Compared to other dental issues, ill-fitting dentures seem harmless. The worst they do is cause some mild pain, right? In reality, though, these restorations are rather dangerous. Dentures that don’t fit well raise your risk of oral cancer, threatening your life. You’ll thus want to see a dentist to replace or adjust them. If you’d like, your Bergenfield dental practice can explain more. So, here’s how poorly-fitted dentures can cause oral cancer, the signs of such dentures, and why to get help from a dentist.
Ill-Fitting Dentures & Oral Cancer
Truthfully, ill-fitting dentures can be deadly at times. They can greatly raise oral cancer risk if not properly maintained.
The latest science bears out these truths. In a 2014 meta-analysis published by Oral Oncology, researchers found that poorly fitted dentures raised oral cancer risk by 290%. Therefore, patients with these restorations are nearly four times as likely to suffer oral cancer.
While the reasons behind this link aren’t well-established, scholars have some ideas and theories. A notable one is that ill-fitting dentures trap carcinogens – alcohol, tobacco, etc. – against the gums. Another, meanwhile, is that the prosthetics irritate gum tissue enough to trigger cancer.
Signs of Ill-Fitting Dentures
Overall, it isn’t that hard to tell if your dentures are ill-fitting. Just keep a lookout for the following signs:
- Difficulty Chewing – When you first got your dentures, you may have needed time to adjust. If you struggle to chew later, though, your appliance may need adjustment.
- Pressure Sores – When dentures aren’t well-fitted, they trigger pressure sores. These irritants form in places on your gums where the appliance applies more pressure.
- Denture Pain – If your dentures are ill-fitting, they can contribute to an uneven bite. Said bite would be unstable, leading to jaw pain.
- Denture Looseness – Dentures that don’t fit well tend to slip and fall out. Worse yet, fixing this looseness with denture adhesive isn’t very effective.
See a Dentist for Adjustment & Repair
Thankfully, ill-fitting dentures aren’t something you have to endure. Should you notice the signs above, you can always see a dentist for help.
You see, dentists are trained and equipped to adjust dentures. One example is a reline, which adds material to the denture base. This approach fixes the wear and tear that these restorations can accumulate. Alternatively, a dentist can remove excess material from the denture to ensure a better fit.
If worse comes to worse, the dentist can also replace your denture. They’ll simply take a new dental impression of your smile and have a lab craft the new prosthetics.
As you can see, ill-fitting dentures aren’t harmless. They can cause problems like oral cancer if left unattended. Therefore, visit your local dentist if your prosthetics aren’t working right.
About the Practice
Washington Dental Associates is based in Bergenfield, NJ. Led by its four amazing dentists, our practice emphasizes warm and effective dentistry. We’re thus well-equipped to perform preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency dental work. Our team also takes pride in being a certified provider of both traditional orthodontics and Invisalign® clear aligners. For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (201)-453-4863.