How Long Do Dentures Last?
Missing teeth can affect a person’s quality of life. Dentures not only restore function in speech and eating, but they can also return a patient’s confidence in smiling and interacting with people. Choosing to get this treatment is a step towards improving health and overall wellness.
High-quality dentures may last you a long time, but it is important to recognise that nothing is permanent. Regardless of how beautiful and well-made your dentures are, they will eventually wear and will need to be replaced. As with all dental concerns, denture longevity is attributed to a two-way relationship between the patient and your Dental Prosthetist. At Dentures 4 You we aim to provide only the best service for all our patients. Dentures 4 You has 4 locations Hallam, Frankston, Mornington and Rosebud and we provide our services to all surrounding suburbs.
Our specialised team of Dental Prosthetists will properly inform all our patients about the treatment we renders. After getting your new set of teeth, you must be knowledgeable on recognising when dentures need replacement or relining. Read on to find out more about your denture’s lifespan.
What is the average lifespan of dentures?
Dentures can last from anywhere between 3-15 years, depending on many factors such as the quality of materials used and the care given to them. At Dentures 4 You, our patients have the option to choose from standard conventional denture materials to deluxe high end materials.
Dentures are a replacement for natural teeth. Just like natural teeth need maintenance through good oral hygiene practices such as daily brushing, flossing, and regular dental check-ups, the same rings true for dentures. There is a proper way to clean dentures every day and regular visits to your Dental Prosthetist are very much encouraged.
What are the issues that affect the longevity of dentures?
One misconception we are trying to correct here at Dentures 4 You is the believe that dental visits are no longer necessary for denture-wearers once they obtain, they new set of dentures. Below are some issues that affect your denture’s lifespan and we hope learning more about these points helps you reconsider and re-evaluate the need for routine check-ups and evaluation.
Wear and Tear from Usage
Dentures are exposed to food and drinks in different temperatures and compositions. Thus, they are subject to wear and tear. Depending on the quality of the materials used, denture teeth may wear in no time or take long time before starting to show signs of abrasion. Patient’s diet and habits play significant role how quickly denture teeth will show signs of wear over time. The denture base can be thinned downs over time and damaged either through daily use over a long period or by accident.
Type of Material Used
Dentures are made from a variety of materials, from affordable to the expensive. There is no harm in choosing the more economical option, but these may also be more prone to damage and wear compared to the more premium kind which usually offers better strength of the material. Denture tooth materials range from: single layer acrylic, 5 layers of acrylic, composite and porcelain. Depending on the type of tooth material chosen, this factors will determines lifespan of your new denture. Denture base materials come in verity of quality and strengths. Cold cure acrylics, heat cure acrylics, high impact acrylics, injection molding and digitally produced denture bases. Depending on the material chosen this will determine lifespan of your new denture. At Dentures 4 You, Alex Kanzburg will explain each and benefits and disadvantages of each material used.
Bone recession and tissue changes—Implications for Denture Fit
The amount of bone supporting a denture serves as an important foundation for its longevity. Bone recession is a decrease in the height and density of the bone that is used to hold dentures in place. The remaining bone will serve as the seat over which the dentures are placed. Over the years, it recedes thus affecting the fit of your dentures.
As the bone recedes, so will the tissues and gums change over time. Over time denture will become loose and unstable. This means that ill-fitting dentures may cause ulcers or other soft tissue lesions that can lead to more pressing concerns later on.
This is the reason new dentures are snug at first then start to feel loose after a few years. Once this happens, patients may have trouble speaking or pronouncing certain sounds and also have a hard time chewing food. Loose dentures can produce clicking sound. In the long run, these may cause other problems like pain and tissue changes. We remedy these concerns early on through regular dental visits, prolonging the lifespan of your dentures.
Poor maintenance
Dentures need as much love as normal teeth do. They must also be brushed and cleaned. Not doing so will lead to the formation of plaque, deposits, and stains on the denture. On the other hand, using very strong cleaning agents may damage the material.
Patients must place dentures in a clean container when not in use to avoid accidents like dropping or stepping on them, which can lead to breakage or damage of teeth.
Tips on how to prolong the lifespan of dentures
Routine Dental Visits
We generally recommend at least one dental visit every 12 months. This allows us to check the fit and condition of the denture, and the condition of your oral cavity. This way, we can see if there are any ulcers, mouth sores, or other oral concerns such as oral cancers that may affect you and your denture.
We like to compare dentures to tires on your car. There are different kinds of tires but regardless of the type you get, they still require regular alignment, balancing and maintenance so you can use them longer and safer. The same goes for dentures. They are a health investment. Care for them properly when you use them and let us do our job by maintaining them when you come in for a check-up.
Relining or Re-basing
Any time you feel like your denture may feel loose or the fit is different, we can prolong the life of your denture through relining or rebasing them to adapt to your tissues and bone. Understand that the jaw structure will continue to change over time and we can adjust your dentures for optimal longevity in accommodating these changes.
Use of Denture-friendly Cleaning Products
Avoid using any harsh cleaning agents to disinfect or sanitize your dentures. We can recommend denture cleaners or you can use a gentle liquid soap to brush them. Doing this daily will prevent staining or build-up of deposits that can damage your soft tissues.
Avoiding D-I-Y Repairs
We understand that accidents are inevitable. In cases of denture breakage, please avoid using do-it-yourself products to repair your dentures. These are potentially toxic, causing more harm than good to you and the denture material itself. This may make repairing dentures a difficult if not impossible affair. Having said that, our 4 Denture clinics at Hallam, Frankston, Mornington and Rosebud are sufficiently equipped with the correct materials and industry tools to carry out denture repairs in no time. We take confidence in the quality of our work so leave the fixing to us.
Conclusion
If you are missing teeth, getting dentures-whether full, partial, or implant-supported, is the best choice to replace them. They can last for years if properly cared for and maintained both by the patient and the dental provider.
Like tires, even if we do our best to keep repairing, relining, or rebasing them, there will come a time when they will need replacement. However, with the tips we’ve mentioned above, we’re sure that here at Dentures 4 You at Hallam, Frankston, Mornington and Rosebud we can make you a set that can last for many wonderful years.
