the denture near the back. I kept thinking it will go away on its own, but it hasn’t. I guess it needs to be adjusted. But I live almost an hour from the office, and it’s probably just a little tiny bit that needs to come off–can I simply adjust it myself at home with my Dremel tool? It would save me a lot of hassle.

Thanks,
Roger

Dear Roger.

Great question. You are not the only one to ponder this same thing! Especially those with a DIY skillset.

Why Did I Get Another Sore Spot?

As you know, when you have a new denture fitted, it takes time for the soft tissue to adjust, and you will experience soreness and the need for adjustments. Eventually, the tissue becomes “calloused”, or accustomed to the constant pressure of the denture. But you might be wondering why another sore spot cropped up after it’s been comfortable for so long. Once your teeth were removed, your body began to resorb the minerals in your jawbone. This slowly shrinks your jawbone. This means the tissues are subject to changing shape. That can lead to new sore spots. As you wear the denture, over time the bone and tissues continue to change slightly, and this can lead to sore spots. The denture needs to be adjusted slightly for these to go away.

Can I Adjust It Myself?

While you are likely very skilled in repairing things, this is something you really need to leave to your dentist. Dentures are made from acrylic resin, and require certain burs and instruments to properly adjust and polish. Each denture is custom fit to the patient’s mouth. With a maxillary denture, there are certain areas that contribute to the grip (or suction) of the denture to the palate. If the denture is aggressively over-adjusted or improperly reduced, it may negatively affect both fit and function. The denture may become loose, or too thin in areas and prone to breakage, or possibly require a reline to attain proper fit once again. Most adjustments require only a very small, targeted area to be reduced, and it’s easy to miscalculate or take too much off if you’re not trained in this.

The Big Problem with Dentures

One thing you need to be aware of is that this will be a continuing problem. The longer you are wearing dentures, the more bone structure you will lose. This is known in dental circles as facial collapse. After about ten years or so, you will not have enough bone structure left to even retain your dentures.

The solution to this is to get dental implants. Having implants placed in your jaw will convince your body that you still need that bone structure to retain your teeth and it will not resorb the minerals. Once the implants are placed, you can have a denture anchored to it.

You will find this life changing. Not only will it be completely comfortable and secure, you will also find your chewing capacity will go back to normal. You can eat anything you want again.

This blog is brought to you by Mt. Dora Dentist Dr. Michelle Stillman.