When Should You Replace Your Dentures?

Costmetic Dentistry in Portland OR

At Classic Denture Center, we offer cosmetic dentistry in Portland OR that can provide you with a beautiful and comfortable smile day after day! Our removable dentures are custom made to fit your mouth and can be expected to last 5-7 years. They are designed with denture teeth and denture acrylic.

Over time, the teeth may begin to wear or break, leading to them no longer fitting in the way they once did.

Today we would like to discuss the important advantages of investing in your smile by replacing your dentures on a regular basis.

Like we mentioned above, your dentures will need to be replaced every 5 – 7 years. Many patients will be surprised by this number and let us know that they have heard of dentures that lasted much longer, but it is unlikely that they lasted that long while being fully functional and comfortable.

Why your dentures won’t last forever:

  • In 5 – 7 years, you will enjoy eating approximately 7,665 meals! Not even including snacks
  • Most people chew about 12 times before they swallow. Meaning that your dentures can sustain over 5,518,800 chewing cycles before replacement
  • The average person’s mouth will change over that period of time, enough so that the dentures no longer fit into the grooves of your mouth
  • Dentures are fragile enough that they can break when dropped, and many people do end up dropping theirs at some point or another

So what happens to your dentures as they age?

The teeth on your dentures can be expected to wear over time. As this happens your bite will become a bit more “closed” and the vertical dimension of your face can actually start to shrink. Also, as your denture teeth wear, you will experience a more labored chewing experience and difficulty eating the foods you love.

Over time, your dentures will no longer fit as well as they did in the beginning. This is due to the fact that the gums and bone will shrink just a bit and cause the denture to no longer fit as close to the gums. This may cause slippage and a need for extra adhesive to be used. The stress caused by years of chewing can cause them to begin to chip, crack, or even de-bond.

So if you begin noticing that your dentures no longer fit as well as they did, or if you are experiencing difficulty in maintaining that beautiful smile of yours, contact your denturist at Classic Denture Center. We can replace your dentures before they really start to cause you major issues!

Don’t forget to ask us about how we can improve your experience with cosmetic dentistry in Portland OR. Your smile is our favorite part of what we do!

4 Common Sense Reasons to Consider Dentures

denture implants in Portland OR

We are often asked if dentures or dental implants are a good solution for missing or decaying teeth and our typical response is an unequivocal yes. This is because there are so many benefits to moving to dentures if you are experiencing the following problems with your mouth:

  • A decrease in function because of pain or missing teeth
  • A loss of self-confidence because you don’t like your smile
  • The decay in your mouth is causing erosion or damage to your gums

Today we would like to offer 4 points to think about when considering dentures or dental implants in Portland OR:

  1. Self-confidence: Your missing teeth can be a source of embarrassment for you; this is especially true if you are missing front teeth. Dealing with being self-conscious about your smile can cause discomfort during social and work interactions. Making the choice to get fitted with great-quality dentures from Classic Denture Center can allow you to regain self-confidence and actually enjoy interacting with others again. Your new dentures can also allow you to enjoy the food that you may have been missing out on due to your missing teeth.
  2. Comfort: Getting fitted with dentures that are comfortable can make a big difference in quality of life. In fact, most of our clients inform us that they forget they even have them in place. Today’s dentures are not like the ones from previous generations. Nowadays we take the time to properly fit our patients for their dentures by getting an impression of their gums. This part of the process allows your denturist to perfectly fabricate a set of dentures that fit the gum contour and jaw. This technology allows dentures to hold in place with natural suction to the gums and cause no irritation.
  3. Health: When spaces within your mouth are left empty by missing teeth, your teeth that are adjacent to and opposite of the empty spaces may shift to compensate for the open space. This can lead to discomfort with your bite and jaw. The best way fight shifting is to compensate for missing teeth with great fitting dentures.
  4. Several options available: Your denturist is a great wealth of knowledge when it comes to your options with your brand new dentures. There are so many different factors to consider, like the condition of the remaining natural teeth, gum health, and cost. Your denturist can help you determine the best course of action for you! Some of the options you have with new dentures are partial dentures to replace one or more teeth, full dentures, temporary immediate dentures and implant retained dentures. Regardless of the option you choose, new dentures are a simple and pain-free alternative to dealing with the discomfort and embarrassment of missing or decaying teeth.

If you have any questions about dentures or dental implants in Portland OR, please contact Classic Denture Center today! Our friendly staff is always ready and happy to help you take the next step toward a beautiful smile!