We often talk about denture fit as if it’s a simple thing: either dentures fit or they don’t. But denture fit is made up of three different aspects, and it’s important to understand the types of fit problems you are having with your dentures.
Retention
Retention refers to the ability of your dentures to stay in place vertically against forces that pull them away from your gums and palate. Retention depends to a great extent on the seal your dentures have with your tissue. This creates a vacuum that causes your dentures to stick tight to your soft tissue.
To accomplish this, your dentures must be based on an accurate impression of your mouth, which includes the movement of your jaw muscles, as these may push against dentures and cause them to move. It also requires a good impression of the rugae on the roof of your mouth.
Support
Support is the amount of resistance your denture is able to provide against force that presses it toward your soft tissues. Dentures that are made properly can distribute these forces more evenly across your gums and other tissues, which gives them more support without increasing the amount of stress on your mouth.
Poor support can lead to increased loss of jawbone because it will increase the amount of force that your jawbone is asked to support.
Stability
Stability is the resistance of your dentures to forces that come from the side. If your dentures seem to be sliding all around in your mouth, then you have very poor stability.
Poor stability can lead to sores on the sides of your gums. It can also make it hard to talk or chew. And it can be a sign that you’re experiencing a faster rate of jawbone loss than is desirable.
You Can Get Better-Fitting Dentures
Dentures can be designed to give you retention, support, and stability. In fact, they have already been designed. The Denture Fountain of Youth® is an advanced form of dentures designed to fit better than traditional dentures.
If you are unhappy with the fit of your current dentures and want to learn what can be done to improve them, please call (803) 781-9090 to talk to a denture dentist at Smile Columbia Dentistry in Columbia, SC.
